YOUNG schoolgirl Peyton Harford stole the hearts of the spectators at Skegness as Northants claimed three national titles at the English Bowling Federation championships.
The 13-year-old Parkway prospect, substituting in the mixed rinks for Michelle Coleman who was at Leamington winning the Bowls England women’s pairs with Jorja Jackson, teamed up with Paul Dalliday and her father James to defeat Norfolk in the final.
She appeared totally unfazed by the sense of occasion and produced some outstanding bowls at lead that belied her age and inexperience – certainly one to watch for the future!
It was Northants’ first title in this discipline since 2013 and Dalliday was involved in that one with Barry Lawrence and Linda Toms.
The Whittlesey Manor trio of Steve Lander, Tom Newman-Borrett and Peter Brown took the honours in the two-bowl rinks, beating Durham 15-14 in the final.
Both Brown and Lander were previous winners in the three-bowl version, and it was the county’s first success in the two-bowl competition since 2018.
The hat-trick of titles was completed on the final morning by Stamford Town’s Susan Seed, who became only the county’s second winner of the women’s secretary singles since the competition was introduced in 1990 by defeating Northumberland, the other being Linda Darani in 2012.
The county had two other finalists and five semi-finalists, so it proved a fairly successful week for Northants on greens that showed a distinct improvement on last year, but still with a relatively small margin of error when attempting to find a consistent line and length, not helped later in the week by some torrential downpours
The Crowland rink of Sally Albany, Jan McDougall and Chris Ryan produced some impressive performances to reach the final of the women’s three-bowl triples, most notably against Norfolk in the opening round when they overcame a 12-4 deficit, however Hunts proved one step too far in the final.
Parkway’s Sophie Morton made it through to the final of the Champion of Champions singles, but could initiate a family double with husband Tristan winning the Bowls England national singles the following day.
Northants women’s deputy president Rita Downs (Blackstones) got through to the semi-finals of the women’s senior singles, as did Ketton’s Elaine Upton in the women’s two-bowl singles and young Caitin Dalliday in the under 25 singles.
On the men’s side, Stuart Agger (Whittlesey Manor), who was hoping to replicate brother Graham’s success in the veterans singles in 2023 and 2024, bowed out in the semi-finals to the eventual winner Tony Reed (North Cambs).
Whittlesey Manor’s Phil Symonds and Roger Stevens, standing in for Dave Corney who was attending his son’s wedding, also made it through to the semi-finals in the senior pairs.
Below: Mixed rink winners Paul Dalliday, Peyton and James Harford.
Below: Two-bowl triples winners Steve Lander, Peter Brown and Tom Newman-Borrett.
Below: Secretary singles winner Susan Seed with NWBF deputy president Rita Downs.
Below: Three-bowl triples beaten finalists Chris Ryan, Sally Albany and Jan McDougall.
Below: Champion of Champions singles runner-up Sophie Morton.
