Christmas Tournament Entries Invited
CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT ‘23
Entry forms will be available from November 1 for the Stamford IBC Open Christmas Fours tournament scheduled for Thursday, December 28.
The popular event has, in the past, attracted top players including former world champion Nick Brett and the club is hoping many of its members will form teams to compete during a period when most indoor clubs are closed until early in the New Year.
Four sessions of seven ends are guaranteed for teams (maximum of 24 teams) each paying £5 per player with generous cash prizes for the best three points-scoring rinks. Two points are awarded for each win with a further point for each end won.
Entry forms are available from the club and must be returned with payment by noon on Friday, December 15 when the public draw will be made.
Meals will be available on the day but must be ordered and paid for in advance from Woodys Cafe at the club
FAST FED START
Northants A made a fast start to their English Bowling Federation indoor Derbyshire Trophy championship campaign, claiming 12 of the 14 points at stake against Northants B at Stamford IBC in a 41-shot victory.
It puts them in prime position ahead of their visit to March IBC on November 11, where they meet North Cambs.The same team has been named.
The rinks of captain Simon Law, Jon Earl and Adam Warrington all won comfortably, while Kevin Vinter claimed a consolation win alongside John Holroyd and captain Ray Keating.
Derbyshire EBF Trophy: Northants A 108 (12), Northants B 67 (2) (Northants A names first): Ollie Jeapes, Michael Jeapes, Simon Law 31, Martin Bailey, Ally McNaughton, Paul Bailey 14; Brian Martin, Tom Newman, Jon Earl 31, Jeff Clipston, Mick Greaves, Mick Linnell 8; Stuart Agger, Graham Agger, Peter Brown 14, John Holroyd, Ray Keating, Kevin Vinter 31; Michael Humphreys, Paul Dalliday, Adam Warrington 32, Tony Barwell, Cliff Watson, Roger Martin 14.
Mixed misfortunes
Spalding confirmed their position at the top of the Lincs Mixed League (South) at Stamford’s expense, winning decisively by 36 shots.
Only the husband and wife pairings of Lyn and Kevin Tuck and Judy and Tony Barwell saved a couple of points for the home side.
Lincs Mixed League (South): Stamford 54 (2 pts) Spalding 90 (12).Stamford names only) J Lonslow, J Suffling, S Suffling, B Warters lost 14-30; M Christie, V Du’Kett, S Christie, N Crees lost 8-27; L Tuck, J Barwell, K Tuck, T Barwell won 20-12; R Roberts, P Jones, J Hare, H Gordon lost 12-21.
DENNY CUP SCHEDULED
Stamford bowlers are due to play local rivals Sleaford with their newly-installed blue playing surface in the Denny Plate on Saturday Nov 4, at 10 am, for teams who lost in the first round of the Denny Cup competition.
Stamford were beaten by Spalding Lightning and Sleaford by Grantham in this competition where two rinks play at home and two away simultaneously. The aggregate score winner will go through to play either Boston or Louth, who received a Denny Cup first round bye.
Team: home - M Linnell, A McNaughton, M Jeapes, S Law; W Morris, T Barwell, R Martin, B Warters. away - W Aspinall, D Miller, O Aspinall, J Earl; M Humphreys, C Ballard, N Wright, A Warrington. res H Gordon, M Ramsden, P Linnell.
OLDEST BOWLERS CROSS SWORDS IN FRIENDLY RIVALRY
Two of the oldest local bowlers, John Allwood (front left) and Dick Salmon, with a combined age of 193 years, surrounded by fellow bowlers, crossed swords when Stamford Indoor Bowls Club entertained Bourne Town.
John Allwood (95), a former carpenter and joiner, is the home club’s oldest participant but he met his match when introduced to Bourne’s most senior player Dick Salmon (98), an ex-racing mechanic for BRM, the town’s former Grand Prix race car-maker, which won the world title in 1972.
From adjoining rinks and still ultra competitive, they watched each others’ performances closely, both contributing some excellent shots as the visitors ran out winners 76-67.
Allwood helped build many of the post-war housing estates around Stamford and was well known from the early 1950s playing all sports including golf, tennis and badminton. Salmon, meanwhile, recalled helping Graham Hill win the drivers championship and BRM win the constructors title with Hill and Jochem Rindt in 1962.
‘They were great times, working for Raymond Mays and BRM,” he said, “travelling all over the world to work in the pits at Grand Prix including Italy, USA and Mexico. I met so many famous drivers including Juan Fangio, Jackie Stewart, Mike Hawthorn and Jim Clark.”
But just like Allwood, bowls still gets his competitive juices flowing.
He is currently nearing completion of his second motor-racing book, following his widely read “BRM: A mechanic’s tale.” He hopes his next tome, charting “100 years of Bourne motor-racing history” will be equally successful when it is published in February.