NORTHANTS A begin their defence of the English Bowling Federation’s Derbyshire Trophy indoor county championship with a match against their own B team at Peterborough & District on Saturday, October 14th at 2.00pm.

There are three enforced changes to the team that defeated Northumberland in last season’s final, with John Earl, Ben Wilson, who has moved up from the B team, and Adam Warrington replacing Stephen Harris, Stuart Agger and Peter Brown.

Northants A: Paul Dalliday, Mick Linnell, Simon Law; Chris Ballard, Brian Martin, Graham Agger; Martyn Dolby, Tom Newman-Borrett, Ben Wilson; Michael Humphreys, John Earl, Adam Warrington. Res: Wayne Morris, Stuart Agger, Peter Brown.

Northants B: Kevin Brown, Tom Fielding, Dudley Smith; Mike Anderson, Tien Ngo, Neil Wright; John Holroyd, Alan Bennett, Kevin Vinter; Ally McNaughton Neil Crees, Roger Strong.

BOWLERS representing the NBF and Peterborough & District gathered together at the Peterborough club for the third annual indoor match to honour the memory of Cliff Watson.

He loyally served both the NBF and Peterborough & District with distinction over many years, hence the match between the two organisations.

Once again the result went in favour of the NBF captained by current results secretary Ally McNaughton, the final scoreline being 129-78, but the afternoon was all about reviving memories of a stalwart bowler who gave so much to local bowls in his own inimitable style.

RESULT

NBF 129, PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT 78 (NBF rinks first):

Tien Ngo, Tom Fielding, Dudley Smith 18, Pete Harvey, Dick Fielding, Graham Agger 12; Kevin Brown, Dave Corney, Melvyn Beck 12, Michelle Smith, Stuart Agger, Lynne Agger 24; Caitlin Dalliday, Robbie Coleman, Michelle Coleman 24, Frank Hall, Andy Farrow, Peter Brown 10; Ally McNaughton, Sam Downs, Martyn Dolby 19, Dave Henson, Joe Martin, Roger Strong 17;Peyton Harford, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law 31, Jeff Clipston, Roger Pacey, Mick Greaves 5; Sophie Morton, Brian Martin, Phil Exley 25, Hazel Brewin Dennis Cottom, Ian Smith 10.

BELOW: Sue Watson presents the Cliff Watson Memorial Shield to NBF captain Ally McNaughton.

THE county held their annual joint men’s and women’s presentation luncheon at the Ellindon Banqueting Suite, Bretton, when no fewer than six national titles were celebrated.

English Bowling Federation president Ray Taylor, from Derbyshire, was the guest of honour and proposed a toast to Northants Bowling Federation before assisting NBF chairman Martyn Dolby in the presentation of the national and men’s trophies.

With EWBF president Jean Phillips unable to attend, it was left to NWBF president Sheila Craig to propose a toast to the county and present the women’s trophies.

Stephen Harris was involved in all three indoor national successes, winning the singles, the triples with Michael Humphreys and Tom Newman-Borrett and figuring in the Derbyshire Trophy county championship winning team captained by Simon Law.

It was the first singles triumph for the county since 2007, but the triples remained in the county with Paul Dalliday, Simon Law and Tristan Morton winning it last year.

Northants clamed the Derbyshire Trophy for the second time in three years with an emphatic defeat of Northumberland in the final.

Newman-Borrett now has the distinction of being the holder of both indoor and outdoor triples title having followed up the success at Lincoln by teaming up with Steve Lander and Peter Brown to win the outdoor two-bowl triples crown at Skegness.

Thirteen-year-old Peyton Harford stole the show at Skegness when she teamed up with father James and Paul Dalliday to win the mixed rinks. Coming in as a substitute at the eleventh hour, she was totally unfazed by the sense of occasion and produced some outstanding performances for one so young and inexperienced.

Stamford secretary Sue Seed became only the second player from the county to win the women’s secretary singles, the first being Linda Darani, and it was the first outdoor success for the county in five years.

There was a special presentation to Graham Agger, who is stepping down next month after serving more than twenty years on the NBF committee, many of them as match secretary.

