EXTRA SPORT • LOCAL BOWLS ATLANTIC RIM CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CYPRUS – COUNTY PLAYERS INVOLVED. As reported a couple of weeks ago, Rebecca Wigfield, Desborough Town BC and Jamie Walker, Northampton West End BC have flown out to represent England in the Atlantic Rim Games in Cyprus which is being played from Monday 30th November, to Sunday, 13th December, 2015. The event is for an entry from each participating country in the major 4 disciplines of Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours, for both genders. 17 Nations are participating in the Women’s event and 18 in the Men’s, and they include the home nations, Scotland, Wales & Ireland, as well as England, of course, plus Argentina from South America; Cyprus, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man from Europe; Kenya, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe from the African continent; and Turkey & Israel from the Middle East. Rebecca has been selected for the Women’s Team in the Pairs with Wendy King of Kent skipping it, and to lead for the Fours alongside Jamie-Lea Winch (Warwickshire), Ellen Falkner (Cambridgeshire) & Wendy King. The other member of the England Women’s Team is Sophie Tolchard (Devon) who will play the Singles & the Triples alongside Winch and Falkner. Jamie has been selected for the Men’s Team to play the Singles, and the Triples alongside Andrew Knapper (Berkshire) & Robert Newman (Berkshire) who will skip them. The other members of the England Men’s Team are Louis Ridout (Devon) & Graham Shadwell (Wiltshire) who will play the Pairs together and join Newman and Knapper in the Fours. Live coverage online of the play daily may be accessed through World Bowls by visiting the website: www.livebowls. eventpages.org Well done to both for their selection – we hope they have a very enjoyable & successful Tournament. ENGLAND SENIOR MEN’S INTERNATIONAL TRIAL – NORTHAMPTON & DISTRICT IBC The English Indoor Bowling Association will be holding its men’s senior International Trial, on Sunday, 6th December, 2015, at Northampton & District IBC, commencing at 1.0 p.m. and three of the County bowlers will be taking part. Neil McKee, Kingsthorpe, a regular indoor Senior International, will be playing at No. 2 in a rink skipped by regular International Jamie Chestney, of Devon, and he will have for company Steve Mitchinson, Essex, at Lead, and Steve Farish, Cumbria at No. 3, both also being current Internationals. Connor Cinato, Kingsthorpe and Andrew Manton, Kingsthorpe, have been selected as travelling reserves, and they will take part in the Trial at some stage during the afternoon. Jamie Walker, Wellingborough, is away on England duty on this date, as will be seen from the previous item, when he does battle in the Atlantic Rim International Bowls from the 30th November to the 13th December, 2015, but he will still be considered for the International Series to be held at Llanelli IBC, Wales, from 17th to 19th March, 2016 We wish all of them well with the hope that they convince the selectors that they have the cre-
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dentials to play for England. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE OVER 60’S MEN versus LEICESTERSHIRE The Over 60’s men’s team representing Northamptonshire Indoor Bowling Association. Will play Leicestershire in the National Over 60’s team knock out, on Friday, 11th December, 2015. This competition is played by 6 rinks per County, with 3 at home and 3 away, and the following have been selected: Home Rinks, at Northampton & District IBC, commencing at 12 noon: Rink 1. Pete Maloy, Kingsthorpe/David Bailey, Wellingborough/Norman Gibb, Desborough/Tony Weston, Northampton & District Rink 2. Roger Summers, Northampton & District/Bernard Spreadbury, Daventry/ Colin Jones, Kingsthorpe/Jim McKee, Kingsthorpe Rink 3. Will Clelland, Desborough/Pete Morris, Kingsthorpe/ John Leggett, Northampton & District/Roger Tansley, Kingsthorpe Away Rinks, at Leicester IBC, Slater Street, Leicester, LE3 5AS, commencing at 2.0 p.m. Rink 4. Jim Diver, Desborough/ Mick Richardson, Daventry/Bob Fuller, Wellingborough/John Haines, Desborough Rink 5. Tony Dicks, Daventry/Peter Mellor, Desborough/ George Warren, Desborough/ Mick Worthington, Daventry Rink 6. Alan Baulch, Northampton & District/Bob Care, Kingsthorpe/Malc Mattinson, Rushden Town/Walt Winsor, Wellingborough Reserves: Dougie Cooper, Kingsthorpe/Dennis Collins, Wellingborough/Colin Barnes, Northampton & District. