Dolby completes hat-trick of singles titles

Left: Martyn Dolby received his trophy from Lincs President Richard White who was wearing the newly-designed county shirt to be worn by its teams next season.

FOR THE second successive year Martyn Dolby has completed a hat-trick of singles titles, adding the Lincs Over 65 trophy to the Northants Federation Senior and Stamford Club championships.

At Boston, against Horncastle's George Lancaster, he held maximum counts in the early ends before his opponent belied his 84 years, with accurate ending-winning bowls.

From 7-3 in Dolby's favour, they were tied on 11-11 before Dolby finally completed the 21-end match with a 16-11 win.

Said Dolby: "Both George and I struggled to find a good line and length which resulted in a bit of a dour struggle. It wasn’t until the last few ends that I managed to pull away and on the 20th end I drew shot to put myself five up with one end to play."

He added: "To win your Club Championship, the Northants Over 65 Singles and the Lincolnshire Over 65 Singles in one season is pretty special for me, so to successfully defend all three is a record I am proud to achieve."

Sadly there was no double success for Stamford when Stephen Harris (18) and his 17-year-old sister Louise lost the mixed pairs final to Mary Johnson and Keith Jackman from Horncastle 11-19.

However, Stephen still has the chance to claim a title when he plays Spalding's Ruby Hill in the Senior Under 18 singles.

Other results: men's singles - M Whyers (Spalding) bt I Clark (Boston) 21-20; Sets singles: J West (Boston) bt S Whyers (Boston) 2-0; M Pulling, M Orrey (Grantham) bt

G Smith, A Caress (Spalding) 15-12; women's singles - R Hill (Spalding) bt J Squires (Lincoln) 21-16; Junior U 18 singles - N Moseley (Spalding) lost A Wild (Spalding) 15-21; Under 25 singles - R Ashton (Lincoln) bt J Staples (Scunthorpe) 2-0; women's fours - D Wild, R Hill, R Simpson, C Tomlin (Spalding) bt G Leverton, J Dracass, J Holdsworth, S Stainton (Louth) 23-14.

Stamford bowlers competing in the Lincs mixed League completed their Division Two fixtures after claiming the title last week.

However, with a depleted team they suffered a five shot defeat at Louth B claiming only four of the 18 points available, though promotion was already assured with a game to spare.

Result (Stamford names only):

Lincs Mixed League, Division Two: Louth B 88 (14pts) Stamford 83 (4). C Barnes, S Suffling, M Ramsden, D King lost 6-22; R March, A Holmes, R Allam, A March lost 18-20; M Andrews,M Bloxham, A Barnes, C Watson won 21-13; D Hudson, M Holden, S Moir, K Rippin lost 14-19; D Ford, D Mackie, C Ford, M Humphreys won 24-14. BW