EXTRA SPORT • LOCAL BOWLS NORTHAMPTONSHIRE MEN – ‘LIBERTY TROPHY’ QUARTER FINAL – SELECTION The men of Northamptonshire Indoor Bowling Association are looking to retain the title won last season, and the Quarter Final stage arrives for them on Saturday, 6th February, 2016, when they face Wiltshire IBA. It is 20 years since their opponents last won the ‘Liberty Trophy’, the year after they had been Runners-up, but having beaten the more fancied Hampshire by just 2 shots earlier this month, they promise to put up a strong opposition to the County’s aims. The match will be played at Westlecot IBC, Bowling Green Lane, Springfield Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 4EU, commencing at 10.0 a.m. Due to a clash for Jamie Walker, who is in the National Finals of the Under 25 Singles at White Oak BC, Swanley, Kent, Team Manager Jim McKee has had to make some changes from the team which has recorded very impressive wins in its 2 matches so far in the campaign. Jamie’s place at skip has been taken by Neil McKee, whose own place at skip has been taken by Connor Cinato, with Matt Pownall being drafted in at No. 3 in the rink in place of Connor, and .on Paul Broderick’s rink, Matt Pownall’s place has been taken by Curtis Johnson and Jamie’s brother Will’s place by Andy Smith. The team is as follows: Rink 1. Curtis Johnson, Wellingborough/Andy Smith, Northampton & District/ Dominic Graham, Northampton & District/Paul Broderick, Wellingborough Rink 2. Dave Flippance, Desborough/Jason Bryan, Kingsthorpe/Matt Pownall, Wellingborough/Connor Cinato, Kingsthorpe Rink 3. Richard Lemon, Northampton & District/David Walker, Kingsthorpe/Darren Childs, Wellingborough/ Neil McKee, Kingsthorpe Rink 4. Dave Love, Wellingborough/Ben Sharpe, Kingsthorpe/ Jim McKee, Kingsthorpe/Vernon Gearey, Kingsthorpe Rink 5. Adam Pitfield, Wellingborough/Bob Fuller, Wellingborough/John Haines, Desborough/Neil Corbyn , Wellingborough Rink 6. Tony Dicks, Daventry/ Chris Bland, Northampton & District/Callum Height, Wellingborough/Andrew Manton, Kingsthorpe Reserves: Danny Walker, Wellingborough/ Will Walker, Wellingborough/ Tony O’Leary, Northampton & District/Phil Exley, Wellingborough/Darren Lewis, Kingsthorpe NORTHAMPTONSHIRE OVER 60’S MEN versus SUFFOLK – RESULT The Over 60 Inter County competition is one that the men of Northamptonshire Indoor Bowling Association have a very good record in since it was first introduced in the 2008/09 season. The County’s players won it in the first 2 years, and last year they were Runners-up. This season the Quarter Final was reached by the County by virtue of some excellent performances against Norfolk and Leicestershire, and together with their opponents Suffolk, they took a trip to the neutral venue of St Neots & District IBC on Thursday, 28th January, 2016, for the contest. Following an initially very tight match, the County men prevailed by 18 shots, to proceed to the National Semi-Final.
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The first few ends saw the lead changing almost every end played, and after 4 ends of play across the 6 rinks there was just 3 shots difference, and after 5 ends of play there was still only 6 shots between the two. However, the 6th end saw a surge in scoring by the County with 2 rinks each collecting a 5 shots score, and overall gaining 13 shots on that 1 end to just 3 shots dropped to Suffolk. At the halfway stage of the match, the County had a modest lead of 13 shots, but over the next few ends the lead was increased to 20 shots, and for the remainder of the contest that sort of margin prevailed, for a final win by 18 shots, with 3 winning rinks, 1 drawn and 2 lost. This win was very much down to the rinks skipped by the County’s Team Managers, John Haines, the Over 60 Manager, whose rink won by 16 shots, and the County’s Liberty Trophy Manager, Jim McKee, whose rink was not far behind with a win by 15 shots. The Final score was Northamptonshire 120 shots – Suffolk 102 shots. Rink scores as follows, Suffolk skips only: Rink 1. Roger Summers, Bernard Spreadbury, Colin Jones & Jim McKee 27 shots – G Rowland 12 shots Rink 2. Jim Diver, Mick Richardson, Bob Fuller & John Haines 31 shots – D Knights 15 shots Rink 3. Pete Maloy, Dougie Cooper, Norman Gibb & Tony Weston 18 shots – R Thomason 18 shots Rink 4. Dennis Collins, Colin Barnes, Malc Mattinson & Walt Winsor 17 shots – M Patterson 15 shots Rink 5. Will Clelland, Pete Morris, John Leggett & Roger Tansley 8 shots – L Blackham 21 shots Rink 6. Tony Dicks, Pete Mellor, George Warren & Mick Worthington 19 shots – N Thomas 21 shots This excellent win keeps the County on track to equal, or better, the achievement of last year’s Runner-up spot. They will play in the Semi-Final either Lincolnshire or Yorkshire, whose Quarter Final match has not yet been played. