Blackstones quartet lift Christmas title
Post date: Dec 29, 2018 7:59:29 PM
The Blackstones team who won the Christmas tournament, pictured from the left with Lady President Shirley Suffling. Martyn Dolby, Dusty Miller, Mark Pye and Jonathan Earl. (images by Alan Romaine).
Picking up eight points from their final match, the Blackstones quartet of Martyn Dolby, Mark Pye, Dusty Miller and Jonathan Earl, claimed the top prize at the Stamford IBC Christmas tournament.
With two points for the win and a further point for each of the six ends won against David Howarth's rink, the 10-1 shots win was enough to take them them to a total of 29 points from four 7-end games.
It firmly placed Mick Humphrey's rink - with John and Moira Holroyd and Paul Bailey (pictured above) were in second spot overall (26 points) despite having also won all their games and finishing with an 8-6 victory over Derek King's fellow contenders.
In third place on 25 points among the 22 teams taking part were defending champions and pre-tournament favourites Nick Wilkie, Jo Randall and Howard Shipp (with Jeff Newson stepping in for Nick Brett).
After a promising start they were beaten by a ditched last bowl jack by the Humphreys rink and left themselves too much ground to make up from 7-2 and 17-3 wins.
Though never in contention, one of two rinks of young bowlers - Emilie Robertson (10) , Blake Robertson (8) and Nicholas Lees (12) and skip 14-year-old Noah Tarrabad - gained valuable experience in their first competitive tournament.
The prizes were presented by ladies president Shirley Suffling who thanked tournament organiser Carol Warters and administrators Peter Edwards and Nina Rawlins as well as all those who had contributed to the tournament's success including catering and bar staff.
Pictured are the next generation of indoor bowlers. Above (from the left): Nicholas Lees, Blake and Emilie Robertson and Noah Tarrabad. Left (from the left): James Hebden, Jon Bailey, Owen Aspinall and Jay Travis-Jenner.
Results: 29 points - D Miller, 26 - M Humphreys, 25 - H Shipp; 23 - D King, D Middleton; 22 - W Aspinall, S Suffling, 20 - J Bailey, M Wallace, 17 - D Cave, K Gentry, D Hudson, 16 - D Howarth, K Vinter, 15 - I Hall, B Warters, A Lonslow, 14- T Christie, L Marshall, 13- M Holden, 12 - A McNaughton, 7 - N Tarrabad. BW
A full report and action photos from the Christmas Tournament will appear in the next issue of the Rutland and Stamford Mercury on sale from Friday, January 4.
HARRIS REACHES SPALDING OPEN QUARTER-FINAL
Stephen Harris, the Stamford IBC junior who has dual membership at Spalding, further confirmed his credentials in the top flight by beating former world champion Nick Brett to reach the quarter-finals of the Spalding Open singles tournament.
Following victories over Scott Whyers and Kevin Moore, he beat Yaxley-based Brett 4-5, 7-4 and 2-0 in a tie-break, before losing to Chris Rodgers 6-5,2-5, 0-2 in another shoot-out.
His new Spalding pairs partner Graham Smith, winner of the Barwell Open last week, then beat Rodgers before losing to Norfolk's Wayne Willgress 6-8, 10-1, 2-1 in a gripping final. BW
PRIZE DRAW WINNER FROM CLARITY PARTNERSHIPStamford IBC director Anita Edwards, is the winner of the Christmas hamper provided by Men' 'A' team sponsors Clarity Partnership. She received her prize from the company's Ian Cooper after a draw at the Christmas tournament held on Saturday.