Denny Plate: Stamford poised to take on Harrogate

Post date: Jan 13, 2015 9:58:01 AM

STAMFORD BOWLERS bid to reach the quarter-finals of an English inter-club competition on Saturday (January 17) for the first time in their 24-year history when they play a team from the Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate.

While two groups of four local players make the 120-mile journey north to the four-rink venue, bowlers from Harrogate head for Stamford IBC's stadium in Exeter Gardens. The match starts simultaneously at 12 noon with scores being exchanged over the telephone every five ends.

After 21 ends the club with the best aggregate score heads into the quarter-finals against either Egham (Surrey) or Wealden (East Sussex). Peterborough IBC, former winners of the Denny Plate have reached the same stage and visit County Arts IBC in Norwich.

Says Stamford IBC press officer Bob Warters:"The club is very excited at the prospect of getting further in this competition than we ever have before. But we are taking nothing for granted. We have no stars, merely a great spirit among team members encouraging each other."

Here's an at-a-glance view of the Stamford team:

Home team

Rink 1: Dave Hudson - former cricketer he is rated one of the most consistent leads in the club.

John Holroyd - Yorkshire-born, highly-rated front end bowler who represents Northants Federation's Derbyshire trophy team.

Adam Warrington( captain) - four times a national champion, twice in two-bowl singles, twice in triples.

Peter Edwards- wealth of experience in all positions, multi-capped at county level and a national indoor fours finalist in 2012

Rink 2: Stephen Harris - Teenage student and current Northants indoor and outdoor Under 25 singles champion.

Wayne Morris - currently holds three indoor club titles, including singles, pairs and mixed triples.

Jonathan Earl - returned to the indoor code after winning the EBF national outdoor triples in 2013.

Martyn Dolby - one of the club's most decorated players at the club with multi national and county titles to his name.

Away team

Rink 1: Richard Allam - specialist lead and a former Northants indoor pairs champion.

Derek King - current Northants Over 65 singles champion and former county pairs winner

Cliff Watson - left-handed all-rounder from Whittlesey, former county singles winner and past Northants president.

Keith Rippin - club chairman, 2014 Over 50 triples inter area finalist and former county mixed triples winner.

Rink 2: Mike Ramsden - specialist lead (substituting for Alan Romaine), 2012 nationalist Over 60s fours finalist, Northants Federation secretary and captain of Lincolnshire IBA Over 60s

Ray Keating - Irish-born all rounder, perhaps best known for his his white, cherry-flecked bowls.

Bob Warters - York-born 2012 EIBA Over 60s fours finalist, 2014 winner of Lincs Over 60s singles. Current President of Northants Bowling Federation.

Roger Martin - Capped more than 100 times for Northants Federation and former National EBF champion. Joined the club this season from Peterborough IBC.