THE Northants Bowling Federation men's and women's annual presentation luncheon moves to a new venue next year.

Following the disappointment of this year's luncheon, the county has acted swiftly to book the Ellindon Banqueting Centre at West Bretton, which forms part of The Masonic Centre. The date being Sunday, September 18th, 2022.

The Centre can accommodate up to 200 diners, has a separate lounge bar, and secured car parking at the rear for around 100 vehicles. It is next door to the Heltwate School.

It will be substantial traditional Sunday fayre, with a choice of three starters, three main courses and three desserts, plus tea and coffee, all for £25.00 – the same price as this year.

Vegetables etc will be served at the table and so you can have as little or as much as you like, and we understand the portions are more than generous.

NORTHANTS A hopes of winning the southern section of the Derbyshire Trophy for a third time in a row are all but over following a second defeat in three matches.

The latest setback came away to Hunts, who had lost their opening two matches, the final scoreline being 95-78 in favour of the home side, with Northants' only rink win coming from Richard Allam, Mike Robertson and Brian Martin, who won 28-19.

Northants' complete their programme in the New Year with home matches against Lincs and Norfolk.

RESULT

Northants A 78 (2), Hunts 95 (12) – (Northants rinks only):

Michael Humphreys, Adam Warrington, John Earl lost 30-12; Paul Dalliday, James Harford, Simon Law lost 22-17; Richard Allam, MIke Robertson, Brian Martin won 28-19; Tony Barwell, Dusty Miller, Martyn Dolby lost 22-21.

SAD to report the death of well-known local bowler Doris Flowers, a former president of Northants Women's Bowling Federation, following a short illness.

She has been a prominent figure on the local bowls scene for more than five decades, having started out at the now defunct South Ward before joining Peterborough & District, from where she enjoyed considerable success, both locally and nationally, before ending her long and distinguished career at Yaxley.

She was successful in both the federation and association codes, winning the English and British Isles fours titles at Leamington, and the national senior singles at Skegness. She was also part of the Peterborough & District team that twice won the national Top Club competition, and also played for a successful Hunts team in the Walker Cup.

She was a regular county player for both Northants and Hunts for many years, and was a multiple qualifier for both the nationals at Leamington and Skegness.

Her last notable success was winning the Reg Jackson Trophy at Skegness two years ago.

The funeral service takes place at the Peterborough Crematorium on Thursday, December 9th at 4.00pm.

For those who cannot attend, there will be a live streaming of the funeral on Event 1020204 – Doris Flowers.

Due to the positioning of the camera in the chapel, the visual tribute may not be clear when watching the webcast. The webcast will be available two to three hours after the service and for the following six days.

If anyone would like to leave a personal tribute to Doris, then email www.smithsfuneraldirectors.co.uk and click on the donate button. You will then be asked to enter Doris' name in order to gain access to her unique tribute.

NORTHANTS B suffered a second consecutive 14-0 defeat when they travelled to the blue carpeted Lincoln club to face Lincs, the final score being 123-61.

A slight improvement scorewise from the previous weekend's defeat in Norfolk, but at one stage late into the match it looked as though Northants might return with four points. 

Graham Agger's rink led by one shot entering the last of the 25 ends only to concede a double and lose 21-20, while John Holroyd's trio led 9-1 and 16-12, but were overhauled on the 21st end and went down 24-16.

RESULT

Northants B 61 (0), Lincs 123 (14) – (Northants rinks only):

Stuart Agger, Cliff Watson, Graham Agger lost 21-20; Les Sharp, Malcolm Squires, Paul Bailey lost 46-11; Andy Cox, Mick Greaves, MIck Linnell lost 32-14; Gareth Dickenson, Melvyn Beck, John Holroyd lost 24-16.

MIXED fortune for Northants teams in the second round of matches in the Derbyshire Trophy, the England Bowling Federation indoor inter-county championship.

The A team recovered from their surprise one shot defeat by their B team in the opening fixture by defeating North Cambs 106-65 at March to claim 12 of the 14 points on offer.

They won on three of the four rinks, with the trio of Tony Barwell, Paul Dalliday and Simon Law leading the way with a 43-9 victory. The rinks of Mike Robertson and John Earl also finished in credit with 27-13 and 20-19 wins respectively.

Meanwhile the B team came down to earth with a bump as they returned pointless from Norfolk after a 155-53 defeat at the Gallow club in Fakenham. They are on their travels again next Sunday with a trip to Lincoln to play Lincs.

