Christmas Tournament Nail Biter
Having set a target of 29 points after four 7-end sessions of the Stamford Indoor Bowls Club Christmas tournament, Mick Humphreys, Chris Ballard, Owen Aspinall and Stephen Harris (photo above with President, Ian Hall), settled back with some confidence to see if they could be caught.
Vanessa Shackleton in action.
Their nearest rivals, playing in the final session of a gruelling eight-hour event needed maximum points - an unlikely prospect against fellow challengers skipped by Martin Hewitt.
But in the end, fellow club member John Holroyd, his brother Stuart and sister-in-law Diane from Wellingborough, with Chairman of Directors, Keith Rippin, put up a stubborn battle but fell just short.
They won their match against against Hewitt to claim two points but conceded vital shots on one end to prevent a nine-point whitewash.
Third place overall went to the rink of Martyn Dolby, Dusty Miller, Mark Pye and Jon Earl.
Martyn Dolby (left) and Peter Smith in action.
Eighty bowlers took part in the tournament including four rinks from the Bourne Town outdoor club.
Results: Chris Ballard rink (29 pts), John Holroyd (28), Dusty Miller (22), Rose March, Lyn Tuck, Derek Cave (all 21), Ally McNaughton (20), Martin Hewitt , Jill Goode (19), Dave Donovan (18), Chris Ford, Ike Zucchetti, Bob Scholes (17), Kevin Vinter, Roger Clarke (16), Mel Thompson, Howard Neath, Ian Hall (14), Graham Allen (12), Darren Middleton (11).
NEW YEAR LINE-UPS
Stamford seniors entertain Boston B in the Lincs Over 60s League (South) on Wednesday, January 4 (10.30am), seeking maximum points to close the gap on leaders Lincoln A.
Team: A Romaine, P Burt, D King, T Christie; T Barwell, P Smith, N Crees, B Warters; J Bourne, S Miner, B Crouch, K Vinter; M Ramsden, C Jones, M Linnell, R Martin.
Stamford mixed team visit Grantham on Saturday (Jan 7) seeking revenge for a home defeat in November.
Team: M King, J Suffling, P Jones, D King; C Warters, H Neath, S Suffling, B Warters; L Cave, V Du’Kett, M Wallace, D Cave; J Lonslow, H Gordon, E Wallace, M Ramsden.
OPEN DAY COMING SOON
Saturday, January 14 has been earmarked as an opportunity to try the sport of indoor bowls, when our local club based off Exeter Gardens in Stamford (PE9 2RN) opens its doors to encourage new players.
The six rink arena, with its state of the art 40 metre square carpet and viewing gallery, can accommodate as many as 48 bowlers playing competitively simultaneously. Equipment and tuition is provided free of charge and members will be on hand to show newcomers the ropes.
The event is open from 10am to 4pm with access to its bar and restaurant.
Stamford IBC is open seven days a week for roll-ups, domestic leagues and friendly and inter-club matches as one of 10 clubs in the Lincolnshire indoor Bowling Association.
For further information visit www.stamfordindoorbowls.co.uk
FEDERATION FINALS SWITCH TO LINCOLN
Qualifiers from Northants Bowling Federation’s finals next March at Peterborough IBC will not be making their usual visit to Newark for the English Bowling Federation national indoor championships.
Lincoln and District Indoor Bowls Club - with its eight, blue-carpeted rinks - will be the new hosts after Newark announced that it is likely to close in January.
Lincoln will offer similar services and will open at 8.00am each day for breakfast, hot rolls, tea and coffee. Pre-booked lunches will be provided in two sittings (12.00 and 1.00pm) with refreshments be available at the bar until 5.30pm.
There is a large free car park at the club and accommodation should be plentiful.
For further information visit www.northantsbowlingfederation.co.uk
SPALDING OPEN RESULTS
Five Stamford bowlers were among the challengers when Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nick Brett won the Spalding Open singles.
He beat Tony Barwell in the first round on his way to defeating Sleaford’s Paul Oke 8-4, 4-4 in the two-set final.
Stephen Harris reached the quarter-final before losing in straight sets to Mark Royal, while Chris Ford and Jeff Pitt both won well initially but failed to progress beyond the second round against Rob Greenwood and Dominic McVittie. Ollie Jeapes lost 9-3, 6-5 to Wayne Willgress.
COUNTY QUALIFIERS
Father and son Wayne and Owen Aspinall will represent Stamford IBC in the qualifying round of the Lincs IBC county singles at Lincoln on February 5 against the Dunholme qualifier and Jordan Philpott (Spalding) respectively.
Jeff Pitt faces Graham Smith (Spalding), John Holroyd takes on Simon Reeson (Louth) and Peter Burt meets David Bristow ( Sleaford).
Sets and Over 60 singles have yet to be drawn.
In the men’s pairs both Stamford qualifiers have home draws - Tony Barwell & Jeff Pitt against Alex Tomlin & Jonathan West (Boston) while John Holroyd and Graham Patrickson face Neil East and Mick Thompson (Lincoln).
In the Mixed pairs, Holroyd and his wife Moira host Jean Patterson & Dominic McVittie (Spalding) with Chris Ford & Kevin Vinter, home to Sleaford and Margaret & Derek King travelling to Dunholme.
In the men’s triples, Wayne Morris, Neil Wright & Adam Warrington visit Boston, while Chris Ballard’s rink host four from Scunthorpe.
Elizabeth Wallace and Shirley Suffling beat June Brennan and Chris Ford to qualify for the next round of the Lincs Women’s Indoor pairs.
Matches must be arranged by January 8 and played by February 12.