Philpott beats Harlow in Stamford Open Singles final

Post date: Oct 1, 2016 7:57:26 PM

Jordan Philpott, 19-year-old Spalding electrician set the Stamford Indoor Bowls Club alight with a stunning victory in the Nigel Kettle Memorial Singles Open, defeating former world champion Greg Harlow in the final, writes Bob Warters.

Philpott (pictured left) who has won his club's Under 25 Open for the past two years and in 2015 won the British Isles Under 18 singles title, showed delicate drawing skills throughout a gruelling day, which attracted five of the world's top 20 players in including world No.1 Nick Brett.

The Huntingdon IBC bowler, who defends his world title in January, was expected to make a big impression in the draw after a much publicised first round match with eight year old Owen Aspinall (above) who gave a good account of himself and was complimented by Brett for his performance.

However, in his next match Brett was beaten in a tie break by a wonder bowl from Ely's Ed Elmore.

But it was Philpott who caught the eye, seeing off singles specialist Andy Ware (Ely) then his Spalding team-mate Graham Smith in a tiebreak before accounting for Derbyshire's Russell Robinson and then Paul Roberts from Sleaford in the semi-final.

On his way to the final, Harlow beat Stamford President Bob Warters, Boston's Ron Flowers, Elmore and Richard Summers (Norfolk BC) and looked to be coasting to the £750 first prize when he took the first set of the final 7-4 before Philpott levelled the scores 5-3 to claim the second set.

On the last of the best-of-three end tie break, Harlow (pictured right) held a match-winning lie only for Philpott to draw an inch-perfect shot into a nest of Harlow bowls around the jack.

He said: "I am delighted to have won this. When I was drawn against Andy Ware in the first round I thought I might be home by 11 in the morning. But I was able to produce my best bowls when it mattered and it is a great scalp to beat Greg."

Harlow, who plays in the final of the Tour Grand Prix on Monday at Lincoln, added: " This is a great and friendly club and it runs a great tournament. It deserves every success."

Results (Stamford bowlers unless otherwise stated):

Preliminary round Saturday (October 1): M Hebden lost to N Eagle (Peterborough) 4-8, 10-2, 2-1, I Clark (Boston) lost to C Ballard 5-7, 4-7; B Orme lost to H Shipp (Huntingdon) 0-15, 0-12; T Reed (Sutton St James) lost to T Barwell 5-10, 0-9; W Aspinall lost to S Whyers (Boston) 8-4, 1-10; P Roberts (Sleaford) beat S Suffling 5-4, 8-0; G Cameron lost to R West (Boston) 0-15, 0-12;, D Bristow (Sleaford) beat C Ford 9-2, 7-2.

First round: Ballard lost Roberts 5-6, 4-5; Eagle lost to S Whyers 3-9,4-8; Barwell lost to Bristow 1-10, 5-12; Shipp lost to West 10-0, 3-8, 1-2.

Sunday (October 2): 8.30am - G Smith (Spalding) beat S Winterton (Charnwood)2-7,8-5, 2-0; C Rawson (S Forest) lost to K Rands (Lincoln) 2-7, 9-6, 1-2; J Pullen (Lincoln) lost to T Towle (Gedling) 2-5, 7-7; L Gillett (Melton) lost to T Smith (Erewash) 6-3, 4-6,0-2; E Elmore (Huntingdon) beat M Orrey (Spalding) 5-5,5-3; R Flowers (Boston) beat T Swannell (City of Ely) 13-1, 7-2. S Harris lost to J Walker (Northampton) 0-9, 2-7;, A Ware (Ely) Lost to J Philpott (Spalding) 6-3, 4-7, 0-2; P Johnson (Scunthorpe) v b Barlow 5-5,11-1; B Warters lost to G Harlow (Ely) 3-7,5-7; O Aspinall lost to N Brett (Huntingdon) 9-0, 11-2; M Whyers (Spalding) lost to J Bird (Scarborough) 5-6, 5-4, 1-2.11.10 am - M Shepherd (Chipping Norton) lost to W Willgress (Norfolk) 6-7, 6-6; G Woods (Lincoln) lost to M Banning (Barking) 4-6, 9-3, 0-2; J Catchpole (Beccles) lost to Ms A Stanton (Welford) 4-9, 3-7; K Wall (Shrewsbury) beat R Cutting (Woodlands) 8-2, 7-4; B Squires (Carterton) beat Ms A Streetley (Camberley)6-4, 4-9, 2-0; R Adams (Ipswich) beat A Walters (Welford) 7-5, 6-6.

12.30pm - K Rippin lost to R Summers (Norfolk) 7-8, 5-7; M Dye lost to R Palser (Camberley)2-9, 0-13; M Royal (Mid Suffolk) lost to R Robinson (Erewash) 3-10, 5-6; E Burns (Bassetlaw) lost to S Driver (Ipswich) 7-5, 4-6, 1-2; G Smith beat J Walker 8-4, 6-2; K Rands lost to J Philpott 4-7, 3-6.

13.50pm: M Ramsden beat Squires 7-5,10-3; Towle lost to Johnson 3-7, 4-8; P Sharman beat R Adams 7-5,7-1; Elmore beat Brett 7-1, 2-8, 2-1; Flowers beat Bird 8-4, 8-3; T Smith lost to Harlow 6-4, 5-6, 1-2.

15.10 pm: Banning lost to Palser 9-3, 4-6, 0-2; Willgress lost to Summers 6-6, 4-5; Wall lost to Driver 7-2, 3-9, 0-2; Stanton lost to Robinson 6-4, 2-8, 0-2; Roberts beat S Whyers 5-4, 10-1; Bristow lost to West 6-8, 4-6.

16.30pm : Flowers lost to Harlow 6-7, 3-4 ; G Smith lost to Philpott 7-4, 2-9, 1-2 ; Palser lost to Summers 6-6, 4-11; Sharman lost to Elmore 6-7, 4-7; Ramsden lost to Johnson 8-4, 2-10, 1-2; Driver lost to Robinson.

Quarter-finals: Elmore lost to Harlow 3-8, 3-5; Roberts beat Johnson 3-7, 9-0, 2-1; Robinson lost to Philpott 5-6, 5-5 ; Summers beat West 10-6, 4-4.

Semi-finals: Roberts lost to Philpott 2-11, 4-8; Harlow beat Summers 10-1, 7-2.

Final: Jordan Philpott beat Greg Harlow 4-7, 5-3, 2-1.