Federation competitions under way

Post date: Jan 26, 2017 9:24:58 AM

Northants Federation competitions - featuring indoor players representing the newly established Vanguard club - are already making an impact at Stamford IBC with Mike Ramsden beating George Cameron 21-11 in the senior singles. Cameron also lost to Richard Allam 21-19 in the four bowl singles, in which Ramsden lost to Chris Ballard 21-18.

Other singles results include defeats for John Holroyd against Jeff Pitt (21-15), John Pearson against Joe Randall (21-10) and Doug Want against Mick Humphreys (21-20).

In the mixed pairs Bob Warters and his wife Carol lost to Allam and Ann Holmes (18-14) while Adam Warrington (standing in for the injured Martyn Dolby) and Christine Ford lost to Fiona Richardson and Neil Wright 21-14.

Another outstanding result was the defeat at Peterborough of the experienced Julie Masters and Brian Bassam by Paul Bailey and Helen Holroyd. Bailey's mixed rink also beat Peter Edwards' 20-19. Joan Robinson, Steve Travis and Mike Humphreys beat Jan and Doug Want and Paul Buckley 23-11.

The women's events have also got under way with neighbours Jan Want and Denise Mackie claiming four shots on the last end at Peterborough to edge past Liz Hext and Sheila Craig. In a local derby triples at Stamford Margaret Andrews, Glenys Edwards and Peggy Birch beat June Brennan, Shirley Suffling and Chris Ford.

At the halfway stage of the four-match Derbyshire Trophy Series, Hunts Federation lead Northants - including three Stamford IBC players - on shots difference in the chase for the southern section title and a place in the national final.

Having drawn their opening match at Huntingdon and shared the 18 points available, both counties took maximum points from their respective visits to North Cambs' new Long Sutton IBC home with Hunts edging the shots difference.

Hunts won 131-60, while Northants won 118-62 meaning both can ill afford to drop points from their remaining matches against Lincs and Norfolk.

Against North Cambs, three Northants rinks of two-bowl triples started hesitatingly on the unfamiliar surface while Nick Wilkie, Neil Wright and Roger Martin raced into an 11-0 lead after six ends.

Soon, however, the rest followed suit and although Simon Law's trio trailed Nigel Eagle's rink by eight shots after eight of the 25 ends, 14 shots in five ends put them in the driving seat and they finally ran out 28-17 winners.

Elsewhere Howard Shipp, Adam Warrington (making a welcome return) and James Harford took the last eight ends to win 28-13, while the recall of Joe Randall was significant in his trio taking the rink honours 31-14 after dropping five shots on the opening end.

Hunts visit Norfolk at Gallow IBC on Sunday, January 29 and entertain Lincs at Huntingdon on February 5, by which time they will have set a target for Northants who host Lincs at Peterborough on February 19 and Norfolk at Stamford on February 26.

Result (Northants names only):

Derbyshire Trophy: North Cambs 62 (0) Northants 118 (18). N Wilkie, N Wright, R Martin won 31-18; H Shipp, A Warrington, J Harford won 28-13; P Dalliday, P Afford, S Law won 28-17; B Martin, B Warters, J Randall won 31-14.

Mike Ramsden and Cliff Watson have reached the Area semi-final of the national Over 60 pairs after beating clubmates Malcolm Cullingworth and Derek King 16-13.

They stormed into a 13-2 lead, but stalled on 14 shots and held only a two shot advantage with three ends to play. However Watson converted two heads to lead 16-12 and though King killed an end against him and drew three excellent recovery shots on the replayed end, Ramsden's second shot was enough to clinch the match.

The pair will play the winners of Bob Warters' and Roger Martin's visit to March on Monday.

Jonathan Earl replaced the injured Martyn Dolby, alongside Stephen Harris in the men's pairs but even on their home rink proved no match for Spalding's Martin Spencer and Matt Orrey, finally conceding at 21-4.

In the Lincs country triples Ramsden, Doug Want and Paul Bailey beat Trevor Banister's Sleaford rink 20-12. they trailed 8-12 after 11 ends but counts of 1, 2,2, 2 them a final end lead 15-12 and when Sleaford conceded a five on the last the result was beyond doubt.