NO fewer than six titles are being defended on the day at the NWBF/NBF county indoor finals being hosted by the Peterborough & District club on Sunday (February 23rd).

On top of that, Yvonne Monaghan has qualified in all four women’s events, and she will be defending the senior singles title, while Stephen Harris will be chasing a hat-trick, including defences of the mixed triples with Chris Ford and Adam Warrington and the triples with Michael Humphreys and Tom Newman-Borrett.

Martyn Dolby hopes to make it through in the veterans singles so that he can defend his national crown at Lincoln in April; Chris Ford, Elizabeth Wallace and Sue Moir defend the women’s triples title, while Shirley Suffling and Lyn Tuck bid to retain the women’s pairs.

A seventh title being defended, but not on finals day owing to the finalists being in national action in York, will see national under 25 singles champion Ollie Jeapes facing his great rival Owen Aspinall.

TIMETABLE

10.00am: Women’s senior singles, Chris Ford v Yvonne Monaghan; Men’s singles: John Holroyd v Stephen Harris; Mixed pairs, Kevin & Lyn Tuck v Louise Harris (sub) & Tom Newman-Borrett; Men’s veterans singles, Martyn Dolby v Kevin Vinter.

12 noon: Women’s singles, Yvonne Monaghan v Elizabeth Wallace; Men’s pairs, Malcolm Mitchell & Neil Wright v Brian Martin & Chris Ballard; Men’s triples, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law, Tristan Morton v Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman-Borrett, Stephen Harris.

2.00pm: Women’s pairs, Shirley Suffling & Lyn Tuck v V. Simpson & Yvonne Monaghan; Mixed triples, Paul Dalliday, Louise Harris, Simon Law v Adam Warrington, Chris Ford, Stephen Harris.

4.00pm: Women’s triples: Jean Baker, Pam Seymour, Yvonne Monaghan v Elizabeth Wallace, Sue Moir, Chris Ford.

HERE are some key dates for you diary.

Sunday, February 23 – County indoor finals, Peterborough & District from 10.00am.

Sunday, March 23 – Ladies v Gents at Peterborough & District 2.00pm

Sunday, April 13 – Eversley Trophy at Lincoln.

Tuesday, April 22 – Harry Carver Trophy, at Lincoln.

Wednesday April 23 – EBF/EWBF indoor finals at Lincoln until April 27

Saturday, May 10 – NBF v Whittlesey Manor (John Dickenson Memorial Shield) at Whittlesey Manor

Wednesday, May 21 – NWBF away to Suffolk (both teams)

Saturday, May 24 – NBF v Hunts (Dick Noble & Malcolm Squires Memorial Shield) at Whittlesey Manor.

Saturday, May 31 – NBF home to Hunts, Adams at Blackstones, Newton at Whittlesey Manor.

Wednesday, June 4 – NWBF home to Norfolk, Steward at Blackstones, Vase at City of Peterborough.

Saturday, June 7 – NBF away to North Essex (Adams only)

Saturday June 14 – NBF away to Norfolk (both teams)

Wednesday, June 18 – NWBF home to North Cambs at Blackstones (Adams only)

Saturday, June 21 – NBF home to North Cambs at Blackstones (Adams only)

Saturday, June 28 – NBF home to Suffolk, Adams at Parkway, Newton at Whittlesey Manor.

Thursday, July 3 – NWBF away to Hunts (both teams)

Saturday, July 5 – NBF away to Lincs (both teams).

Sunday, July 13 – County finals at City of Peterborough from 10.00am.

Wednesday, July 16 – NWBF home to North Cambs at Blackstones (Steward only).

Saturday, August 16 – EBF/EWBF national finals at Skegness until August 23.

Sunday, September 21 – NBF/NWBF presentation luncheon, Ellindon Banqueting Suite 1.00pm

Sunday, September 28 – NBF v Peterborough & District (Cliff Watson Memorial Shield) at Peterborough & District.

What slender hopes Northants A had of retaining the English Bowling Federation’s Derbyshire Trophy were finally extinguished with an 86-84 defeat away to North Essex.

It was Northants’ second two-shot defeat of the campaign, the other coming against Hunts, who are now set to claim the southern section crown following their 98-75 home win against Northants B.

Rink honours were shared at the Turpins club, with the rinks of Simon Law and Tristan Morton responsible for Northants’ four points, but North Essex edged it overall to take the bulk of the points.

Meanwhile, Northants B took two points from Hunts, courtesy of Mick Linnell’s rink, although two of the other three rinks only had a deficit of six shots between them.

That was the B team’s final match of the season, but the A team are scheduled to conclude their programme away to Norfolk on Sunday (February 16) which may well be a ‘dead rubber.’

RESULTS

NORTHANTS A 84 (4), NORTH ESSEX 86 (10) – (Northants A rinks only):

Stuart Agger, Trevor Collins, Simon Law won 25-17; Wayne Morris, Brian Martin, John Earl lost 17-27; Michael Humphreys, Paul Dalliday, Tristan Morton won 23-19; Louise Harris, Graham Agger, Stephen Harris lost 19-23.

NORTHANTS B 75 (2), HUNTS 98 (12) – (Northants B rinks only):

Malcolm Mitchell, Ally McNaughton, Mike Anderson lost 20-24; Martin Prudhoe, Neil Wright, Mick Linnell won 21-18; Pete Linnell, Mick Porter, Roger Martin lost 15-35; Peter Smith, Dudley Smith, Kevin Vinter lost 19-21.

NORTHANTS A resume their Derbyshire Trophy programme away to North Essex on Sunday, February 9 with their hopes of retaining the English Bowling Federation’s indoor county championship hanging in the balance.

