Women Reach Last 8 at National Finals
Following a run of success in the English indoor senior pairs, Stamford bowlers Elizabeth Wallace and Christine Ford were eventually beaten in the quarter-finals at Nottingham on Thursday.
They had qualified for the national championships in the local area but it looked bleak for them when they dropped a four count against Folkestone duo Amanda Merrells and Jean Phillips.
But they fought back to win 16-15 and the right to play Doreen Hanham and Pauline Clark from the Egham Club. Again, they started slowly but clawed their way back until conceding another four on the penultimate end, eventually losing 15-20. The Surrey pair lost 10-18 to Durham in the semi-final.
Christine Ford and Elizbeth Wallace with Folkestone pair Amanda Merrels and Jean Phillips.
Two other Stamford-based bowlers are also involved in the national finals at Nottingham this weekend - Ollie Jeapes and Stephen Harris - both representing Spalding Lightning.
The pair will be contesting the semi-final of the Open Under 30 double rink against Wellingborough on Saturday (9.30 am) for the chance to play either Ipswich or Exonia (Devon) in the final. Ollie joins Ruby Hill and Chelsea Spencer while Stephen shares a rink with Danny Mills and Jordan Philpott.
On Sunday in the Open Under 18 singles, Jeapes must emerge from a round robin group playing best of three sets, involving Louie Hodges (Mid Gloucestershire), Ollie Shearing (Barking) and Jake Pankhurst (Cambridge Chesterton) for a place in the knock-out semi-finals.
COUNTY FINAL TEAM
Stamford ‘A’, winners of the southern section of the Lincs Men’s League will play northern champions Lincoln in the final at Boston on Sunday April 14 (2pm).
The match unfortunately clashes with Stamford IBC club finals weekend on April 13 & 14 for which several of the men’s team have also qualified but competition secretary Derek King is endeavouring to arrange the draws to allow those selected for the county fixture to compete in both events.
‘A’ team: M Humphreys, W Morris, N Wright, A Warrington; B Warters, M Ramsden, C Ballard, M Linnell; W Aspinall, M Anderson, A McNaughton, R Martin; M Dolby, D Miller, O Aspinall, J Earl.
Tony Barwell who captained the men’s team for most of the season until a heart by-pass operation ended his playing involvement, is recovering and hoping to attend the Boston fixture.
FEDERATION FINALISTS
The English Bowling Federation will stage its national indoor finals at Lincoln between April 22 and 28, when Stamford-based bowlers Stephen Harris (Blackstones) and Christine Ford (Stamford Town) will be challenging in three of the individual events.
Local bowlers will also be involved when Northants seek to win the inter-county Derbyshire Trophy for the fourth time when they face Nottinghamshire.
Team: Brian Martin, Tom Newman, John Earl; Stuart Agger, Graham Agger, Peter Brown; Michael Humphreys, Wayne Morris, Adam Warrington; Paul Dalliday, Stephen Harris, Simon Law. Reserves: Michael & Ollie Jeapes, Martyn Dolby.
Men’s Singles; Paul Dalliday v Hunts (Wednesday, 9.30am); Senior singles: Martyn Dolby v Humberside (Wednesday, 3.30pm); Under 25 singles: Ollie Jeapes v Hunts (Thursday, 5.00pm); Pairs: Ollie Jeapes & Simon Law v Lincs or Northumberland (Thursday, 7.30pm); Triples: Michael Humphreys, Tom Newman, Stephen Harris v North Cambs (Tuesday, 12.30pm).
Mixed pairs: Louise & Stephen Harris v North Cambs or Northumberland (Thursday, 5.00pm); mixed triples: Adam Warrington, Chris Ford, Stephen Harris v North Cambs or Hunts (Tuesday, 3.30pm).
Women’s Singles: Chris Ford v Humberside (Thursday, 12.00pm); Senior singles: Yvonne Monagham v Hunts or Suffolk (Thursday, 12.00pm); Pairs: Shirley Suffling & Lynn Tuck v Suffolk (Thursday, 9.30am); Triples: Elizabeth Wallace, Sue Moir, Chris Ford v Suffolk (Tuesday, 9.30am).
To conclude the championships on April 28, Northants will defend the Eversley Trophy for which only past presidents or current county officials qualify.
Team: Bob Warters, Martyn Dolby, Simon Law; Ally McNaughton, Graham Agger, Pete Brown.