Club Finals 2023

KNIFE-EDGE COMPETITION IN CLUB FINALS

Having qualified in multiple formats, for many players fortunate enough to reach the closing stages of the two-day Stamford Indoor Bowls Club championships, they were apparently exhausting - both physically and mentally.

So spare a thought for competition secretary Derek King, who not only diplomatically negotiated the tricky organisation of 14 events but made it to two finals himself one of which - the mixed rinks - he was rewarded with a win, alongside his wife Margaret.

Another husband and wife duo - John and Moira Holroyd - combined to win the mixed pairs and mixed triples, with Kevin Vinter.

John completed a personal hat-trick, leading for England international Stephen Harris to claim the men’s pairs, emulated by Christine Ford with wins in the singles, pairs and rinks.

As well as some almost predictable outcomes, a few shocks were added to the mix as well as some knife-edge performances among the 18-end team contests.

One of the club’s most improved and dedicated players is Kevin Tuck who followed up his win in the Novices Cup with wife Lyn and Paul Collins by snatching a thrilling last end victory in the Open sets singles over ‘A’ team captain Tony Barwell. 

Tuck had taken the first set 6-5 and a single to tie the second of the 7-end sets was enough to clinch it and avoid a tie-break.

Earlier, another nail-biter was the final of the Open Senior singles where Richard Allam looked to be in control against Belton-in-Rutland publican Bernie Crouch. Allam led 18-9 before the former English darts official staged a comeback to edge ahead by one and only needing two for the match.

But then with Allam having levelled the scores and holding game, Crouch trailed the jack off the rink only to lose a match-deciding two shots on a long measure when the jack was re-spotted.

Adam Warrington, possibly distracted by his beloved Arsenal’s simultaneous slip-up at West Ham on Sunday, failed to add a second singles to the fours and subsequent triples (with Dusty Miller and Martyn Dolby), losing to new member and singles specialist Jeff Pitt 21-6.

After reaching the third round of the Wellingborough Open, Pitt, the former Peterborough bowler, made the 40-mile dash and after an evenly matched start got into his stride of short-length jacks, picking up 13 shots without reply from an 8-6 lead.

The club wishes to thank all those who supported, administrated and contributed to the success of the finals. 

Club competitions results:

Women’s Rinks - J Brennan, E Wallace, S Suffling, C Ford bt M King, J Scholes, P Jones, L Tuck 15-13
Women’s Pairs - S Suffling & C Ford bt J Brennan & E Wallace 20-15
Novices Cup - P Collins, L Tuck & K Tuck bt S Clinkard, B Jackson, C Watson 21-8
Women’s Singles - C Ford bt S Suffling 21-18
Mixed Pairs M & J Holroyd bt H Gordon & P Jones 19-9
Mixed triples - J & M Holroyd, K Vinter bt M & D King, A McNaughton 20-17
Men’s Rinks - D Miller, S Downs, M Dolby, A Warrington bt M Humphreys, C Ballard, W Aspinall & O Aspinall 14-12
Men’s Singles - J Pitt bt A Warrington 21-6
Open Over 65 Singles - R Allam bt B Crouch 21-19
Men's Pairs - J Holroyd & S Harris bt D  Miller & Dolby 22-15
Mixed Rinks - M King, R Downs, D King, A McNaughton bt J Brennan, J Suffling, S Suffling, P Buckley 21-6
Men's Triples D Miller, M Dolby, A Warrington bt W & O Aspinall, C Ballard 17-13
Women’s Triples - M King, J Barwell, P Jones bt J Bourne, M Hulbert, M Holroyd 18-15
Open Sets Singles - K Tuck bt T Barwell 1.5-0.5.

NO JOY FOR STAMFORD IN COUNTY FINAL

Having qualified for the Lincs Men’s League play-off against Lincoln, Stamford ‘A’ were hoping their current form in winning the county’s southern section, would carry them through in their attempt to claim the title.

Even the Stamford club’s finals weekend was re-shuffled to accommodate the match as players made the long trek north, only to discover that their opponents from England’s largest membership club were in no mood to concede any advantage they may have gained with local knowledge of the Louth IBC surface.

As a consequence, apart from the rinks skipped by Adam Warrington and Chris Ballard - deputising for the late withdrawal of Martyn Dolby - Stamford never came to terms with the pace and idiosyncrasies of the carpet.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR OWEN AND LOUISE

Stamford IBC schoolboy Owen Aspinall plays Jack Wells (Spalding) in the County Finals Under 18 Singles on Saturday at Spalding IBC (5pm).

Simultaneously on the next rink Louise Harris -  representing Spalding but who also plays in Stamford Leagues, faces England international Ruby Hill (Spalding) in the Under 25 singles. 

CHANCE TO TRY  BOWLS

Stamford IBC is offering another taster session for all the family at its Exeter Gardens stadium on Sunday April 23, between 10 am and 4pm.

Experienced players and coaches will be on hand to introduce the game and equipment is provided free of charge.