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE WOMEN ‘FRIENDLY’ versus WELLINGBOROUGH BC LADIES The following players have been selected to represent Northamptonshire Women’s Indoor Bowling Association in a friendly match against the ladies of Wellingborough BC, on Monday, 7th December, 2015, commencing at 2.0 p.m. Rink 1. Donna Williamson, Kingsthorpe/Val Scott, Brackley/Joan Sidebottom, Northampton & District/Vicki Rushall, Daventry Rink 2. Pat Starsmore, Kettering Lodge/Pam Page, Desborough/Barbara Oliver, Daventry/ Joan Watts, Daventry Rink 3. Audrey Gardiner, Daventry/Elaine Munton, Kingsthorpe/Glenys Emery, Kingsthorpe/Audrey Height, Kettering Lodge Rink 4. Julie Spreadbury, Daventry/Val Blackwell, Rushden Town/Denise Carlin, Desborough/Joyce Porter, Northampton & District Rink 5. Lynn Upton, Brackley/ Maxeen Belski, Desborough/ Barbara Haseldine, Rushden Town/Wilma Walker, Desborough Rink 6. Dorothy Diver, Desborough/Heather Lack, Kettering Lodge/Pam Sallaway, Rushden Town/Pat Mattinson, Rushden Town Reserves: Debbie Watkins, Kingsthorpe/Lorna Hart, Kingsthorpe/Lynn Duff, Desborough BOWLS ENGLAND NEWS 1. It is understood the Department for Culture, Media & Sport is considering cuts of up to 40 per cent from the budget in this week’s Spending Review. Whilst Bowls England does not receive any Government fund-
ing in support of its own work and is wholly self-funded, Chief Executive Tony Allcock MBE has backed a national campaign led by the Sport & Recreation Alliance to protect grassroots sport. Tony Allcock MBE wrote to the Chancellor: “The Government needs to place sport and physical activity at the heart of its policies across government and, crucially, it needs to provide funding to deliver this important role. You have already made clear your commitment to investing in Britain’s infrastructure. Sporting infrastructure requires investment too – not just in facilities, kit and clubhouses but in volunteers, in coaches and in community programmes.” In his letter, Tony Allcock MBE highlighted the many positive benefits that community sport has including huge economic benefits and the prevention of physical and mental ill health. Tony Allcock MBE said: “Bowls England, unlike many other national governing bodies, receives no direct Government funding. However, we feel it is important to stand shoulder-toshoulder with colleagues across the sport and recreation sector to lobby the Government on this vital issue.” The Sport & Recreation Alliance has announced that cuts to sports funding of between 25% and 40% from the Exchequer are widely expected in the Spending Review on Wednesday 25th November. Reductions at this level for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport would cost community sport significant amounts of investment. It has therefore launched a campaign titled ‘GetYourKitOn’ that has attracted support from national governing bodies of sport and other bodies from the sport and recreation sector. 2. Bowls England Welcomes Commonwealth Games Announcement Bowls England has welcomed the Commonwealth Games Federation’s decision that Lawn Bowls must be included within the Commonwealth Games until 2030. The Federation named Lawn Bowls as one of 16 Compulsory Sports that must feature in the Games from 2022 to 2030 inclusive. The Federation also listed Para Lawn Bowls as one of only four sports for disabled people that must be included – alongside Para Swimming, Para Athletics and Para Powerlifting. Tony Allcock MBE, Bowls England Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted that the future of Lawn Bowls in the Commonwealth Games has been secured until 2030. The Commonwealth Games is the only multi-sport event our athletes have the opportunity to participate in, therefore this decision is a tremendous boost to our sport and one that will help to raise its profile over the coming years. “We are additionally thrilled that Para Lawn Bowls has been included as a Compulsory Sport over the same period. We are determined to ensure that more disabled people are aware of the opportunity to take part in the sport of bowls, and perhaps some new recruits will in future repeat the success of the England team that scooped bronze in the Para Triples event in Glasgow last year.” The Compulsory Sports Programme for the 2022, 2026 and 2030 editions of the Commonwealth Games will feature Aquatics (Swimming, inc Para
Report by John G Church MBE
IN CYPRUS: Jamie Walker, Wellingborough, is away on England duty Swimming); Athletics (inc Para Athletics); Badminton; Boxing (Men and Women); Cycling (Road); Gymnastics (Artistic); Hockey; Judo; Lawn Bowls (inc Para Lawn Bowls); Netball; Rugby Sevens (Men and Women); Squash, Table Tennis; Triathlon; Wrestling and Weightlifting (inc Para Powerlifting). A pool of Optional Sports/ Disciplines for the same period comprises Aquatics (Diving); Archery; Basketball (3×3); Cricket; Cycling (Track, Mountain Bike, Para); Gymnastics (Rhythmic); Shooting (Clay Target, Pistol, Full Bore, Small Bore); Para Table Tennis; Para Triathlon; Wheelchair Basketball (3×3); and Volleyball (Beach). The next Commonwealth Games will be held on the Gold Coast in Australia in 2018, with the 2022 event in Durban, South Africa. 