Another key official standing down at next month’s annual meeting is NBF chairman Martyn Dolby, who during his impressive response to the EBF president’s toast to the county said he was immensely proud to have served the county as both president and chairman.

SAD to report that the Ketton club has taken the decision to disband.

Following the resignation of key officers, no-one was prepared to step up and fill the roles.

Ketton had been a thriving club for 52 years, but a declining membership means it was no longer possible to continue.

The club’s players enjoyed considerable success down the years in county competitions, and the club hosted the county finals in 2015.

ONCE again both the NBF and the NWBF are seeking new blood to safeguard the long-term future of the county.

The NBF are set to lose key members of their administration at next month’s annual meeting which comes on top of the tragic passing of treasurer Andy Cox in July.

Alice Jones will be confirmed as the new treasurer at the annual meeting at the Parkway club on Wednesday, October 14th, but Graham Agger is set to stand down as match secretary having served on the NBF committee for more than twenty years, and Martyn Dolby has announced his intention to step aside as chairman.

The county has not had a president for the past two years, which hardly enhancing the reputation of the county and also adds an additional workload on other officers who have to share presidential duties on top of their existing responsibilities.

It has been expressed at committee meetings more than once about fears for the NBF’s future unless more bowlers join the county’s administration. It is not a case of scaremongering, but a very real possibility over the coming years if more bowlers are not prepared to volunteer their services and step into the shoes of those who have given sterling service over a number of years.

The first acid test will come at the annual meeting when attempts are made to fill the important roles of president, chairman and match secretary.

If anyone is interested in any of these positions, then contact the county secretary in the first instance.

The NWBF are in a similar position ahead of their annual meeting in November, although they do put the NBF to shame by managing to elect a president each year.

They urgently need members to come forward to serve on the committee and learn more about each official position. This will help ensure that when an existing officer retires or steps down, there are people ready and confident to take over the role.

THE annual memorial indoor bowls match to remember the major contribution Cliff Watson made to Northants Bowling Federation over many years takes place at the Peterborough & District club on Sunday, September 27th (2.00pm).

Lining up will be a team representing Northants Bowling Federation and one from the Peterborough & District club where Cliff spent the vast majority of his career.

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.

PARKWAY have won the NBF’s Dan Duffy Trophy, the county club championship, for the sixth time in the last nine years.

They powered to a 76-32 victory over Whittlesey Manor in the final at City of Peterborough, winning on all four rinks with more than twenty ends remaining when their opponents called it a day.

Parkway will now represent the county in next year’s EBF Durham Centenary Trophy which they lifted last year at Skegness.

RESULT

DAN DUFFY TROPHY

PARKWAY 76, WHITTLESEY MANOR 32 (Parkway rinks first):

Sophie Morton, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law 26, Dick Fielding, Steve Lander, Peter Brown 5; Neil Wright, Brian Martin, Ean Morton 17, Kevin Brown, Dudley Smith, Graham Agger 10; Caitlin Dalliday, Michelle Coleman, Tristan Morton 13, Stuart Agger, Steven Shaw, Zack Brown 11; Ollie Jeapes, Harford, Phil Exley 20, Luke Murray, Tom Newman-Borrett, Tom Fielding 6.

BELOW: Parkway – winners of the NBF’s Dan Duffy Trophy.

BELOW: Whittlesey Manor – beaten finalists in the NBF’s Dan Duffy Trophy.

THE timetable affecting Northants players for the EBF/EWBF national championships at Skegness from August 22-29.

The individual portion of the championships will start on the Monday afternoon (August 24).

