STEPHEN Harris claimed two individual titles at the English Bowling Federation national indoor championships at Lincoln and was also part of the Northants team that lifted the Derbyshire Trophy inter-county team title for the second time in three years.

Earlier in the week, he skipped Michael Humphreys and Tom Newman-Borrett to the triples title which Northants also won last year. After a last end 19-18 victory over Cleveland in the opening round, they totally dominated the other matches against Durham (19-4) and Norfolk (26-7).

In the singles, he became the first Northants player to lift the ‘blue riband’ title for 19 years with victories over Humberside (21-9), Notts (21-14), Suffolk (21-16 and Lincolnshire’s Paul Bark 21-17 in a gripping final.

Within minutes of winning the singles, he was back on the rink with his triples title winning partners to help Northants emphatically defeat Northumberland 86-40 in the Derbyshire Trophy final, the northern champions throwing in the towel with 18 ends of the match still remaining.

The wins came from the rinks of Peter Brown (25-4), team captain Simon Law (22-11), Harris (21-12) and Graham Agger (18-13).

Hopes Ollie Jeapes and Martyn Dolby of winning their respective junior and senior singles titles for a third year in a row were both dashed in their second round matches.

The husband and wife pairing of Kevin and Lin Tuck suffered the agony of a one shot defeat in their semi-final clash with Lincs in the mixed pairs, while in the ladies events, Elizabeth Wallace and Chris Ford reached the last four of the pairs before succumbing to the eventual winners from North Cambs, which included former Northants player Pat Reynolds.

Northants were unable to make it four wins in a row in the men’s Eversley Trophy competition for county executives, finishing five points adrift of winners North Cambs, who were runners-up to Northants last year.

Northants were represented by Graham Agger, Simon Law, John Holroyd, Ally McNaughton, Andy Cox and Bob Warters.

In the women’s Harry Carver event for county executives, Northants finished sixth, the team being county president Sheila Craig, Elizabeth Hext, Val Du’Kett, Terri Handley, Rita Downs and Shirley Suffling.

RESULTS

MEN

Singles: Stephen Harris won the title beating Humberside 21-9, Notts 21-14, Suffolk 21-16 and Lincs 21-17; U25 singles: Ollie Jeapes lost 13-21 to Notts in the second round after beating North Essex 21-10; Senior singles: Martyn Dolby lost 12-21 to Durham in the second round after beating North Essex 21-12; Pairs: Tom Newman-Borrett and Ian Smith lost 2-19 to Hunts in the opening round; Triples: Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman-Borrett and Stephen Harris won the title beating Cleveland 19-18, Durham 19-4 and Norfolk 26-7; Mixed pairs: Kevin & Lin Tuck lost 17-18 in the semi-finals to Lincs after beating Northumberland 22-6 and North Cambs 18-7; Mixed rinks: Tom Newman-Borrett, Michelle & Ian Smith lost 2-24 to Lincs in their opening round.

WOMEN

Singles: Hazel Brewin lost 5-21 to Lincs in the first round; Senior singles: Elizabeth Wallace lost 18-21 to Notts in her opening round match; Pairs: Elizabeth Wallace and Chris Ford lost 11-16 in the semi-finals to North Cambs after beating Suffolk 18-10 and Northumberland 20-8; Triples: Lin Tuck, Shirley Suffling and Elaine Upton lost 16-17 on an extra end to Durham in the second round after beating Humberside 22-12.

DERBYSHIRE TROPHY FINAL

NORTHANTS bt NORTHUMBERLAND 86-40 (Northants rinks only):

Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman-Borrett, Stephen Harris won 21-12; Chris Ballard, Brian Martin, Peter Brown won 25-4; Martyn Dolby, Mick Linnell, Graham Agger won 18-13; Stuart Agger, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law won 22-11.

BELOW: Stephen Harris became the first Northants player to win the EBF indoor singles title in 19 years.

BELOW: Northants – winners of the EBF’s Derbyshire Trophy county team title.

BELOW: Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman-Borrett and Stephen Harris retained the triples for Northants.

THE NBF county season will start with the annual curtain-raising memorial matches remembering Federation stalwarts John Dickenson, Malcolm Squires and Dick Noble.

Whittlesey Manor host the NBF’s Newton Trophy squad on Saturday, May 9th which remembers John Dickenson, while on Sunday, May 24th, the NBF’s Adams Trophy squad take on a Hunts Bowls team at Parkway for the Malcolm Squires and Dick Noble Memorial Shield, both matches starting at 2.00pm.

These will be the prelude to the opening county fixtures away to Hunts on Saturday, May 30th.

NORTHANTS have had to make two changes to the team for the English Bowling Federation’s Derbyshire Trophy final against Northumberland at Lincoln this Saturday (April 25th) starting at 1.00pm.

