NORTHANTS teams achieved a notable double when hosting Norfolk in the English Bowling Federation’s county championship.

The Adams Trophy team made it two wins out of three with a 178-152 victory at Blackstones to claim 16 points and go third in the southern section, while the Newton Trophy team gained their first win of the season in some style, winning 202-136 and collecting all but one of the 22 points on offer.

There were wins in the Adams for the rinks of John Earl, Peter Brown and Graham Agger, while Adam Warrington’s went down by just one shot, while Steven Shaw’s trio led the romp for the Newton team with a 41-12 success.

The Adams team are back in action on Saturday (June 20) when they make the short trip to March to face bottom of the table North Cambs.

RESULTS

ADAMS TROPHY

NORTHANTS 178 (16), NORFOLK 152 (6) – (Northants rinks only):

Tom Newman-Borrett, Tom Fielding, John Earl won 36-12; Ally McNaughton, Mike Anderson, Peter Brown won 37-20; Kevin Brown, Zack Brown, Graham Agger won 29-23; Wayne Morris, Michael Humphreys, Adam Warrington lost 29-30; Craig Campbell, Dudley Smith, Neil Wright lost 24-38; John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter, Stephen Harris lost 23-29.

NEWTON TROPHY

NORTHANTS 202 (21), NORFOLK 136 (1) – (Northants rinks only):

Steve Lander, Roger Stevens, Phil Symonds drew 29-29; Peter Smith, Duncan Lee, Dave Corney won 30-25; Dave Franks, Andy Dyer, Barry Lawrence won 27-25; Ian Chilvers, Dave Henson, Brian Bassam won 38-24; Jeff Clipston, Roger Strong, Mick Greaves won 37-21; Dave Roberts, Mark Feakins, Steven Shaw won 41-12.

HAVING lost by only 11 shots in their opening match away to Norfolk, the NWBF Donald Steward Trophy team suffered another narrow defeat on their travels to North Essex, the margin this time just 16 shots.

As in Norfolk, Northants won on two of the five rinks so had to be content again with just four points for their determined effort, with the hosts winning 115-99.

The rink of Terri Handley, Shirley Suffling and Elaine Upton made it two wins out of two with a 26-23 victory, while Jan McDougall, Miriam Hulbert and Tina Tinklin secured the biggest win of the day – 31-14.

RESULT

DONALD STEWARD TROPHY

NORTHANTS 99 (4), NORTH ESSEX 115 (14) – (Northants rinks only):

Sally Albany, Joan Collishaw, Chris Ryan lost 16-27; Linda Toms, Val Du’Kett, Liz Hext lost 16-27; Rita Downs, Julie O’Neill, Viv Hempsell lost 10-24; Terri Handley, Shirley Suffling, Elaine Upton won 26-23; Jan McDougall, Miriam Hulbert, Tina Tinklin won 31-14.

THE local bowls community are struggling to come to terms with the sudden passing of administrator extraordinaire Andy Cox eleven days after collapsing on the green at the City of Peterborough club.

He was deeply passionate about the sport of bowls and dedicated in its administration to the extent that he was heavily involved in the running of no fewer than four local bowls organisations, all of whom are left with a massive void to overcome.

Without question he was one of the most efficient, innovative, professional and dedicated local bowls administrators of his generation, and a real gentleman to boot!

Over many decades he was the main cog in the Peterborough League’s administrative machine, and at the time of his passing combined the role of secretary with that of treasurer.

In recent years he added to his administrative portfolio, becoming secretary of the City of Peterborough club following the passing of another administrative icon in Malcolm Squires; treasurer of the Northants Bowling Federation and a director at the Peterborough & District club, and immersed himself in all these roles, often going way beyond his remit because he was a person who had problems saying ‘No’.

From his background in accountancy, he was well equipped to deal with the financial aspects of the associations, producing detailed financial statements and forecasts that sometimes mesmerised his colleagues on the various committees, but a number of local clubs were grateful for his expertise when it came to auditing their annual accounts.

The local bowls world should be forever grateful for the massive contribution Andy made in the organisation of the sport and he will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure of being in his company and working alongside him on the various committees.

Obviously our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sue and the family at this desperately sad time.

The funeral is to be a private family affair, but his widow is considering arranging a celebration of Andy’s life later in the year.

