Christmas Tournament Draw
Twenty four teams will contest Stamford Indoor Bowls Club’s Christmas Open Fours tournament on Thursday, December 28 with sessions starting at 9.30 and 10.30 a.m.
With the competition full, entries closed days before the final deadline attracted by the social opportunity to join with friends while the club is normally closed during the Christmas/ New Year period and by the £250 sponsorship of Empingham-based Durant Scoreboards and Displays.
Each team will play four seven-end sessions at the six-rink stadium, with points awarded for each win and each end won. Winners will claim the £100 first prize.
The draw was made on Friday by Margaret King, chairman of the management committee and produced some fascinating first round ties.
Team captains are reminded that they must register at least 15 minutes before their first start time. Meals are available at either 12.30 or 1.30 but must be booked in advance and paid for direct to Woody’s Cafe. Food and drink may not be brought into the club.
9.30 am session: W Aspinall v A Hynes (rink 1) D Morgan v J Goode (2), R March v R Blake (3), J Wilcox-Smith v G Kemp (4), L Marshall v A McNaughton (5), J Little v K Tuck (6).
10.30 am session: J Earl v P Smith (1), E Purvis v J Ward (2), D Wilkinson v J Cox (3), I Zucchetti v Cotswold Robins (4), S Cage v S Downs (5) B Scholes v K Vinter (6).
MIXED RELIEF FOR STAMFORD
Stamford’s Lincs County mixed league bowlers picked up a substantial 12 points from 90-61 home win against Skegness, to lift them up the table.
The overall result was beyond doubt from the mid-way stage with just the rink honours to be decided.
Despite dropping two shots on the last of the 21 ends, the rink of Tony and Judy Barwell, Pat Jones and Bob Warters claimed the spoils.
Stamford’s regular captain Shirley Suffling missed the game for the chance to make her Atherley Trophy debut for Lincolnshire at Nottingham. The county lost overall but Shirley played at No.3 in a rink that drew.
Lincs Mixed League (South).Stamford 90 (12 pts) Skegness 61 (2). Stamford names only. L Cave, J Lonslow, A March, D Cave won 26-14; M Ramsden, J Allen, R March, N Crees won 26-14; R Roberts, R Blake, S Moir, H Gordon lost 14-22; T Barwell, J Barwell, P Jones, B Warters won 24-11.
SENIORS ON THE UP
Stamford’s Senior bowlers took a giant pre-Christmas leap up the Lincs Over 60s League (South) table, claiming all 14 points from the visit of Sleaford.
They leap-frogged Sleaford into fourth place and will entertain second-placed Grantham in good form on January 3 with only a slightly re-shuffled side.
Much of the damage against Sleaford was done by the rink of Jeff Bourne, Mick Owens, Mick Linnell and Bob Warters who had raced into a 36-1 lead after 16 ends.
Elsewhere, Roger Martin’s end rink of Pete Linnell, last minute call-up Keith Rippin, Derek King and Roger Martin trailed 4-7 early on but eventually over-powered their opposition to win by 13. Kevin Vinter won by nine and John Holroyd by five.
Lincs Over 60s League (South): Stamford 108 (14 pts) Sleaford 47 (0). Stamford names only. J Bourne, M Owens, M Linnell, B Warters won 39-5; T Barwell, D Bruce, P Burt, J Holroyd won 19-14; G Patrickson, G King, M Hewitt, K Vinter won 19-10; P Linnell, K Rippin, D King, R Martin won 31-18.
Stamford team to meet Grantham on January 3 is: J Bourne, M Owens, M Linnell, B Warters; D King, S Miner, T Christie, R Martin; T Barwell, D Bruce, P Burt, J Holroyd; G Patrickson G King, MHewitt, K Vinter. Res B Orme, I Hall, C Jones
FEDERATION UPDATE
Northants Bowling Federation president Martyn Dolby quickly re-discovered his form after a recent knee operation by beating Ally McNaughton 21-6 in the preliminary round of the Men’s indoor county singles.
There were also wins for Stuart Agger over Tony Barwell (21-16), Bob Warters against Graham Patrickson (21-11) and in the first round Jim Pryor beat Chris Ballard 21-13.
Holder of the women’s singles Michelle Smith from Parkway is already out, beaten by Shirley Suffling.
The finals will be held at Stamford IBC on February 25.