3. Competition – Win one of Three Copies of ‘Bowled Over: the Bowling Greens of Britain’ Bowls England is delighted to offer members the chance to win one of three copies of the recently released ‘Bowled Over: The Bowling Greens of Britain’ thanks to Malavan Media and Midas PR. The result of 10 years of painstaking research by bowls historian Hugh Hornby, ‘Bowled Over’ provides a comprehensive look at the sport’s unique place in British social life and sporting history. Tracing the history of the game and its central place in British culture, the illustrated book follows the journey from Sir Francis Drake and Charles I to the pristine suburban clubs of 21st century Britain and the indoor greens of modern holiday camps. Hornby explains how different codes of bowling have emerged since Elizabethan times in different parts of the country; for example crown green bowls in Lancashire and Yorkshire, with its undulating greens, professional competitions and gambling culture, and flat green bowls in southern England and Scotland, with its measured formality and amateur ethos. Simply answer the question below correctly and email your name, address and telephone number to matt@bowlsengland. com. Which sportsman, most famous for his cricketing exploits, was the first president of the English Bowling Association? Please ensure your email has the
subject heading ‘Bowls England Competition’. Closing date for entries is 9am on Monday 4th January 2016 and the winners will be notified that week. For more information, visit http://www.playedinbritain. co.uk/books/bowled-over.php. OBITUARY Wilf Oxtoby, Wellingborough BC Wilf died on the 19th November, 2015, after a long illness with cancer. He had been a member at Wellingborough, both indoor and outdoor for a number of years, and was very popular and supportive of the club’s matches. His funeral will take place at 1.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 9th December, 2015, at Kettering Crematorium, Rothwell Road, Kettering, NN16 8XE. Mavis Charlton, Wellingborough BC Mavis, known affectionately as ‘Chum’ died on Wednesday, the 25th November, 2015. She was a long serving member of Wellingborough and she held the office of President of the Women’s Section in 2004, and she was well known throughout the County, as was her late husband Bill. Her funeral arrangements have not yet been advised. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE UNDER 25’S EATERN COUNTIES LEAGUE v HERTFORDSHIRE The Northamptonshire Under 25’s visit Watford IBC on Saturday, 5th December, 2015, for an Eastern Counties League match, commencing at 10.0 a.m. The following will represent the County in this double rink match: Rink 1. Adam Pitfield, Wellingborough BC/Conor Bryan, Kingsthorpe BC/ Will Walker, Wellingborough BC/Connor Cinato, Kingsthorpe BC Rink 2. Curtis Johnson, Wellingborough BC/Abby Woodward, Desborough IBC/ Danny Walker, Wellingborough BC/David Walker, Kingsthorpe BC The match that was due to be played against Essex, on Sunday, 29th November, 2015, had to be postponed, at the request of the opposition, as Essex could not supply a team for this date. The match has been rearranged to the 9th April, 2016, at Kingsthorpe BC, with a 10.0 a.m. start. Fixtures: DAVENTRY IBC
5.12.15. Club plays Desborough IBC in the County League at 10.0 a.m. 5.12.15. Greyfriars IBC, Coventry, visits for a mixed match at 2.0 p.m. 6.12.15. Desborough IBC visits for the Top Club competition at 10.0 a.m. DESBOROUGH IBC 6.12.15. Club plays its Ladies v Gentlemen Presidents’ match at 2.0 p.m. 6.12.15. The Over 50 Adventure Club Under 25’s visit for a mixed match at 9.30 a.m. 7.12.15. Cold Ashby BC & Kibworth BC visit for a mixed match at 2.0 p.m. 9.12.15. Club hosts a match between Norfolk VP’s and Northamptonshire VP’s at 2.0 p.m. KETTERING LODGE BC (Indoor Section) 5.12.15. Club plays Northampton & District IBC in the County League at 10.0 a.m. 5.12.15. Northampton & District IBC visits for a mixed match at 2.0 p.m. 7.12.15. Ise BC visits for a ladies match at 2.0 p.m. KINGSTHORPE BC (Indoor Section) 5.12.15. Abington BC visits for a men’s match at 2.15 p.m. 9.12.15. Members visit Northampton & District IBC for a ladies match at 2.0 p.m. NORTHAMPTON & DISTRICT IBC 5.12.15. Members visit Kettering Lodge BC for a mixed match at 2.15 p.m. 6.12.15. Club hosts the NIBA Senior Men’s International Trial at 1.0 p.m. 9.12.15. Kingsthorpe BC visits for a ladies match at 2.0 p.m. RUSHDEN TOWN BC (Indoor Section) 6.12.15. Bridgman IBC visits for a mixed match at 2.0 p.m. WELLINGBOROUGH BC (Indoor Section) 5.12.15. Club plays Rushden Town BC in the County League at 10.0 a.m. 7.12.15. Northamptonshire Women’s BA visits for a ladies match at 2.0 p.m. OUTDOOR CLUBS ISE BC 7.12.15. Members visit Kettering Lodge BC for a ladies match at 2.0 p.m.