THE NBF Adams Trophy bounced back from the disappointment of the previous week’s last bowl one shot defeat against Hunts by crushing North Essex 210-129 at Blackstones and collect the maximum 22 points on offer.

North Essex had already won in Norfolk and only lost by three shots against Suffolk, but they had no answer to Northants’ power-packed display.

The rinks of Neil Wright, Mike Anderson and Adam Warrington all topped forty shots, and the clean sweep was achieved with wins for the rinks of team captain Adam Emery, Graham Agger and Kevin Vinter.

Northants will hope to build on that success next Saturday (June 13) when they entertain Norfolk at Blackstones, with the Newton Trophy team in action against the same county at Whittlesey Manor.

RESULT

ADAMS TROPHY

NORTHANTS 210 (22), NORTH ESSEX 129 (0) – (Northants rinks only):

Luke Murray, Dudley Smith, Adam Emery won 32-28; Craig Campbell, Alec Emery, Neil Wright won 41-22; Ally McNaughton, Darren Middleton, Mike Anderson won 40-20; Kevin Brown, Steven Shaw, Graham Agger won 24-20; Duncan Lee, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter won 29-24; Wayne Morris, Michael Humphreys, Adam Warrington won 44-14.

THE NBF Adams Trophy team suffered the agony of a last bowl one shot defeat in their opening match of the season away to Hunts at St Ives.

The hosts claimed a shot with their last bowl on the final end of the 31 end match to win 164-163 and claim the bulk of the points (17-5).

There was a comprehensive win for the rink of Stephen Harris (41-20) and Graham Agger’s won 29-26, with Peter Brown’s drawing 25-25.

There were encouraging debuts for schoolboy Luke Murray and Whittlesey Manor’s Kevin Brown.

The Adams continue their programme at home to North Essex at Blackstones on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Newton Trophy team only picked up two points in their match against Hunts at Sawtry, courtesy of the Conservative rink of Dave Franks, Andy Dyer and Barry Lawrence.

ADAMS TROPHY RESULT

NORTHANTS 163 (5), HUNTS 164 (17) – (Northants rinks only):

Duncan Lee, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter lost 21-28; Martyn Dolby, Tom Fielding, John Earl lost 24-29; Ally McNaughton, Dudley Smith, Stephen Harris won 41-20; Luke Murray, Tom Newman-Borrett, Peter Brown drew 15-15; Wayne Morris, Michael Humphreys, Adam Warrington lost 23-36; Kevin Brown, Zack Brown, Graham Agger won 29-26.

AN NBF team played second fiddle again to Hunts Bowls in the annual memorial match remembering the significant contributions Malcolm Squires and Dick Noble made to the counties in both codes.

Hunts retained the shield with a comfortable 107-70 win at Parkway, winning on four of the five rinks, with the other one drawn, the rink of Neil Wright preventing a clean sweep for the hosts.

The match is a curtain-raiser to the new county championship season and enables the respective team managers to look at potential new recruits and rink permutations.

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

RESULT

NBF 70, HUNTS 107 (NBF rinks only):

Andy Cox, Barry Lawrence, Zack Brown, Adam Emery lost 20-23; Kevin Brown, Steven Shaw, Graham Agger lost 13-24; Alec Emery, Dudley Smith, Neil Wright drew 15-15; Duncan Lee, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter lost 7-21; Martyn Dolby, Michael Humphreys, Adam Warrington lost 15-24.

BELOW; Sheron Noble (right) and Norma Squires with the shield that remembers their late husbands, flanked by Hunts team manager Bob Morton and Northants Bowling Federation chairman Martyn Dolby.

NEW Adams Trophy team captain Adam Emery has named his first team for the opening county championship match away to Hunts at St Ives on Saturday (1.00pm).

It includes two newcomers in Kevin Brown and schoolboy Luke Murray.

Team: Luke Murray, Tom Newman-Borrett, Adam Emery; Wayne Morris, Michael Humphreys, Adam Warrington; John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter, Stephen Harris; Duncan Lee, Dudley Smith, Peter Brown; Kevin Brown, Zack Brown, Graham Agger; Martyn Dolby, Tom Fielding, John Earl.