RESULTS

Northants A 106 (12), North Cambs 65 (2) – (Northants rinks only):

Wayne Morris, James Harford, Martyn Dolby lost 24-16; Michael Humphreys, Stephen Harris, John Earl won 20-19; Richard Allam, Michael Jeapes, MIke Robertson won 27-13; Tony Barwell, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law won 43-9.

Northants B 53 (0), Norfolk 155 (14) – (Northants rinks only): 

Andy Cox, MIck Greaves, MIck Linnell lost 46-13; Stuart Agger, Cliff Watson, Graham Agger lost 25-16; Les Sharp, Melvyn Beck, Paul Bailey lost 31-13; Gareth Dickenson, Brian Bassam, John Holroyd lost 53-11.

BOTH the Northants A and B teams resume their Derbyshire Trophy programme on Sunday with trips to North Cambs and Norfolk respectively.

Following their surprise one shot win over the A team in the opening match, the B side will be hoping to build on that success against Norfolk at the Gallows club in Fakenham. They make one enforced change, with Melvyn Beck replacing the unavailable Neil Wright.

Having had to make four late changes for the opening match, A team captain James Harford has had to ring the changes again for the match at March, with John Earl, Michael Jeapes, Richard Allam, Martyn Dolby and Tony Barwell coming in for Roger Martin, Tony Scarr, Ally McNaughton, Dusty Miller and Brian Martin.

A TEAM

Tony Barwell, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law; Wayne Morris, John Earl, Martyn Dolby; Richard Allam, Michael Jeapes, Mike Robertson; Michael Humphreys, James Harford, Adam Warrington.

B TEAM

Stuart Agger, Cliff Watson, Graham Agger; Gareth Dickenson, Brian Bassam, John Holroyd; Andy Cox, Mick Greaves, Mick Linnell; Les Sharp, Melvyn Beck, Paul Bailey.

NORTHANTS B upset the form book by defeating their A team by one shot (90-89) in the opening Derbyshire Trophy fixture of the season played at Stamford.

The A team skipper James Harford had to reshuffle his team at the eleventh hour when four of his selected side withdrew for a variety of reasons, and while winning on three of the four rinks, the 29-18 victory for the rink of debutant Stuart Agger, Cliff Watson and Graham Agger tipped the scales in favour of Malcolm  Squires' B side who claimed eight of the 14 points on offer.

The A team rinks wins came from Simon Law, Mike Robertson and Roger Martin, but a combined winning aggregate of ten shots against John Holroyd, Mick Linnell and Paul Bailey respectively left them one shot short and so their hopes of winning the southern section for the third year in a row have suffered an early setback.

The B team, who now head to Norfolk for their next fixture in a fortnight's time, had three debutants in Stuart Agger, Gareth Dickenson and Andy Cox.

RESULT

Northants B 90 (8) bt Northants A 89 (6) – (Northants B rinks first):

Gareth Dickenson, Brian Bassam, John Holroyd 18, Wayne Morris, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law 19; Andy Cox, Mick Greaves, Mick Linnell 22, Dusty Miller, Ally McNaughton, Mike Robertson 27; Les Sharp, Neil Wright, Paul Bailey 21, Michael Humphreys, Tony Scarr, Roger Martin 25; Stuart Agger, Cliff Watson, Graham Agger 29, Brian Martin, James Harford, Adam Warrington 18.

The Northants A and B teams line-up before their Derbyshire Trophy match at Stamford which the B team won.

THE Northants Women's Bowling Federation held their annual meeting recently at the Peterborough & District club, but sadly not all clubs were represented.

In her report, President Vivienne Hempsell stressed the need to encourage ladies withn all clubs to 'have a go' and find out what playing for the county entails.

Life membership was proposed and accepted for Glenys Edwards for her outstanding commitment over many years on the committee and as a competitor.

Two clubs had submitted completed nomination forms resulting in the apppointment of Shirley Suffling (Ketton) as deputy president. She was presented with her badge of office by the President who thanked her for her support.

Apart from the office of match secretary, the remaining officers agreed to continue in their respective roles for the following year.

Thanks were extended to Norma Squires for her many years as an NWBF player and her hard work and support of the committee as match secretary, which remains vacant at the moment.

