SAD to announce the passing of county stalwart Malcolm Squires who lost his brave battle for life at the Peterborough City Hospital on Saturday (Dec 3) at the age of 76 with wife Norma at his bedside.

Over the past four decades he has been one of the most influential administrators at both county and club level, including two terms as Northants Bowling Federation president.

It was only in September at the county luncheon that the county recognised his long and loyal service spanning some forty years with the presentation of a cut glass fruit bowl in what was an emotional experience for all.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Norma and the family at this extremely sad time and he will be sorely missed by all, especially by those at the City of Peterborough club, where he made a major contribution in the club’s development over the past few years.

The funeral service will be held at the Peterborough Crematorium on Thursday, December 29th at 12 noon. His wife has requested that mourners adorn their club bowls shirts and donations are in aid of Prostrate Cancer.

NORTHANTS A toppled southern section leaders Hunts to go 12 points clear at the top as they bid to qualify for the Derbyshire Trophy final.

They made it three wins out of three with a maximum 14 points haul against their local rivals at Stamford, winning 111-85.

They resume their programme after Christmas with visits to defending champions Lincs, who have only played one game so far, and Norfolk.

Although Northants ‘whitewashed’ their opponents, the margin of victory in three of the four rinks was in single figures, and the other one, skipped by Tristan Morton, was only 12.

RESULT

Northants A 111 (14), Hunts 85 (0) – (Northants rinks only):

Brian Martin, John Earl, Martyn Dolby won 23-21; Trevor Collins, Adam Warrington, Tristan Morton won 31-19; Stuart & Graham Agger, Peter Brown won 27-24; Paul Dalliday, Mike Robertson, Simon Law won 30-21.

NORTHANTS B pushed defending champions Lincolnshire all the way to the finishing line in their latest English Bowling Federation Derbyshire Trophy indoor inter-county clash at Peterborough & District.

They took four points off the holders and were only 11 shots adrift at the end – 78-89.

Their rink wins came from Kevin Vinter (24-13) and Paul Bailey (23-17) and the result may assist their A team in their quest for the southern section title as they still have Lincs to play in the New Year.

RESULT

Northants B 78 (4), Lincs 89 (10) – (Northants B rinks only):

Terry Corney, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter won 24-13; Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Phil Afford lost 15-29; Richard Allam, Martin & Paul Bailey won 23-17; Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman, Ray Keating lost 16-30.

The A team hope to make it three wins out of three when they host Hunts at Stamford on Sunday (December 4th).

Northants A: Trevor Collins, Michael Jeapes, Adam Warrington; Brian Martin, John Earl, Martyn Dolby; Stuart & Graham Agger, Peter Brown; Paul Dalliday, Mike Robertson, Simon Law.

THE Northants A and B teams were both in winning form in the latest round of matches in the English Bowling Federation’s Derbyshire Trophy, the indoor inter-county championship.

The A team made it two wins out of two with an emphatic 119-68 victory over North Cambs at Stamford, while the B side achieved their first-ever win against Norfolk, 101-81 at Peterborough & District, with both home teams collecting 12 of the 14 points on offer.

Rink wins at Stamford came from team captain Simon Law (24-11), Tristan Morton (30-21) and county president Martyn Dolby, who led the way with a 42-9 victory.

Considering they lost by more than 100 shots away to Norfolk last year, the B team produced a remarkable change of fortune, albeit that only three of last year’s line-up remain in captain Ray Keating’s new-look squad.

There were rink successes for Kevin Vinter (33-15), Ray Keating (27=22) and Phil Afford (24-16) as they maintained their momentum after being quick out of the blocks.

The B team are back in action again this Sunday (November 27) when they entertain Lincs at Peterborough & District.

RESULTS

Northants A 119 (12), North Cambs 68 (2) – (Northants rinks only):

Ollie Jeapes, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law won 24-11; Brian Martin, John Earl, Martyn Dolby won 42-9; Stuart & Graham Agger, Tristan Morton won 30-21; Mike Robertson, Trevor Collins, Michael Jeapes lost 23-27.

Northants B 100 (12), Norfolk 81 (2) – (Northants rinks only):

Richard Allam, Martin & Paul Bailey lost 17-27; Terry Corney, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter won 33-15; Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman, Ray Keating won 27-22; Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Phil Afford won 24-16.

IT is sad to report the passing of former Northants Women’s Bowling Federation president Molly Cole at the age of 90.

A long-standing member of the Whittlesey Manor club, she was county president in 1993 and two years later won the national two-bowl triples title at Skegness with Jean Redhead and Wendy Lutkin.

The funeral service takes place at the Fenland Crematorium in March on Monday (November 21) at 1.30pm.

THE Northants A and B teams have been selected for the Derbyshire Trophy home matches against North Cambs and Norfolk respectively on Sunday November 20th.

The A team are in action at Stamford with Tristan Morton and Trevor Collins replacing Tony Barwell and Peter Brown from the team that defeated the B side in the opening match of the English Bowling Federation indoor inter-county championship campaign.

