Chris Ballard Through to County Semis
After the disappointment of turning up for the qualifying stage of the Lincs Indoor Sets singles championship at his home club on Sunday, only discover his opponent failed to put in an appearance, Stamford bowler Chris Ballard finished the day by beating clubmate Stephen Harris to reach the semi-finals in March.
He had earlier also received a second bye to the quarter-finals when the vagaries of the draw - gave him yet another free passage. But he took his opportunity against England international Harris (representing Spalding) in grand style, beating him in straight sets. Ballard, won the first set 11-3 and the second 9-7 in a tense battle.
He will now represent Stamford in the semi-finals at Louth on March 17 when he plays another England international, Dominic McVittie. The schoolteacher, representing Spalding, beat James Staples (Lincoln) 12-5, 8-6. In the other semi-final Richard Ashton (Lincoln) will face England junior cap Jordan Philpott (Spalding).
Apart from Ballard, four other Stamford bowlers won through internal qualifying to take part, each putting up creditable performances but going out in their first round matches.
Tony Barwell, showing good form, had a chance to take Harris into a tie break but dropped three shots to concede the first set, while Neil Wright gave Boston’s experienced Martin Tomlin a fright with some excellent conversion shots before losing in a tie-break.
Fourteen year old Ollie Jeapes also lost on extra ends to fellow youngster Dan Stanley (Louth) but Graham Patrickson gained valuable experienced before losing a straight sets to Staples.
Results: first round D Stanley (Louth) bt O Jeapes (Stamford) 4-9, 15-2 2-0; M Tomlin (Boston) bt J Meakins (Grantham) 8-5, 9-5; T Barwell (Stamford) lost to S Harris (Spalding) 6-8, 7-9; M Kent (Lincoln) lost to J Philpott (Spalding) 8-9, 8-9; M Spencer bt M Brown ( Boston) 10-7, 6-9, 2-0; D Bristow ( Sleaford) lost to I Clark ( Boston) 4-911-8 (2-1); R Ashton ( Lincoln) bt A Tomlin 9-7, 8-7; KRands (Lincoln) lost to D McVittie ( Spalding) 13-7, 4-9, 0-2; P Johnson (Scunthorpe) by WBell (Lincoln) 8-3, 8-4; R Brown ( Scunthorpe)lost to D Trapmore (Horncastle) 7-8, 7-9; G Patrickson (Stamford)lost to J Staples (Lincoln) 4-9, 3-7.
Second round: M Tomlin bt N Wright (Stamford) 9-10, 13-3, 2-0; Stanley lost to Ashton 4-9, 0-12, Philpott bt Trapmore 8-3, 9-6, Spencer bt A Dent Snr (Louth) 11-9, 9-5, McVittie bt Johnson 9-4, 9-6, Harris bt D Mills (Spalding) 9-5, 10-3; Clarke lost to Staples 5-10, 4-7.
Quarter-finals: C Ballard (Stamford bt Harris, Spencer lost to Philpott 8-3, 7-10, 1-2; Mc Vittie bt Staples 12-5, 8-6; Ashton bt M Tomlin 12-5, 8-6.
Seniors in Area final
Stamford’s Elizabeth Wallace and Christine Ford have reached the Area final of the EIBA women’s senior pairs and will play pairs from either Lincoln or Horncastle on a neutral green by March 3.
Against Sleaford’s Gloria Davis and Rhoda Wing, they took an early lead but trailed 11-14 with four ends to play. They were still adrift by one playing the last end but picked up three to win 18-16.
FEDERATION RESULTS
The first finalists to contest the Northants Federation championships at Stamford IBC on February 25 have been decided.
Elizabeth Wallace and Christine Ford (Stamford Town) will face Lyn Tuck and Shirley Suffling (Ketton) in the women’s two-bowl pairs.
The Town duo beat Joan Baker and Viv Hempsell (Yaxley) 21-11 while the Ketton pair won 21-7.
In the triples Tuck, Suffling and Louise Harris lost to Yvonne Monaghan’s Peterborough rink 18-9.
One of the surprises of the men’s event was the 21-19 defeat of Stephen Harris (Blackstones) by John Holroyd , who reaches the semi-final.
Other semi-finalist are old rivals Martyn Dolby and Bob Warters in the Senior singles. Dolby beat John Suffling 21-14, while Warters received a walk over when Derek King withdrew with an injury.