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE MEN ‘FRIENDLY’ versus NORFOLK – RESULT Norfolk County IBA visited Desborough IBC on Wednesday, 27th January, 2016, to play a ‘Friendly’ match against Northamptonshire Indoor Bowling Association, and for the home County the result was a ’double’, its men having won the away match earlier in the season, albeit by the smallest possible margin, just 1 shot. The County had 3 winning rinks, 1 drawn and 2 lost, and it won the match by a very commendable 28 shots, with the highest scoring rink for the County being that skipped by Terry James which had a 22 shots victory. The final score was Northamptonshire 126 shots – Norfolk 98 shots. Details as follows, Norfolk skips only: Rink 1. Will Clelland, Trevor Tilley, Peter Mellor & Terry James 28 shots – Tony Dunton 6 shots Rink 2. Stuart Lowe, John Rigby, Ted Guiver & Tony Weston 14 shots – Peter Hurren 24 shots Rink 3. Bob Tingle, Tony Warren, Geoff Allen & John Haines 22 shots – John Hardy 13 shots Rink 4. Jim Diver, Peter Gilkes, Geoff Hunt & Michael Moulton
Report by John G Church MBE
27 shots – David Perry 17 shots Rink 5. Keith Howlett, Don Scott, Brian Diver & George Warren 21 shots – Ray Cutting 21 shots Rink 6. Dougie Ainsworth, Dave Williamson, Richard Somerton & Norman Gibb 14 shots – Vic Moore 17 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE WOMEN ‘MIDLAND COUNTIES’ MATCH versus BEDFORDSHIRE The following ladies have been selected to represent Northamptonshire Women’s Indoor Bowling Association, in a Midland Counties match against Bedfordshire on Wednesday, 10th February, 2016, at Wellingborough BC, commencing at 2.0 p.m. Rink 1. Velda Cooper, Rushden Town/Pat Symonds, Daventry/ Yvonne McKee, Kingsthorpe/ Joan Watts, Daventry Rink 2. Lynn Upton, Brackley/ Wilma Walker, Desborough/Jan Hunt, Wellingborough/Brenda Bishop, Kingsthorpe Rink 3. Billie Swift, Northampton & District/Pat Bodily, Kingsthorpe/Linda Warren, Northampton & District/Joyce Porter, Northampton & District Rink 4. Julie Spreadbury, Daventry/Elsie Hatton, Brackley/ Jeannie Flippance, Desborough/Pat Mattinson, Rushden Town Rink 5. Marlene Armitage, Wellingborough/Elaine Urquhart, Brackley/Alison Dring, Wellingborough/Tina Broderick, Wellingborough Rink 6. Rita Smith-Nolan, Kettering Lodge/Chloe Weston, Northampton & District/Joan Bryan, Kettering Lodge/Vicki Rushall, Daventry Reserves: Pam Page, Desborough/Lorna Hart, Desborough/ Phyll Parry, Wellingborough/Liz Keeney, Desborough NORTHAMPTONSHIRE BOWLS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SCHEME COMPETITIONS UNDER 15 SINGLES 1st Round: Lois Woodward, Desborough IBC beat Minah Elsayad, Desborough IBC, Tay O’Neill, Desborough IBC beat Maisie Lee, Northampton & District IBC, Bruce Sibbett, Kettering Lodge BC beat Mark Waterfield, Desborough IBC 21-13 shots 15-18 SINGLES 1st Round: Adam Dearsley, Northampton & District IBC beat Abby Woodward, Desborough IBC 21-17 shots UNDER 18 OPEN PAIRS 1st Round: Harvey Johnson & Adam Pitfield, Rushden Town & Wellingborough BC beat Elsayad Minah & Mark Waterfield, Desborough IBC 24-2 shots CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS SINGLES National Finals at Warners Lakeside IBC, Hayling Island, Hampshire. 1st Round played at 4.0 p.m. on Friday, 29th January, 2016. Paul Broderick, Wellingborough BC lost to regular England International Simon Skelton, Nottingham IBC 9-21 shots. FOURS Area Semi-Finals: Matt Pownall, Darren Childs, Callum Height & Jamie Walker, Wellingborough BC beat Phil Reeve, Mick Spear, Chris Wright & Ray Castle, Kingsthorpe BC 29-8 shots Jason Bryan, Darren Lewis, Jim McKee & Vernon Gearey, Kingsthorpe BC beat Martin Underwood, Paul Munday, Jack Tobin & John Greaves, Rushden Town BC 23-12 shots These two winning rinks now
Over 60 match v Suffolk: Northants men in maroon shirts only named, left to right Will Clelland, Pete Morris, Roger Tansley, Pete Mellor, John Leggett, George Warren, Tony Dicks and Mick Worthington (back of!) meet in the Area Final on a date to be fixed by the 21st February, 2016. OVER 60 FOURS Inter Area Final:Pete Maloy, Pete Morris, Jim McKee & Mick Sharpe, Kingsthorpe BC lost to David Spray’s rink, Leicester IBC 14-17 shots. FOURS – AREA 15 Area Semi-Final: Alan Dunkley & partner, Brackley lost to Don Savage & partner, Slade BC 10-19 shots UNDER 25 SINGLES National Finals – to be played at White Oak IBC, Swanley, Kent on the weekend of 6th/7th February, 2016. Jamie Walker, Wellingborough BC (Indoor Section) is no stranger to National Finals, and he is appearing at the Finals of this competition on at least 3 occasions, being Runner-up in 2008, the