MEN

2b singles – Adam Warrington (Blackstones) v Notts, Monday, 2.15pm; Second round – v Lincs, Wednesday, 2.15pm; 4b singles – Stephen Harris (Blackstones) v Lincs or Northumberland in second round, Wednesday, 4.45pm (first round bye); Under 25 singles – Ollie Jeapes (Parkway) v North Cambs, Friday, 9.15am; second round – v Durham, Friday, 11.15am; Senior singles – Stuart Agger (Whittlesey Manor) v Cleveland in second round, Thursday, 9.15am (first round bye); Secretary singles – Melvyn Beck (Whittlesey Manor) v Cleveland, Thursday, 9.15am (first round bye); Champion of Champions singles – Gavin Jinks (City of Peterborough) v Norfolk, Thursday, 10.45am; second round – v Notts or Hunts, Thursday, 3.15pm; Pairs – John Earl & Stephen Harris (Blackstones) v North Cambs in second round, Thursday, 11.45am (first round bye); Senior pairs – Dave Corney & Phil Symonds (Whittlesey Manor) v Humberside, Thursday, 10.45am; second round – v Notts, Thursday, 2.45pm; Mixed pairs – Sophie Morton & Simon Law (Parkway) v Norfolk, Tuesday, 9.15am; second round – v Hunts, Wednesday, 9.15am; 2b rinks – Steve Lander, Tom Newman-Borrett, Peter Brown (Whittlesey Manor) v Lincs, Tuesday, 3.15pm; second round v Norfolk or Hunts, Wednesday, 12.15pm; 3b rinks – Wayne Morris, Dave Russell, Darren Middleton (Blackstones) v North Essex or Durham in second round, Tuesday, 9.15am (first round bye); Mixed rinks – Paul Dalliday, Michelle Coleman, James Harford (Parkway) v Northumberland or Cleveland in second round, Wednesday, 9.15am (first round bye); Under 25 pairs – Ollie Jeapes (Parkway) and Owen Aspinall (Blackstones) v North Cambs, Thursday, 10.45am; second round – v Notts, Thursday, 4.45pm; Senior mixed pairs – Rita & Brian Downs (Blackstones) v North Cambs, Tuesday, 12.15pm; second round v Hunts, Tuesday, 3.15pm.

WOMEN

2b singles – Elaine Upton (Ketton) v North Essex or Durham in second round, Wednesday, 12.15pm (first round bye); 4b singles – Caitlin Dalliday (Parkway) v North Essex, Wednesday, 12.15pm; second round – v Durham, Wednesday, 3.15pm; Under 25 singles – Caitlin Dalliday (Parkway) v Lincs in second round, Tuesday, 9.15am (first round bye); Senior singles – Rita Downs (Blackstones) v Norfolk or Cleveland in second round, Tuesday, 4.45pm (first round bye); Secretary singles – Sue Seed (Stamford) v North Essex, Wednesday, 2.15pm; second round – v Lincs, Thursday, 10.45am; Champion of Champions – Sophie Morton (Parkway) v Lincs, Wednesday, 2.15pm; second round – v Norfolk or Hunts, Thursday, 9.15am; Pairs – Angela Cox & Caz Bruce (Crowland) v Humberside, Wednesday, 9.15am; second round – v Hunts or Notts, Thursday, 12.15pm; Senior pairs – Jan McDougall & Chris Ryan (Crowland) v Norfolk, Tuesday, 12.15pm; second round – v Lincs, Wednesday, 4.45pm; 2b rinks – Rhona Morrell, Marlene Osborne, Jenny Mosley (Yaxley) v Durham, Tuesday, 3.15pm; second round – v North Essex or Hunts, Wednesday, 12.15pm; 3b rinks – Sally Albany, Jan McDougall, Chris Ryan (Crowland) v Norfolk, Monday, 2.15pm; second round – v Lincs or Notts, Tuesday, 9.15am.

WHITTLESEY Manor retained the NBF’s Adams Cup following a last over win against Stamford Town at City of Peterborough.

The lead constantly changed hands during the three-rink final and with two of the three rinks having completed their 21 ends the scores were tied at 62-62.

However, the Manor claimed two shots on the last end to claim a 64-62 success and lift the trophy for the fourth year running.

RESULT

ADAMS CUP FINAL

WHITTLESEY MANOR 64, STAMFORD TOWN 62 (Manor rinks first):

Steve Lander, Dudley Smith, Phil Symonds 20, Lesley Simmonds, Susan Seed, Paul Bailey 18; Stuart Agger, Steven Shaw, Zack Brown 24, Brian Tuplin, Ken Simmonds, Dennis Starbuck 18; Kevin Brown, Luke Murray, Tom Fielding 20, Chrissie Baker, Linda Starbuck, Kevin Vinter 26.

BELOW: Whittlesey Manor – Adams Cup winners for the fourth year running.

BELOW: Stamford Town – Adams Cup runners-up by two shots.