The Newton Trophy team playing Hunts at Sawtry includes nine of the team that played in the last match of last season

Team: Jeff Clipston, Roger Strong, Mick Greaves; Roger Stevens, Steve Lander, Phil Symonds; Ian Chilvers, Brian Downs, Paul Buckley; Dave Franks, Andy Dyer, Barry Lawrence; Dave Roberts, Andy Cook, Steven Shaw; Peter Smith, Mick Thurling, Dave Corney.

Res: Andy Cox, Martin Prudhoe, Frank Hall, Paul Carey.

THE NWBF teams opened their county championship programmes with narrow defeats away to Norfolk.

The Donald Steward team went down by 11 shots at Acle, while the Silver Jubilee Vase team finished 14 shots adrift at Martham.

Both teams won on two rinks to claim four of the 18 points on offer.

The rinks of Liz Hext (23-22) and Elaine Upton (32-16) secured the points for the Donald Steward team in a 120-109 defeat, while the rinks of Chris Ford (24-10) and Lisa Sharratt (24-14) were successful for the Vase team in a 109-95 defeat.

Next up for the county is a Donald Steward match only away to North Essex on June 5.

RESULTS

DONALD STEWARD TROPHY

NORTHANTS 109 (4), NORFOLK 120 (14): (Northants rinks only) –

Rhona Morrell, Penny Hart, Myra Landsburgh lost 20-25; Sally Albany, Joan Collishaw, Chris Ryan lost 21-26; Miriam Hulbert, Ali McCormick, Julie O’Neill lost 13-31; Val Du’Kett, Linda Toms, Liz Hext won 23-22; Terri Handley, Shirley Suffling, Elaine Upton won 32-16.

SILVER JUBILEE VASE

NORTHANTS 95 (4), NORFOLK 109 (14): (Northants rinks only) –

Sue Mitchell, Chris Frost, Sue Mansbridge lost 14-33; Sue Shaw, Jess Bolam, Maureen Stone lost 14-29; Polly Evans, Marlene Osborne, Netta Andrews lost 19-13; Elizabeth Wallace, Rita Downs, Chris Ford won 24-10; Julie Nolan, Kate Heath, Lisa Sharratt won 24-14.

THE NBF have won the annual John Dickenson Memorial match against Whittlesey Manor for just the second time since it was introduced in 2017 to remember the county and national Federation stalwart.

The match is hosted by the Manor club where John began his local bowling career back in the seventies before embarking on a long and distinguished involvement with the Federation movement during which time he served as county treasurer and president, national president and finally national chairman.

His widow Mary was on hand to present the shield to NBF Newton Trophy captain Brian Bassam following his team’s 111-102 victory.

In recent times this county season curtain raiser has provided the opportunity for the Newton team captain to run the rule over squad members and trialists before the opening fixture, which this season is on May 30 away to Hunts at Sawtry.

RESULT

NBF 111, Whittlesey Manor 102 (NBF rinks first):

Chris Royce, Graham Patrickson, Roger Strong 18, Ray Hunt, Terry English, Mick Linnell 24; Peter Smith, Andy Cox, Mick Thurling 14, Dick Fielding, Michael Owens, Roger Martin 25; Nigel Barnes, Frank Hall, David Corney 14, David Balmer, Luke Murray, Adam Emery 16; Roger Stevens, Gareth Dickenson, Phil Symonds 20, Jayne Noble, Derek Noble, Dudley Smith 12; Kevin Brown, Brian Bassam, Steven Shaw 16, Trevor Deal, Alec Emery, Graham Agger 16; Dave Franks, Andy Dyer, Barry Lawrence 29, Tony Cattermole, Paul Allen, Zack Brown 9.

BELOW: John Dickenson’s widow Mary presents the Memorial Shield to Newton team captain Brian Bassam.

THERE is still the opportunity to book your place for next year’s English Bowling Federation’s Potters Bowls Week which starts on Monday, February 22nd through to the Friday.

There is a significant saving on the normal brochure price by booking through Northants Bowling Federation who receive a commission on each book which is shared between the NBF and NWBF.

It is a mixed fours tournament featuring bowlers from all the other 12 counties affiliated to the EBF and four matches are guaranteed.

The all-inclusive price includes three meals a day and a top class show each evening.

There are other sporting and craft activities available during the day, plus numerous quizzes and nightly bingo sessions with big money prizes.

If you are interested, get in touch as soon as possible with county organiser Graham Agger on 07787 124258.