Champion in 2014, and a Semi-Finalist last year. He will be playing Martin Puckett, Moonfleet 2000 IBC, Kent, a fellow Junior International in his first match, at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, 6th February, 2016. We wish him every success – especially so as he will miss skipping his rink in the Quarter Final of the Liberty Trophy on that date due to a clash of these dates. ENGLISH INDOOR BOWLING ASSOCIATION NEWS ‘Fantastic Fives’ Entry Forms Now Available The Fantastic Fives Summer Competition entry forms are now available, closing date for entries Friday 22nd April 2016. Click to download a form. BOWLS DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE NEWS The Bowls Development Alliance (BDA) is delighted to announce that the English Short Mat Bowling Association (ESMBA), the English Bowling Federation (EBF) and the British Crown Green Bowls Association (BCGBA) are to join the Safeguarding Bowls group alongside Bowls England (BE) and the English Indoor Bowling Association (EIBA) under the umbrella of the BDA to ensure that the sport is kept safe for everyone to play. This will mean that the five National Governing Bodies and their affiliated members will follow the same policy, guidelines and templates which will be available to all clubs regardless
of which format is played. County and Club Welfare Officers across the various codes will be able to access training to support them in their role and provide them with knowledge and information on any action they would need to take if a concern was raised within their club. Susan Cooper the Development Director of the BDA commented: “The sport of bowls can now work together to secure the Advanced Safeguarding Standards and in so doing will go some way to keeping all those who participate in this sport safe in what they do and wherever they play” This is a big step forward for the sport and it has been welcomed by both Sport England and the NSPCC. BOWLS HOLIDAYS IN MENORCA Rupert Thomas of BowlinginMenorca.com has been in touch with me to invite anyone interested in arranging a bowls holiday in Salgar, Menorca to get in touch with him. It could be as individuals or as a Club Tour. His company arranges everything from Flights, hotel, bowling games, excursions, transfers, and any equipment loan. The holidays, with a cost of from £499.00p per person, are based at the Hotel Sans Luis, a 4* establishment, and the 7 nights breaks include 4 matches at Menorca Bowls Club If you enjoy bowling, and also like holidays in the sun, then why not combine these two pleasures in Menorca! Rupert’s contact detail is: rthomas@bowlinginmenorca. com Tel +34676550011 OBITUARY Maurice Lerner, 95 years, of Swanspool BC, Mears Ashby RBL BC & Wellingborough BC Indoor Section. Maurice died on the 17th January, 2016. His funeral will be held on Monday, 8th February, 2016, at the Albert Munn Chapel, Kettering Crematorium, Rothwell Road, Kettering, NN16 8XE Family flowers only, but donations if desired in favour of ‘The British Legion’ via the funeral directors, Co-operative Funeralcare, 3 Farm Road, Wellingborough, NN8 4UF Although he was a great age, he was bowling regularly until just a few years ago and would be known by many, particularly within the Wellingborough
bowling community. FIXTURES INDOOR CLUBS DAVENTRY IBC 6.2.16. Club plays host to the England Short Mat BA – ICC Preliminaries 6.2.16. Members visit Kingsthorpe BC for a mixed match at 2.15 p.m. 7.2.16. Club plays host to the England Short Mat BA – ICC Preliminaries 10.2.16. Members visit Kingsthorpe BC for a ladies match at 2.0 p.m. DESBOROUGH IBC 6.2.16. Corby Seagrave House BC visits for a mixed match at 2.0 p.m. 7.2.16. Kettering Lodge BC visits for a mixed match at 2.0 p.m. 8.2.16. Club holds its Captains’ Charity Day at 2.0 p.m. KETTERING LODGE BC (Indoor Section) 6.2.16. Kettering Midland Band BC visits for a men’s match at 2.0 p.m. 7.2.16. Members visit Desborough IBC for a mixed match at 2.0 p.m. 8.2.16. Club holds a Men v Women match at 2.0 p.m. KINGSTHORPE BC (Indoor Section) 6.2.16. Daventry IBC visits for a mixed match at 2.15 p.m. 10.2.16. Daventry IBC visits for a ladies match at 2.0 p.m. NORTHAMPTON & DISTRICT IBC 6.2.16. Swanspool BC visits for a mixed match at 2.0 p.m. 10.2.16. Members visit Harborough & District IBC for a ladies match at 2.0 p.m. RUSHDEN TOWN BC (Indoor Section) 7.2.16. Members visit Wellingborough BC for a mixed match at 2.0 p.m. WELLINGBOROUGH BC (Indoor Section) 7.2.16. Rushden Town BC visits for a mixed match at 2.0 p.m. 10.2.16. Club hosts a match between Northamptonshire Women and Bedfordshire at 2.0 p.m. OUTDOOR CLUBS SWANSPOOL BC 6.2.16. Members visit Northampton & District IBC for a mixed match at 2.15 p.m.