THE second annual challenge match between the NBF and Hunts Bowls for the Malcolm Squires and Dick Noble Memorial Shield ended in a 128-114 victory for Hunts at Parkway despite the NBF winning on four of the six rinks.

New Adams team captain Ray Keating paraded most of his team for the upcoming match against Suffolk, while there were several members of the Middleton Cup squad in the Hunts line-up.

There were four triples matches and two fours and their were NBF wins for the rinks of Ray Keating, Roger Strong, Dave Smith and Roger Martin.

Sherin Noble and Norma Squires were on hand to present the shield to Hunts team manager Bob Morton.

RESULT

NBF 114, HUNTS 128 (NBF rinks first)

Michael Humphreys, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter 16, Paul Dalliday, James Harford, Simon Law 29; Duncan Lee, Ally McNaughton, Roger Martin 21, Tom Newman, Tom Fielding, John Earl 20; Stuart Agger, Neil Wright, Mick Linnell 14, Matt Nickerson, Adam Emery, Toby Furzeland 27; Wayne Morris, Mark Pye, Dave Smith 27, Robbie Coleman, Ryan O’Flanagan, Joe Randall 18; Trevor Smith, Mark Prudhoe, Graham Agger, Ray Keating 20, T. Anderson, Sam Brugnoli, Mac May, Harry Ward 19; Jeff Clipston, Dave Henson, Mick Greaves, Roger Strong 16, Mike Robertson, Trevor Murray, Brian Martin, Kierran Murray 15.

BELOW: Sherin Noble and Norma Squires are pictured with the Malcolm Squires and Dick Noble Memorial Shield with Adams team captain Ray Keating, Hunts team manager Bob Morton and NBF president Martyn Dolby.

NORTHANTS open their inter-county championship programme on Saturday (May 25) with the visit of Suffolk.

New Adams Trophy team manager Ray Keating has announced his first team for what is always one of the toughest matches of the season, the venue being Blackstones (2.00pm)

Adams line-up: Jeff Clipston, Dudley Smith, Roger Martin; Trevor Smith, Graham Agger, Ray Keating; Stephen Harris, Mark Pye, Martyn Dolby; Michael Humphreys, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Stuart Agger, Mick Greaves, Roger Strong; Duncan Lee, Ally McNaughton, Mick Linnell.

Dave Corney’s Newton Trophy team for the match against Suffolk at Whittlesey Manor contains only 13 of last year’s squad, with several new faces including Ian Chilvers, Mick Porter, Phil Symonds and Craig Campbell.

Newton team: Ian Chilvers, Alec Emery, Paul Buckley; Craig Campbell, Jon Bailey, Adam Emery; Andy Cox, Andy Dyer, Steven Shaw; Phil Burbridge, Brian Bassam, Phil Symonds; Les Sharp, Fred Richardson, Paul Bailey; Mick Porter, Martin Bailey, Melvyn Beck. Res: Dave Corney.

THE John Dickenson Memorial match returned to the calendar this season after a year’s absence and it resulted in a 116-107 victory for hosting club Whittlesey Manor against an NBF representative team featuring mostly players from Dave Corney’s Newton Trophy squad.

John began his bowling career locally at Whittlesey Manor before moving on to South Ward and Peterborough & District and became a prominent figure in the English Bowling Federation movement, both within the county and nationally, where he served as president and chairman.

His widow, Mary, was on hand with county president Martyn Dolby to present the shield to Whittlesey Manor captain Peter Brown.

RESULT

Whittlesey Manor 116, NBF Select 107 (Manor rinks first):

Bill Stark, Zack Brown, Peter Brown 21, Howard Shipp (guest), Philip Burbridge, Phil Symonds 17; Derek Noble, Phillip Makepeace, Graham Agger 25, Mick Porter, Nigel Barnes, Brian Bassam 12; Dick Fielding, Paul Hunter, Tom Fielding 13, Steve Lander, Alec Emery, Paul Buckley 14; Nick Corney, Tony Mace, Mick Linnell 18, Andy Cox, Andy Dyer, Steven Shaw 23; Fred Barker, Stephen Harris (guest), John Earl 22, Les Sharp, Dave Corney, Paul Bailey 18; Stuart Agger, Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman 17, Andy Cook, Jon Bailey, Melvyn Beck 23.

Below: County president Martyn Dolby joins Mary Dickenson as she presents the John Dickenson Memorial Shield to Whittlesey Manor captain Peter Brown.

THE venue for the NWBF county selection day on Wednesday, May 8 (2.00pm) has been moved from Conservative to Peterborough & District.

It was a record-breaking weekend for Northants at the English Bowling Federation indoor finals at Lincoln.

They won both the Derbyshire Trophy and Eversley Trophy for the first time at the same championships, and coupled with singles wins for Ollie Jeapes and county president Martyn Dolby (see story below) it meant a county record four titles in the same season.’

Northants won the Derbyshire Trophy inter-county championship for the fourth time with a crushing 116-60 defeat of northern group winners Notts in the final, and 24 hours later retained the Eversley Trophy, the competition for county executives, for the first time.

