Watch the world's best in action

Post date: Sep 25, 2018 1:14:52 PM

Above Gold-medallist James Walker meets Greg Harlow in the first round on Sunday.

MANY OF the world's top ranked bowlers - including Potters champion Nick Brett and world No.1 Greg Harlow - will be in action at the Stamford Indoor Bowls Club's Exeter Gardens stadium over the weekend for the Nigel Kettle Memorial Open singles tournament.Entry for spectators is free and it will be a great opportunity for those considering taking up the sport or even already involved in it, to pick up vital tips on how the game is played at the highest level.

Qualifying starts on Saturday night (6pm) with Stamford's club champion Stephen Harris facing his Peterborough counterpart Jeff Pitt and including a handful of women playing for the chance to take on the cream of the singles circuit.On Sunday morning (from 8.30 am) Brett faces Jack Bird (Scarborough) while Harlow meets England World gold medallist Jamie Walker (Kingsthorpe). The 62-player field are playing for a £750 first prize, expected to be decided by the late evening session.Such has been the demand for places that the organisers have at least 10 players standing by should any bowler withdraw.

Former Stamford tournament champion Mark Royal will also be manning the Potters roadshow retail bowls shop during Sunday's matches as well as competing in his right.

THE FULL DRAW

Saturday, Sept 29

6pm: Paul Oke (Sleaford) v Tony Barwell (Stamford); Jeff Pitt (Peterborough) v Stephen Harris (Stamford); Helen Holroyd (Stamford) v Shirley Suffling (Stamford); David Bristow (Sleaford) v Jordan Philpott (Spalding).

7.30pm: Alan Romaine (Stamford) v Paul Roberts (Sleaford); Terry Berridge (Grantham) v Chris Ballard (Stamford); Christine Ford (Stamford) v Bob Greenwood (Huntingdon); Derek King (Stamford) v John Holroyd (Stamford).

9pm: Winners in each of the above session to play each other.

Sunday, Sept 30

8.30am: Will Bell (Lincoln) v Jeff Moore (Turpin), Graham Smith (Spalding) v Bradley Prowle (Riverain); Tony Webb (Riverain) v Matt Whyers (Spalding); Sharod Winterton ( Charnwood) v Andy Speechley (Stamford); Jamie Claydon (Riverain) v Gordon Wood (Lincoln); Kevin Rands (Lincoln) v Scott Whyers (Boston).

9.50am: Ed Elmore (City of Ely) v Paul Maynard (Foxhill); Chris Brereton (Welford in Avon) v Brenda Barlow (Lincoln); Martin Shepherd (Chipping Norton) v Chloe Brett (Huntingdon); Greg Harlow (City Of Ely) v Jamie Walker (Kingsthorpe); Mark Burdett (Welford on Avon) v Jim Pullen (Lincoln); Jack Bird (Scarborough) v Nick Brett (Huntingdon).

11.10am: Andy Moore (Christie Miller) v Donna Knight (West Berks); Lee Blackham (Ipswich) v Jordan Moore (Christie Miller); Marcus Lucas (unattached) v Jacqueline Henderson (Erewash); Geoff Moore (Christie Miller) v Michael Knight (Whiteknights); Tracey Nunn (Horncastle) v Phil Last (Ipswich); Richard Coverdale (Norfolk) v Paul Reynolds (Herga).

12.30pm: David Miles (Whiteknights) v Andy Ware (City of Ely); Russell Robinson (Erewash) v Mark Royal (Mid Suffolk); Steward Douglas (Bainfield, Scotland) v Dom Warren (Ipswich); Nik Elphick (West Berks) v Sam Watts (Oxford); plus winners from two 8.30am ties.

13.50 pm: Wendy Brown (Lincoln) v Nunn or Last; Glenn Williams (Riverain) v Coverdale or Reynolds; Webb or M Whyers v Shepherd or C Brett; plus winners from three 8.30am ties.

Third rounds, quarter and semi-finals from Sunday 4.30pm.

SETBACK FOR OVER 60s

Under new captain David Heffernan, Stamford IBC's Over 60s team lost its first match of the season in the Lincolnshire League second division by 10 shots.

However the six points from the 18 at stake against Lincoln B augurs well for the rest of the season after being relegated from the First Division.

"It was a disappointing result but I was able try some new players and I am confident we will give promotion a good run as the season progresses," said the captain, who included Keith Gentry, a former Denny Cup player who has moved into the area from the West Country.

Result (Stamford names only):

Lincolnshire Over 60s League Division Two: Lincoln B 88 (12 pts) Stamford 78 (6). D Howarth, T Weaver, A March, Richard Martin won 20-11; A Romaine, G Corby, J Bourne, C Watson won 24-17; D Cave, D Veasey, R Graham, K Gentry lost 13-16; T Mackie, D Henshaw, D Miller, K Vinter won 16-15; T Barwell, I Hall, D Heffernan, M Owens lost 5-29.

PRESENTATION NIGHT

Stamford IBC stages its presentation night on Saturday, October 6 (from 7pm) when outgoing Presidents Kevin Vinter and Rosemary Roberts will be succeeded by Arthur Lonsdale and Shirley Suffling.

Those who have won vouchers are reminded that these will be forfeited unless the recipient/team captain makes an appearance, advises in advance or nominates a representative.