Stamford IBC hosts Northants Federation finals on Sunday

Post date: Mar 9, 2015 2:02:20 PM

SUCH HAS been the form of Andrew Thurston. Nick Wilkie and Jenny Harvey this season, that it has thrown a virtual spanner in the works of the Northants Bowling Federation indoor finals at Stamford IBC on Sunday (March 15) writes Bob Warters.

By each qualifying in three disciplines it means that when the competitions start at noon they could be facing at least six hours of bowls with limited recovery time between sessions, indeed Harvey has to play three consecutively.

Thurston completed his remarkable run of success when he ousted Stamford's John Holroyd 21-18 in the four bowl singles semi-final to earn the right to play clubmate Simon Law. He has also qualified for the men's two bowl pairs with Wilkie and the mixed triples with Jeff Newson and his daughter Sarah.

Wilkie meanwhile is scheduled to meet his pairs partner in the mixed triples with Stephen Harris and Mary Malton and then team up with Joan Robinson to defend their mixed pairs title against Stamford's Ann Holmes and Richard Allam.

The men's veteran singles is an intriguing clash between in-form City bowler John Burrows who fought back from 2-10 down to beat Peter Edwards 21-15. In the other semi-final, Martyn Dolby knocked out county president Bob Warters in a hard fought tussle, by the same score.

In the women's events Jenny Harvey has reached both the four-bowl and senior singles finals with runaway defeats over Sheila Craig and Shirley Suffling and meets Julie Masters and Craig respectively in a bid to repeat last year's double.

Margaret Andrews has reached two finals, joining Sue Moir (who replaces the unavailable Joyce Foster) and Glenys Edwards on her home carpet in the triples and with Suffling in the pairs after beating last year's finalists Joan Padley and Doris Flowers 20-8. In the final they will meet Harvey and Carol Hunter who beat Carol Warters and Valerie Du'Kett.

Schedule (Peterborough IBC bowlers unless stated):

12 noon: Mixed Triples - S Harris (Stamford IBC), N Wilkie, M Malton v S Newson, A Thurston, J Newson (rink 2). Women's triples - P Bussey, E Hext, S Craig v S Moir, M Andrews, G Edwards (all Stamford)(3); Women's singles - J Harvey v J Masters(5).

2pm: Women's pairs - J Harvey, C Hunter v S Suffling, M Andrews (both Stamford)(1); Men's singles - S Law v A Thurston(4); Under 25 singles - J Randall v J Harford(5).

4pm - Men's Veteran singles - J Burrows v M Dolby (Stamford)(2); Men's triples - N Wright, J Harford, S Law v H Shipp, J Randall, J Newson(3); Women's Senior singles - J Harvey v S Craig(4); Mixed Pairs - N Wilkie , J Robinson (Stamford) v A Holmes, R Allam(5).

6pm - Men's pairs - H Shipp, N Wright v N Wilkie, A Thurston(1).

Umpire: A Croxford

*Bar and refreshments available all day, raffle prizes most welcome.