Double delight! Triumphs for Over 60s and Mixed teams

Post date: Mar 17, 2014 3:25:26 PM

Two outstanding results were achieved by Stamford IBC in the Lincolnshire County Leagues this week. After the Over 60s men's team had beaten Second Division leaders Spalding, the club's mixed team travelled to Scunthorpe to secure the Division Two championship with a comprehensive 106-83 scoreline.

The veterans' 99-80 win earned them 14 of the 18 points available - not quite enough to secure promotion but certainly a major fillip to a topsy-turvy season.

Highlight of the win was undoubtedly the performance of 92-year-old Arthur Chapman who led on his rink - Derek Veasey, David Heffernan and Denis Henshaw - with a skill that belied his age had helped them to a match-winning 29-10 triumph to secure the individual honours.

Octogenarians Nigel and Wally Kettle (no relation) also featured in winning rinks.

Despite being depleted by holidays and players featuring in the Northants Federation finals, Stamford's mixed team took a 'charabanc' coach trip to 'sunny Scunthorpe' led by team captain Margaret Bloxham and returned with a 15 points to secure their return to the top flight.

June Brennan, Jean Dupree, Dick Ford and John Little took the individual spoils with an outstanding 28-7 win. With one match to play - at Dunholme on March 29 - Stamford's Mixed team have an unassailable 45 point lead at the top of the table.

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Stamford IBC stages two important events this weekend which further help to underline its position as among of the most progressive of the 12 indoor clubs in the county.

On Saturday, 22 teams will compete in the inaugural Betty Warters Classic Triples Tournament - a round-robin event (the first of three 8-end sessions start at noon and 1pm) It celebrates the contribution made by club's founder president who died in 2012 after devoting much of her life to the sport as a former multi national champion and county and English Bowling Federation president.

On Sunday (March 23 from 10am), the club hosts its annual Under 18 Singles Tournament, sponsored by D & M Sports (Spalding) from which the next generation of county champions is set to emerge.

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Stamford bowlers failed to make it through to the next stage of the Lincolnshire women's rinks but acquitted themselves well in the qualifying matches at Grantham.

Anna Martin, Margaret Bloxham, Pearl, O'Brien and Sue Moir beat a strong Sleaford rink by six shots but after a further gruelling three-hour match went down to Horncastle by a similar margin. Rowena Weston, Teri Handley, Pauline Dixon and Flick Rogers meanwhile, led Skegness by six shots but dropped a six-count on the final end and lost in extra time.

Results (Stamford names only)

Lincs Over 60s, Divison Two: Stamford 99 (14pts), Spalding 80 (4). D Howarth, D Ingham, T Weaver, R Martin lost 12-21; T Barwell, A March, T Mackie, J Geary lost 15-22; N Kettle, R Graham, B Banks, A Horton won 24-12; W Kettle, G Corby, T freeman, R Harvey won 19-15; A Chapman, D Veasey, D Hefferan, D Henshaw won 29-10.

Lincs Mixed League Division Two: Scunthorpe 83 (3pts), Stamford 106 (15). W Aspinall, J Gamble, S Moir, K Rippin won 20-19; C Barnes, K Rawlins, D Mackie, T Mackie won 28-15; A Martin, W Kettle, M Bloxham, R Martin lost 12-24; J Brennan, J Dupree, D Ford, J Little won 28-7; P Barton, B Acock, P O'Brien, A Barnes drew 18-18.