Open Day Success
Stamford IBC staged its first open day of 2023 and racked up nearly 30 newcomers to the sport.
Volunteers were on hand to introduce the rudiments of the game at the club’s 6-rink complex and also attracted local print and radio media interest.
All new bowlers were in agreement that the indoor centre in Exeter Gardens was a real bonus for the community and should be better supported, especially as bowls can prove a benefit to those for whom exercise and relaxation was a key advantage.
During the day the club was well covered by the local media, being visited by both Rob Persani of Stamford & Rutland Sound and also Suzanne Moon of Stamford & Rutland Mercury.
Suzanne's article in the paper can be viewed by going to
club-is-offering-boost-to-health-and-happiness
The club is open upto ten hours a day, seven days a week and coaching sessions are available every Saturday morning and at other times by arrangement.
For further information visit www.stamfordindoorbowls.co.uk
Joanna Gault in Action
Tony Miles trying out one of the club's wheelchairs.
Rob Persani giving it a go.
STAMFORD SET THE PACE
With 63 points from six matches, Stamford A have built a commanding lead in the southern section of the Lincs Men’s League - their domination underlined by 13 points gained at bottom of the table Boston A on Saturday.
With just four games to finish the season - three of them at home - they are in prime position to finish on top and take on the Northern section winners at Louth in April.
The overall 86-63 result at Boston was never in doubt and only a two-shot concession on the last end prevented the rink skipped by John Holroyd - a late replacement - achieving a 14-point team whitewash.
Rink honours went to the re-shuffled rink of Wayne Morris, Dusty Miller, Ally McNaughton and Martyn Dolby, which after an early scare against the wily Les Feary recovered from a 0-9 deficit to score 11 without reply then add 15 more in five ends to win by ten.
Adam Warrington’s quartet, which included teenager Owen Aspinall at No.3, were never behind from the fourth end and a run of nine shots in six ends, kept them in control.
Elsewhere, Roger Martin’s rink took an early lead which they never relinquished and they could even afford to drop a 4-count on the last and still win 22-17.
Lincs Men’s League (South). Boston A 63 (1pt) Stamford A 86 (13). Stamford names only: M Humphreys, CBallard, O Aspinall, A Warrington won 18-10; W Aspinall, M Ramsden, M Linnell, R Martin won 22-17; W Morris, D Miller, A McNaughton, M Dolby won 27-17; R Allam,T Barwell, N Wright, J Holroyd drew 19-19.
Stamford’s B team had to settle for just two points against Grantham after a 24-shot home defeat.
Captain Pete Linnell, backed by Graham Patrickson, Don Bruce and skip Dave Edwards trailed by four shots at halfway before hitting back with 16 shots in quick succession to win 24-17. Elsewhere Maurice Dye’s rink suffered a barrage mid-match from which they never recovered.
Grantham 88 (12) Stamford B 63 (2). Stamford names only. K Rawlins, J Suffling, M Owens, A McNaughton lost 14-19; R Blake, D Wilkinson, N Crees, M Hewitt lost 17-19; M Smith, B Orme, D Henshaw, M Dye lost 8-33; P Linnell, G Patrickson, D Bruce, D Edwards won 24-17.
SENIORS AT SPALDING
In a bid to close the 18 point gap on Lincs Over 60s League (South) leaders Lincoln A, Stamford seniors visit Spalding on Thursday (Jan 26).
Team: R Blake, P Smith, M Linnell, R Martin; J Bourne, C Jones, D King, K Vinter; M Ramsden, S Miner, D Henshaw, B Warters; B Crouch, T Barwell, D Bruce, T Christie.
Ollie Jeapes (far left)
BIIBC Under 18 International Championships
13 year old Ollie Jeapes, a member at Stamford but playing his Nationals out of Spalding, was selected as reserve for the English mixed team playing the British Isles Indoor Bowls Council's International Championships at Solihull over the weekend of 13-15 January. Ollie got his chance to play on the Sunday playing in one of England's fours teams for the 4th to 6th place play offs where they beat Scotland's second team but narrowly lost to Ireland's 2nd team. Much valuable experienced was gained by the youngster. Overall the England finished second to Scotland in the competitions which sees teams from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Channel Islands compete in singles, pairs, triples and fours.
NO STOPPING PITT & CO
The new combination of singles specialists Jeff Pitt and Tony Barwell has reached the second round of the EIBA Over 60s pairs after comfortably beating Grantham’s Graham Smith and Ken White 24-3 in just 15 ends.
They will meet clubmates Peter Smith and Neil Crees for a place in the Area semi-final against Ray Keating (Peterborough) or Nick Wilkie (Spalding).
In the Lincs IBA mixed pairs there was a win for another new duo of Chris Ford and Kevin Vinter at home to Sleaford’s Kath Lake and Paul Roberts. They trailed 10-16 but hit back with 11 shots to pinch 19-18 it with a single on the last end.
In the women’s pairs Elizabeth Wallace and Shirley Suffling lost 23-19 at Boston against two from Dunholme.
In the County the ladies, including 'Stamford's Katie Bailey' beat Yorkshire by 116-87 and will meet Suffolk in the qurter finals on March, 4. Paul Dalliday and Simon Law from Stamford were members of the Lincs County team beaten 108-95 by Durham at Doncaster IBC in the EIBA Liberty Trophy quarter-final.
FEDERATION TEAMS LEAD THE WAY
Northants Federation teams are currently first and second in the southern section of the Derbyshire Trophy, following the B team’s 100-82 victory away to North Cambs.
The A team have won all their three matches to lead the way with the B team gaining a second win in four matches, picking up 11 points at March IBC against North Cambs.
Skips Paul Bailey (37-10) and Kevin Vinter (25-17) earned comfortable wins while Phil Afford secured a point
Northants B 100 (11), North Cambs 82 (3) Northants B names only: Jeff Clipston, Cliff Watson, Phil Afford drew 21-21; Martin Prudhoe, Mick Greaves, Ray Keating lost 17-34; Terry Corney, John Holroyd, Kevin Vinter won 27-17; Richard Allam, Martin & Paul Bailey won 37-10.
A team captain Simon Law has announced an unchanged side for the visit to Lincoln IBC on February 12 - a game against Lincs which could prove pivotal to who wins the southern section and qualifies for the national final.
Northants A: Trevor Collins, Adam Warrington, Tristan Morton; Brian Martin, John Earl, Martyn Dolby; Paul Dalliday, Mike Robertson, Simon Law; Stuart & Graham Agger, Peter Brown.
Clubmates John Holroyd and Graham Patrickson will meet In the second round of the Federation singles after Holroyd beat Peterborough Joe Martin.
Patrickson lost to Derek King in the Senior singles, in which there were also wins for Martyn Dolby and Kevin Vinter over John Suffling and Graham Agger respectively.