OFFICERS ELECTED

President and safeguarding officer, Vivienne Hempsell; deputy president, Shirley Suffling; treasurer, Chris Ford; secretary and national delegate, Terri Handley; competition secretary, Valerie Du'Kett; match secretary, vacant; Donald Steward team captain, Joan Robinson; Silver Jubilee Vase team captain, Ann Cooper.

NORTHANTS open their Derbyshire Trophy campaign at Stamford on Sunday morning (10.00am) with the A team facing their own B team.

The A team, winners of the English Bowling Federation's indoor inter-county title in 2019, were beaten in the delayed 2020 final by Durham at Newark a few weeks ago, and so James Harford's team sets out bidding to win the southern section title for a third year in a row.

There are three changes from the final against Durham with Brian Martin, John Earl and Wayne Morris replacing Richard Allam, Mike Robertson and Stephen Harris.

 Malcolm Squires' B team, who haven't played since early last year, have three new faces in their team – Stuart Agger Andy Cox and Gareth Dickenson.

A TEAM

Paul Dalliday, Michael Jeapes, Simon Law; Brian Martin, James Harford, Tristan Morton; Wayne Morris, John Earl, Martyn Dolby; Michael Humphreys, Adam Warrington, Roger Martin.

B TEAM

Stuart Agger, Cliff Watson, Graham Agger; Les Sharp, Neil Wright, Paul Bailey; Gareth Dickenson, Brian Basam, John Holroyd; Andy Cox, Mick Greaves, Mick Linnell.

PROBLEMS in filling administrative posts in bowls was again highlighted at the Northants Bowling Federation annual general meeting held at the Parkway club.

For the second year running the county will be operating without a President as no nominations were forthcoming, and so the officers will again have to share presidential duties next year.

There is also a vacancy for the Adams Trophy team captain, and unless that is filled before the start of next year's county championship programme, which returns to normal after the pandemic, then a selection panel will have to be formed to select the team.

Fortunately, key administrative positions have been filled with Melvyn Beck (secretary and competition secretary), Les Sharp (treasurer) and Graham Agger (match secretary) all re-elected, while Dick Noble becomes the county's first chairman, Peter Brown replaces Neil Wright as safegarding officer and Cliff Watson takes over as results secretary from Barry Lawrence, who was made a life member for his major contribution to the county over many years, although he will continue as a member of the management committee.

There was also a tribute to Malcolm Squires, who has retired from county administrative duties after forty years, including two terms as President.

Club delegates supported a motion from the executive to streamline the administration which has seen the four team captains removed from the day-to-day operation and the maxiumum number of committee members reduced from ten to six.

The appointment of a chairman for the first time is aimed at bringing some continuity to the running of committee meetings, especially in the absence of a President, who has traditionally chaired meetings. In future the President will be able to concentrate solely on ceremonial duties without the additional responsibility of chairing meetings.

One other motion from the committee that earned support from the club delegates was for clubs in the future to have just one voting delegate instead of two, as it was felt that if delegates were mandated by their clubs to vote a certain way, then it was not necessary to have two votes.

In his annual report, secretary Melvyn Beck warned that unless more people came forward to assist in the running of the county, then the long-term future of the county would be under threat, adding that this apathy was not simply confined to bowls, but to other sports and organisations.

In the competition secretary's report, Melvyn Beck said that fears of a possible slump in county competition entries following the scrapping of the 2020 programme owing to the pandemic did not materialise, with total entries only being 28 down from what was received for the previous year.

He added that it would be interesting to see whether the indoor entries will be affected as a result of the loss of last winter's competitions. There were 97 entries for the 2019/20 season, a drop of six on the previous year, but forty down from the 2016/17 campaign.

Treasurer Les Sharp thanked Forterra for their continued sponsorship of the county,

FULL LIST OF OFFICERS ELECTED

President – Vacant; Chairman, Dick Noble; Secretary, Melvyn Beck; Treasurer, Les Sharp; Match secretary, Graham Agger; Competition secretary, Melvyn Beck; Results secretary, Cliff Watson; Minutes' secretary, Linda Toms; NDC representative, Melvyn Beck; Press officer, Melvyn Beck; Safeguarding officer, Peter Brown; Management committee, Mick Greaves, James Harford, Barry Lawrence; Adams captain, vacant; Newton captain, Dick Noble; Derbyshire A captain, James Harford; Derbyshire B captain, Malcolm Squires.