Northants won on three of the four rinks in the Derbyshire final, with Adam Warrington’s rink of Michael Humphreys and Wayne Morris leading the scoring spree with a 42-7 victory. There were also wins for the rinks of captain Simon Law (32-12) and John Earl (24-17).

RESULT

Northants A 110, Notts 60 (Northants rinks only):

Stuart & Graham Agger, Peter Brown lost 18-24; Michael Humphreys, Wayne Morris, Adam Warrington won 42-7; Brian Martin, Tom Newman, John Earl won 24-17); Paul Dalliday, Stephen Harris, Simon Law won 32-12.

In the Eversley Trophy, Northants dropped just one rink out of eight to total 22 points, a little matter of eight points clear of runners-up Suffolk.

Northants team: Martyn Dolby, Graham Agger, Peter Brown, Simon Law, Ally McNaughton, Bob Warters.

In the women’s equivalent, Northants finished in a share of fourth place in the Harry Carver Trophy.

Northants team: Liz Hex (president), Shirley Suffling, Terri Handley, Viv Hempsell, Elizabeth Wallace, Chris Ford.

Below: County president Martyn Dolby with the triumphant Derbyshire Trophy team: (Back row, left to right): Brian Martin, Tm Newman, Peter Brown, John Earl, Paul Dalliday. (Front): Stuart Agger, Michael Humphreys, Adam Warrington, Martyn Dolby (with shield), captain Simon Law, Stephen Harris, Graham Agger, Wayne Morris.

Below: The successful Eversley Trophy team led by county president Martyn Dolby (with trophy) which he received from national president Trevor Flatt. Pictured (left to right) Peter Brown, Ally McNaughton, Simon Law, Graham Agger, Bob Warters.

BOWLERS at either end of the age spectrum brought Northants two national singles titles at the English Bowling Federation indoor finals at Lincoln.

Martyn Dolby capped his presidential term by becoming the first player from the county to win the senior singles, while young schoolboy Ollie Jeapes regained the under 25 open singles title he first won two years ago.

It was the first time since 2007 that the county had won two individual titles at the national indoor finals, and for the president it was his fourth EBF indoor triumph.

Dolby was in imperious form throughout his campaign, winning 21-13, 21-3, 21-4 and then 21-19 in the final against Notts.

Young Jeapes put out the winner of the ladies singles in Jorja Jackson (Hunts) in the opening round before reclaiming his crown with 21-10, 21-8 and 21-13 victories.

Apart from those successes, Northants made little impact in the remaining nine events, winning only two matches.

One of those wins also involved Jeapes in the pairs with Simon Law, defeating LIncs 17-12 before bowing out in the semi-finals to Durham.

The women’s rink of Elizabeth Wallace, Sue Moir and Chris Ford put out the reigning champions from Suffolk in the opening round before falling to Lincs.

Three of Northants’ defeats were by the agonising margin of a single shot – Paul Dalliday in the singles, brother and sister Stephen and Louise Harris in the mixed pairs, and to rub salt in the wounds Harris suffered the same fate in the mixed rinks with Adam Warrington and Chris Ford and only lost by two in the rinks with Tom Newman and Michael Humphreys.

How the Northants players fared:

MEN

Singles: Paul Dalliday lost 20-21 to Hunts; Senior singles: Martyn Dolby defeated Humberside 21-13, Suffolk 21-3, Derbys 21-4 and Notts 21-19 in the final; Under 25 open singles: Ollie Jeapes defeated Hunts 21-15 North Essex 21-10, Suffolk 21-8 and Lincs 21-13 in the final; Pairs: Ollie Jeapes and Simon Law defeated Lincs 17-12, then lost 18-9 in the semi-finals to Durham; Rinks: Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman, Stephen Harris lost 17-15 to North Cambs.

MIXED

Pairs: Louise & Stephen Harris lost 13-12 to North Cambs; Rinks: Adam Warrington, Chris Ford, Stephen Harris lost 2-19 to Hunts.

WOMEN

Singles: Chris Ford lost 21-7 to Humberside; Senior singles: Yvonne Monagham lost 21-10 to Hunts; Pairs: Lin Tuck & Shirley Suffling lost 23-8 to Suffolk; Rinks: Elizabeth Wallace, Sue Moir, Chris Ford defeated Suffolk 21-16 then lost to Lincs 21-16.

Pictured below: Ollie Jeapes and Martyn Dolby with their trophies.

TEAM captains Ray Keating and Dave Corney have named their teams for the Adams and Newton warm-up matches in May.

The Newton team are playing against Whittlesey Manor on Saturday, May 4 in the John Dickenson Memorial Shield match, which returns to the calendar after a year’s absence.

The Adams squad are at Parkway on Sunday, May 19 to play against Hunts who are preparing for their forthcoming Middleton Cup programme and up for grabs is the Malcolm Squires and Dick Noble Memorial Shield which was introduced last year.