Having narrowly losing their last game to Hunts, they will be seeking maximum points to keep them in the southern section title picture.

There are three changes to the team with Tristan Morton, Trevor Collins and Stephen Harris coming in for the unavailable Peter Brown, Tom Newman-Borrett and Michael Jeapes.

Northants A: Stuart Agger, Graham Agger, Stephen Harris; Michael Humphreys, Paul Dalliday, Tristan Morton; Brian Martin, Martyn Dolby, John Earl; Wayne Morris, Trevor Collins, Simon Law.

The B team conclude their programme the same day away to Huntingdon A, who are now favourites for the southern section title following their 14-0 demolition of previous leaders North Cambs.

There’s one change from the team beaten by North Cambs wirh Mike Anderson returning for the unavailable John Holroyd.

Northants B: Malcolm Mitchell, Ally McNaughton, Mike Anderson; Neil Wright, Andy Cox, Kevin Vinter; Mick Porter, Jay Travis, Roger Martin; Martin Prudhoe, Dudley Smith, Mick Linnell.

NORTHANTS B were unable to build on their first Derbyshire Trophy win of the season just before Christmas when they were beaten 70-111 by North Cambs at March.

They were beaten on all four rinks, although Roger Martin’s rink only succumbed on the final end of the match.

It was nip and tuck on three of the fours rinks during the opening half of the match, but North Cambs gradually took control on two of them to claim all 14 points on offer.

Northants B’s final match of the season is away to Hunts on February 9 when they will be hoping to take some points to aid their A team’s bid to retain the title.

RESULT

NORTHANTS B 70 (0), NORTH CAMBS 111 (14) – (Northants rinks only):

Mick Porter, Jay Travis, Roger Martin lost 21-24; Malcolm Mitchell, Ally McNaughton, Dudley Smith lost 13-35; John Holroyd, Andy Cox, Kevin Vinter lost 13-25; Martin Prudhoe, Neil Wright, Mick Linnell lost 22-27.

THE NWBF are holding a quiz night at the Peterborough & District Indoor Bowls Centre on Saturday, February 8 starting at 7.00pm.

Tickets cost £6.00 per person, which includes light refreshments, and a maximum of six players per team.

Register your teams with Viv Hempsell on 01733 234089 by February 3.

Cheques/cash enclosed payable to N.W.B.F. or direct payment via BACS: Ref: Quiz; Sort code: 30-99-50; Account: 62123762.

NORTHANTS B hope to begin the New Year with a victory when they resume their English Bowling Federation’s Derbyshire Trophy campaign away to North Cambs at March on Sunday, January 12.

There is one change in personnel from the team that achieved their first win at home to North Essex in their last game, with Roger Martin returning for Pete Linnell.

Northants B: Malcolm Mitchell, Ally McNaughton, Mike Anderson; Mick Porter, Dudley Smith, Roger Martin; John Holroyd, Andy Cox, Kevin Vinter; Martin Prudhoe, Neil Wright, Mick Linnell.

RESULTS of the NWBF Christmas draw: £100 – LIz Fordham; £50 – Sue Mansbridge; £25 – Carol Grief.

NORTHANTS A’s hopes of retaining the English Bowling Federation’s Derbyshire Trophy received a setback when they were beaten 82-80 by Hunts after a dramatic finish at Stamford.

Northants were in the driving seat for most of the match and led by twenty shots at one stage, but gradually what seemed a comfortable advantage was gradually eroded over the closing ends as Hunts snatched victory from the jaws of death, despite only winning on one of the four rinks.

The home side did pick up five points from the 14 on offer, but may be looking at favours from other counties in the New Year to keep their title hopes on track.

There were wins for the rinks of Peter Brown (20-18) and Martyn Dolby (23-19), while John Earl’s rink shared the spoils at 21 apiece, but Simon Law’s rink went down by eight (16-24).

Their next game is not until February 9 when they visit North Essex.

RESULT

NORTHANTS A 80 (5), HUNTS 82 (9) – (Northants rinks only):

Stuart Agger, Graham Agger, Peter Brown won 20-18; Brian Martin, Tom Newman-Borrett, John Earl drew 21-21; Michael Humphreys, Paul Dalliday, Martyn Dolby won 23-19; Wayne Morris, Michael Jeapes Simon Law lost 16-24.

NORTHANTS teams enjoyed a double success in the latest round of Derbyshire Trophy matches, the English Bowling Federation’s indoor county championship.

The A team, the defending champions, made it two wins out of two with a narrow 93-88 (10-4) victory over North Cambs at Stamford, while the B team made it third time lucky as they gained their first win, 91-68 (12-2), at the expense of North Essex at Peterborough & District.

There were rinks wins for the A team from team captain Simon Law and Peter Brown, while Mike Anderson, Kevin Vinter and team captain Dudley Smith were rink winners for the B team.

The A team are back in action on Sunday (Dec 1st) when they host Hunts at Stamford (10.00am).

RESULTS

NORTHANTS A 93 (10), NORTH CAMBS 88 (4) – (Northants rinks only):

Paul Dalliday, Martyn Dolby, Simon Law won 29-21; Stuart Agger, Graham Agger, Peter Brown won 29-17; Michael Humphreys, Wayne Morris, Adam Warrington lost 14-27; Brian Martin, Tom Newman-Borrett, John Earl lost 21-23.

NORTHANTS B 91 (12), NORTH ESSEX 68 (2) – (Northants rinks only):

Malcolm Mitchell, Ally McNaughton, Mike Anderson won 25-13; Martin Prudhoe, Andy Cox, Mick Linnell lost 18-23; Pete Linnell, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter won 26-13; Mick Porter, Neil Wright, Dudley Smith won 23-19.