The B team also have two fresh faces in their line-up at Peterborough & District with Richard Allam and Michael Humphreys coming in for Martin Prudhoe and Tom Fielding.

A team: Trevor Collins, Michael Jeapes, Adam Warrington; Stuart & Graham Agger, Tristan Morton; Brian Martin, John Earl, Martyn Dolby; Paul Dalliday, MIke Robertson, Simon Law.

B team: Terry Corney, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Tom Newman, Michael Humphreys, Ray Keating; Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Phil Afford; Richard Allam, Martin & Paul Bailey.

SHIRLEY Suffling (Ketton) has been installed as the new president of Northants Women’s Bowling Federation following the annual general meeting.

She received the chain of office from outgoing president Vivienne Hempsell. Liz Hext (Conservative) will be her deputy.

All the main officers were re-elected, although the county are still seeking a new match secretary.

County selection day will be held on May 10 next year at Ketton, and the county fixtures are as follows:

Wednesday, May 25 – away to Hunts (both teams); Wednesday, June 7 – home to North Cambs; Wednesday, June 21 – away to Suffolk (both teams); Wednesday, July 5 – home to Norfolk (both teams); Wednesday, July 19 – home to North Essex.

A proposal to revert to fixed dates for the outdoor county competitions was carried.

Officers elected: Secretary, Terri Handley; Treasurer, Chris Ford; Competition secretary, Valerie Du’Kett; Safeguarding officer: Vivienne Hempsell; Donald Steward captain, Joan Robinson Silver Jubilee captain, Ann Cooper; Committee members, Pearl O’Brien and Elizabeth Wallace.

NORTHANTS A earned the bragging rights at the expense of their B team in the opening Derbyshire Trophy of the season with a 101-81 victory at Peterborough & District, but they were made to work hard for their ten points.

Big wins for the rinks of Peter Brown (34-14) and new county president Martyn Dolby (33-12) laid the foundations for the A team’s success, with Kevin Vinter (26-14) and new captain Ray Keating (29-20) responding for the B side to earn them four points.

RESULTS

Northants A 101 (10), Northants B 81 (4) – (Northants A rinks first ):

Tony Barwell, Mike Robertson, Adam Warrington 14, Terry Corney, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter 26.

Brian Martin, John Earl, Martyn Dolby 33, Martin Prudhoe, Martin & Paul Bailey 12.

Stuart & Graham Agger, Peter Brown 34, Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Tom Fielding 14.

Paul Dalliday, Michael Jeapes, Simon Law 20, Tom Newman, Phil Afford, Ray Keating 29.

MARTYN Dolby (Blackstones) has been installed as the new president of the Northants Bowling Federation.

His appointment was confirmed at the county’s annual general meeting, thus filling this prestigious position that had remained vacant for the past two years.

He will be president for the next two years, but the role of deputy president remains vacant.

There are also new faces filling three of the four team captaincy roles, with Simon Law (Derbyshire A), Ray Keating (Derbyshire B) and Neil Wright (Adams) being elected, with Dave Corney remaining as Newton captain.

There were also changes to the management committee, with Neil Wright and Ally McNaughton coming on board, while life member Barry Lawrence stepped down.

All the principal office holders remain unchanged. Secretary, Melvyn Beck; Treasurer, Les Sharp; Match secretary, Graham Agger; Competition secretary, Melvyn Beck; Results secretary, Cliff Watson; Safeguarding & welfare officer, Peter Brown; Minutes’ secretary, Linda Toms; Management committee, Mick Greaves, James Harford, Dave Corney, Ally McNaughton, Neil Wright.

One new addition to the match programme next season will be a fixture between the NBF and Hunts Bowls at Whittlesey Manor on May 20th, which will act as a county trial match for both codes. This will be in addition to the annual John Dickenson Memorial match between the Federation and Whittlesey Manor.

It was disclosed that next year’s county indoor finals will be at Peterborough & District on Sunday, March 19th, with the outdoor finals at Whittlesey Manor on Sunday, July 23rd.

Next year’s national indoor finals at Newark will run from April 24-30, with Skegness from August 19-26. One change at Skegness will be that all six inter-county finals will be played on the Saturday, leaving Sunday and Monday morning free for the Reg Jackson competition.

The championships proper will start on the Monday afternoon instead of the traditional Tuesday morning, thus providing tournament organisers with an extra half-day to play with.

THE Northants A and B teams have been selected for the opening Derbyshire Trophy clash of the new season between themselves at Burton Street on Sunday, October 30th.

Northants A

Paul Dalliday, Michael Jeapes, Simon Law; Tony Barwell, John Earl, Martyn Dolby; Stuart & Graham Agger, Peter Brown; Brian Martin, Mike Robertson, Adam Warrington.

Northants B

Ollie Jeapes, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter; Martin Prudhoe, Martin & Paul Bailey; Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Tom Fielding; Terry Corney, Tom Newman, Ray Keating.