Adams team: Michael Humphreys, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Duncan Lee, Neil Wright, Roger Martin; Trevor Smith, Graham Agger, Ray Keating; Jeff Clipston, Dudley Smith, Roger Strong; Stuart Agger, Mark Pye, Mick Linnell; Wayne Morris, Robert Heath, Martyn Dolby. Dress code: county shirts, black trousers or shorts.

Newton team: Steve Lander, Alec Emery, Paul Buckley; Mick Porter, Martin Bailey, Brian Bassam; Les Sharp, Dave Corney, Paul Bailey; Andy Cook, Jon Bailey, Melvyn Beck; Steve Shaw, Andy Dyer, Fred Richardson; Ian Chilvers, Philip Burbridge Phil Symonds. Dress code: Club shirts, grey or black trousers.

THE draws for the English Bowling Federation national indoor finals at Lincoln between April 22 and April 28 have been released.

Chris Ford and Stephen Harris will both be chasing title hat-tricks when the individual portion of the championships get under way on the Tuesday (April 23).

These are sandwiched between the women’s Harry Carver team event on the opening day and the men’s Eversley Trophy the following Sunday which Northants will be defending.

Northants’ Eversley team: Martyn Dolby, Simon Law, Graham Agger, Peter Brown, Bob Warters, Ally McNaughton.

The day before Northants will be seeking to win the Derbyshire Trophy inter-county title for the fourth time when they face Notts, the team they defeated when they last lifted the crown in 2019.

Team captain Simon Law has already announced his team for the final:

Brian Martin, Tom Newman, John Earl; Stuart Agger, Graham Agger, Peter Brown; Michael Humphreys, Wayne Morris, Adam Warrington; Paul Dalliday, Stephen Harris, Simon Law.

Reserves: Michael & Ollie Jeapes, Martyn Dolby.

NATIONAL FINALS DRAWS

MEN

Singles; Paul Dalliday v Hunts (Wednesday, 9.30am); Senior singles: Martyn Dolby v Humberside (Wednesday, 3.30pm); Under 25 singles: Ollie Jeapes v Hunts (Thursday, 5.00pm); Pairs: Ollie Jeapes & Simon Law v Lincs or Northumberland (Thursday, 7.30pm); Triples: Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman, Stephen Harris v North Cambs (Tuesday, 12.30pm).

MIXED

Pairs: Louise & Stephen Harris v North Cambs or Northumberland (Thursday, 5.00pm); Triples: Adam Warrington, Chris Ford, Stephen Harris v North Cambs or Hunts (Tuesday, 3.30pm).

WOMEN

Singles: Chris Ford v Humberside (Thursday, 12.00pm); Senior singles: Yvonne Monagham v Hunts or Suffolk (Thursday, 12.00pm); Pairs: Shirley Suffling & Lynn Tuck v Suffolk (Thursday, 9.30am); Triples: Elizabeth Wallace, Sue Moir, Chris Ford v Suffolk (Tuesday, 9.30am)

THE NBF completed a clean sweep against the NWBF by winning on all six rinks in the annual Ladies v Gents indoor challenge match for the Ean Eagle Trophy which was hosted by the Stamford club.

The teams were led by the respective county presidents, Martyn Dolby and Liz Hext, with the final result being 179-83 in favour of the men.

RESULT

GENTS 179, LADIES 83 (Gents rinks first):

John Suffling, Andy Cox, Paul Buckley 36, Fiona Richardson, Carrie Barclay, Judith Bates 9; Dave Corney, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter 34, Karen Porter, Elizabeth Wallace, Chris Ford 14; Jeff Clipston, Michael Humphreys, John Earl 26, Jean Scallon, Pam Seymour, Sue Moir 15; Les Sharp, Mick Porter, Graham Agger 33, Jenny Harvey, Val Du’Kett, Shirley Suffling 12; Mike Ramsden, Joe Martin, Martyn Dolby 24, Michelle Smith, Jackie Brown, Liz Hext 20; Peter Linnell, Melvyn Beck, Ally McNaughton 26, Joan Baker, Hazel Brewin, Yvonne Monagham 13.

THE local bowls world and beyond are mourning the sad passing of Northants Bowling Federation life member and former president Cliff Watson after a lengthy illness.

A larger-than-life character, he was a well known and much respected figure both locally and within the Federation movement.

He served the NBF executive with distinction for almost thirty years and was county president between 2012 and 2014.

A loyal and staunch supporter of the Federation family, he made no fewer than 287 appearances for the county, and was part of the team that won the Newton Trophy in 1991, as well as figuring in several Eversley Trophy successes.

He also helped create history for the county when as team captain in 2015 he led Northants to a first-ever Adams Trophy success.

He spent many years as a key member of the Peterborough & District club after spells with South Ward and Whittlesey Manor.

Those characteristic white braces will live long in the memory, as will the considerable loyalty he showed at both club and county level and the major contribution he made to the local bowls scene in general.

He will be sorely missed by the many colleagues and friends he made during a long and distinguished bowls career, and our thoughts at this sad time go to wife Sue and daughter Karen.

The funeral service will take place at Peterborough Crematorium on Wednesday, April 3rd at 11.00am and then afterwards at the Peterborough & District Bowls Centre.