Stephen Harris and Tom Newman-Borrett replace the unavailable pair Wayne Morris and Adam Warrington.

Northants: Chris Ballard, Brian Martin, Peter Brown; Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman-Borrett, Stephen Harris; Martyn Dolby, Mick Linnell, Graham Agger; Stuart Agger, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law.

THE annual indoor fixture between teams representing the NBF and the NWBF ended in a 155-72 victory for the men at Stamford.

The teams were led by NBF chairman Martyn Dolby and NWBF president Sheila Craig.

The rink of Michael Humphreys, Andy Cox and Tom Newman-Borrett were the men’s top rink with a 36-12 win, while the ladies’ consolation success came from Jenny Harvey, Jean Scallon and Chris Ford.

RESULT

NBF 155, NWBF 72 (NBF rinks first):

Ally McNaughton, Dudley Smith, Graham Agger 15, Jenny Harvey, Jean Scallon, Chris Ford 27; John Suffling, John Holroyd, Chris Ballard 21, Val Du’Kett, Shirley Suffling, Rita Downs 9; Martyn Dolby, Mick Linnell, Simon Law 34, Terri Handley, Wendy Jones, Sheila Craig 12; Michael Humphreys, Andy Cox, Tom Newman-Borrett 36, Elaine Upton, Marlene Osborne, Viv Hempsell 12; Peter Linnell, Sam Downs, Kevin Vinter 30, Hazel Brewin, Lisa Sharratt, Lisa Hawes 7; Dave Corney, Melvyn Beck, Neil Wright 19, Yvonne Monaghan, Fiona Richardson, Ann Northen 5.

Below: NWBF president Sheila Craig and NBF chairman Martyn Dolby with the Ean Eagle Challenge Trophy.

THE NBF and NWBF county championship teams set out in May on the road they hope will lead to the national finals at Skegness in late August.

It is 32 years since the NWBF last tasted success in the Donald Steward Trophy, having won it previously in 1985, while the county await their first triumph in the Silver Jubilee Vase, their only final appearance being in 2012.

Joan Robinson and Viv Hempsell are again captaining the teams which begin their campaigns with a visit to Norfolk on May 18th. Their home venues are Blackstones (Steward) and City of Peterborough (Vase).

The men have only had one Adams Cup success to their name back in 2015 under the captaincy of the late Cliff Watson. Their only other final appearance was in 1958.

You have to go back to 1967 for the county’s only success in the Newton Trophy, but they have been runners-up four times, the last time in 2017.

The Adams team have a new captain this year in Adam Emery, while Brian Bassam continues leading the Newton squad. Home venues are again Blackstones (Adams) and Whittlesey Manor (Newton).

NWBF FIXTURES

May 18 – away to Norfolk – Steward at Acle St Edmunds; Vase at Martham; June 9 – away to North Essex at Radwinter (Steward only); June 17 – home to Hunts; July 4 – away to North Cambs at Gorefield (Steward only); July 15 – home to Suffolk.

NBF FIXTURES

May 30 – away to Hunts – Adams at St Ives; Newton at Sawtry; June 6 – home to North Essex (Adams only); June 13 – home to Norfolk; June 20 – away to North Cambs at March (Adams only); June 27 – away to Suffolk – Adams at Sproughton; Newton at East Bergholt; July 4 – home to Lincs.

THE English Bowling Federation bowls week at the five-star Potters Resort at Hopton-on-Sea on the Norfolk coast takes place next year from Monday, February 22nd through to the Friday.

Booking through Northants Bowling Federation guarantees significant savings on the normal brochure price and the county also receives a commission on each booking.

It is a mixed fours tournament featuring bowlers from all the other 12 affiliated counties with four matches guaranteed, more if you make it through to the last 16.

The all-inclusive price includes three meals a day and a top class show each night. There other sporting and craft activities available throughout the day, along with a variety of quizzes and nightly bingo with big money prizes.

For further information contact Graham Agger on 07787 124258.

THE EBF/EWBF national indoor finals get under way at the Lincoln club on Monday, April 20th through to the following Sunday (April 26th).

The women’s Harry Carver team competition starts the proceedings on the Monday, but because of duplications – one woman has qualified in no fewer than five events – the women’s triples is having to start on the Monday night as opposed to the Tuesday morning.

Ollie Jeapes and Martyn Dolby are bidding to win their respective junior and senior singles titles for a third year in a row, while the county will also be defending the triples crown, although with a different triple this time.

Tom Newman-Borrett has qualified in three events – pairs, triples and mixed triples – while Ian Smith, Elizabeth Wallace, Lyn Tuck and Stephen Harris seek title doubles.

Over the final weekend, Northants will be seeking a team double. They face Northumberland in the Derbyshire Trophy inter-county championship final on the Saturday, and then the following day the team of executives look to win the Eversley Trophy for the fourth year in a row.

