IF ever the force was with York and District Indoor Bowls Club it was this week.

The club advanced in no fewer than four national competitions.

York IBC beat Harrogate 85-64 in the Yetton Trophy, then ousted the same opposition 56-25 in the Mason Trophy before heaving Hornsea out of the Egham Trophy 93-65 and then downing Darlington, last season’s winners of the Denny Plate, 89-72.

The Darlington game required a late replacement as skip Mark Clarke was unable to play and had to be replaced late on by John Walker.

Walker’s rink faced tough opposition from Andrew Kirtland’s team. After they got off to a good start to lead 11-7 they lost momentum and were beaten 27-17.

David Stroughair’s experience came to the fore as his team led from start to finish. Up 8-2 after only four ends, they kept up the pressure to triumph 28-17.

At home, Iain Boyle’s team got off to an awful start – trailing 8-0 after only four ends. But they kept their heads up and won eight successive ends between the ninth and 16th to go 24-10 up. They only lost two more ends to win 28-12.

Phil Emmerson’s team were involved in a close match where the lead swapped hands no fewer than ten times before going into a final end with Darlington two ahead. But two excellent woods from Graham Brooke earned a 16-16 draw. York play Featherstone in the next round.

York’s ladies overcame the tricky hurdle posed by Harrogate in the first round of the Yetton Trophy with two winning rinks and one draw.

At home, Carol Instone’s side dropped a five on the eighth end before winning four successive ends to take a 19-7 lead en route to a 29-13 success.

Melanie Brooke’s team held a 20-16 advantage until they dropped twos on each of the last four ends to lose 24-14.

In Harrogate, Maureen Thomas’s four were on top form and led from start to finish to easily win 21-12.

Linda Harrison’s team rallied from 13-6 down after 14 ends to share a 15-15 draw and seal a tie against Hornsea in the next round.

York’s Egham Trophy progress was confirmed by a 93-65 victory over Hornsea mainly thanks to superb bowling from Mark Clarke’s away rink. After yielding a single on the first end they won 14 of the following 19 to lead 30-8 before dropping a single on the last.

Phil Emmerson’s team nearly eked out a draw – coming from 21-13 down with six ends to play before losing 22-20.

At home, David Stroughair’s team were always in command, winning 23-13; while Ian Boyle’s team let a 17-12 lead slip by to fall 21-20, but York did enough to earn a passage into the next round and a tie against Featherstone.

York ‘A’ advanced in the Mason Trophy over Harrogate though at the halfway stage both sides were level at 21-21 on aggregate.

Carol Instone’s rink trailed 12-9 before a single, a five, then a three put them on the way to a 26-15 triumph, while Linda Harrison’s team claimed an impressive 30-10 victory. They will next meet the winner of the South Leeds v Scarborough duel.