NATIONAL INDOOR FINALS TIMETABLE

MEN

Singles: Stephen Harris v Humberside, Wednesday, 9.30am; Veterans singles: Martyn Dolby v North Essex, Wednesday, 6.30pm; Under 25 singles: Ollie Jeapes v North Essex, Friday, 12 noon; Pairs: Tom Newman-Borrett & Ian Smith v Hunts, Thursday, 12.30pm; Triples: Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman-Borrett, Stephen Harris v Northumberland or Cleveland, Tuesday, 6.30pm; Mixed pairs: Lyn & Kevin Tuck v Northumberland, Tuesday, 12.30pm; Mixed triples: Michelle Smith, Tom Newman-Borrett, Ian Smith v Lincs or Suffolk, Tuesday, 3.30pm.

WOMEN

Singles: Hazel Brewin v Lincs, Wednesday, 12.30pm; Senior singles: Elizabeth Wallace v Hunts or Notts, Wednesday, 6.30pm; Pairs: Elizabeth Wallace & Chris Ford v Suffolk, Thursday, 9.30am; Triples: Lyn Tuck, Shirley Suffling, Elaine Upton v Humberside, Monday, 6.00pm.

NON-compliance of rules at inter-county championship matches and national championships involving dress code, smoking or vaping on the green and the use of mobile phones, again on the green, could lead to counties being docked points and players being disqualified.

In recent times, incidents are being reported to the national body of non-compliance of rules including the above. Although there are rules already in place to cover these matters, no formal process to incur penalties in relation to non-compliance is currently in place. This document, therefore, covers the process of enforcement as agreed by the National Executive Committee that will come into effect on May 1st.

During inter-county matches, where an umpire is appointed, any incidents of non-compliance of the rules covering dress code, smoking/vaping and use of mobile phones the umpire will speak with the captain or county official of the offending team and ask for the matter to be remedied immediately. If this is done, the matter will be noted on the umpire’s official report and no further action taken.

If, however, no action is taken to rectify the matter, or there is further non-compliance during the same match the non-compliance will be reported to the National Secretary via the official match report and for each occurrence one point will be deducted from the offending team’s match score (this could result in a minus score if no points were gained).

Important note: If a mobile phone is required by a player on the green for emergency purposes during a match, then the umpire must be informed prior to the game starting.

If an umpire has not been allocated to an inter-county match, then the team captains/county officials will act in the enforcement process as above and report any incident(s) to the National Secretary.

At National Championships, all incidents of non-compliance will firstly be reported and dealt with by the on-duty umpire and they will discuss the matter with the player concerned and ask for the matter to be remedied immediately. If this is done no further action will be taken, but the incident will be noted.

If, however, no action is taken to rectify the matter or there is further non-compliance during the same Championships then the Finals Committee may disqualify the player(s) concerned.

THE NBF will break with tradition this year and stage the semi-finals and final of the Dan Duffy team championship on Sunday afternoons instead of Thursday evenings.

One principal reason for the change is that at that stage of the season it is often a race against time to complete the match in reasonable light, especially the final which is played over 25 ends as opposed to 21 in the earlier rounds.

One intriguing preliminary round clash is a repeat of last year’s final when Blackstones defeated defending champions Parkway.

The Adams Cup will continue to be played on Thursday evenings, including the final on July 30th.

Defending champions Whittlesey Manor have drawn their own B team in the opening round.

DAN DUFFY CUP

Preliminary round (Thursday, July 9): Whittlesey Manor v Stamford; City of Peterborough v Crowland; Parkway v Blackstones.

Semi-finals (Sunday, July 26): Parkway or Blackstones v City of Peterborough or Crowland; Whittlesey Manor or Stamford v Yaxley.

Final (Sunday, August 2 at a venue to be decided)

ADAMS CUP

Preliminary round (Thursday, June 18): Parkway v Conservative; Peterborough & District v West Ward; Crowland A v City of Peterborough.

Quarter-finals (Thursday, July 2): 1 Crowland A or City of Peterborough v Stamford; 2 Crowland B v Parkway or Conservative; 3 Yaxley v Peterborough & District or Westward; 4 Whittlesey Manor A v Whittlesey Manor B.

Semi-finals (Thursday, July 16): 1 v 2; 3 v 4.

Final (Thursday, July 30 at a venue to be decided).

TEAM captain Simon Law has named an unchanged team for the EBF’s Derbyshire Trophy indoor county championship final against Northumberland at Lincoln on Saturday, April 25th.

Northants: Chris Ballard, Brian Martin, Peter Brown; Stuart Agger, Paul Dalliday, Simon Law; Michael Humphreys, Wayne Morris, Adam Warrington; Martyn Dolby, Mick Linnell, Graham Agger. Res: Tom Newman-Borrett.