Federation finals at Newark: Day-by-day

Post date: Apr 25, 2018 7:34:29 AM

MONDAY

The Northants Women's Bowling Federation executive team put up a gallant fight in the Harry Carver Trophy - winning three of their four matches and losing the other by just one shot.

TUESDAY

It was a day of mixed fortunes for Stamford IBC-based bowlers competing in the first day of English Bowling Federation individual championships at Newark on Tuesday, with the young trio from the Blackstones outdoor club - Helen Holroyd, Louise Harris and Katie Bailey - giving Northants a flying start.

Against Suffolk they won 22-13 and in the second round, raced into an 11-4 lead against the experienced Derbyshire rink led by former international Jean Baker.

However, when the Derbyshire trio saw an opportunity to switch positions, as Federation rules allow, they started to take control and added 16 shots without reply to reach the semi-finals.

In the mixed triples the combination of, Adam Warrington and Martyn Dolby (Blackstones) and Christine Ford (Ketton) proved too strong for Humberside, running out 24-13 winners. They then lost to Ian Riches Durham rink 12-21.

Elsewhere Moira Holroyd (Stamford Town) and Glenys Edwards (Ketton) lost 21-11 to Durham and the combination of Chris Ballard (Vanguard), Mick Humphreys (City of Peterborough) and John Holroyd ( Stamford Town) found the triples challenge of tournament favourites Simon Leader, and Rob and Ed Elmore (Hunts) too tough, losing 27-8.

WEDNESDAY

Success came for Northants bowlers in three singles competitions today - thanks to Elizabeth Wallace (Ketton) and Martyn Dolby (Blackstones).

In the first round of the ladies four bowl singles Oakham-based Wallace got off to a nervy start against Derbyshire's Pauline Marples and trailed 8-0 before eventually winning 21-18.

She meets the winner of Durham and Suffolk at 2.30 pm tomorrow and with a busy schedule also plays in the Senior singles first round at 7.30pm against J Baldwin (Hunts) who also beat Marples.

For Dolby it was the scalp of Danny Cawthorne, the holder of the four-bowl singles from Norfolk that gave him most satisfaction in a 21-18 victory.

He then faced Steve Weston (Hunts) in the senior singles and strolled through 21-10 and will play B Vincent (Humberside) in the morning.

THURSDAY

Martyn Dolby (Blackstones) will play old foe Paul Flatters from Boston for a place in the final of the English Bowling Federation Over 65 singles at Newark at high noon on Friday.

Dolby, who won four titles in the Northants championships, beat B Vincent (Humberside) 21-5 on Thursday morning. But then he suffered two defeats - in the 4-bowl singles (16-21) against Ian McIntosh (Durham) and partnering Christine Ford (Ketton) in the mixed pairs (7-20) against Chantelle Spencer and Jonathan West (Lincs).

Mick Humphreys and Roger Martin (City of Peterborough), the Northants pairs champions, overcame Hall and Creaser (Humberside) in the first round 17-14 but then faced the formidable Norfolk duo of Ian Wones and Danny Seaborne. They put up a valiant effort but were finally toppled 11-24, having led 8-2 in the early stages.

Elizabeth Wallace has also reached the semi-final of the women's senior singles, where she will play at 2.30 on Friday, having beaten J Baldwin (Hunts) 21-14.

Earlier she lost 9-21 to N Riches (Durham) in the four-bowl singles.

Stephen Harris lost to Norfolk's Danny Seaborne 21-9 in the Under 25 singles.

FRIDAY

Northants Federation's participation in the national championship at Newark IBC, ended on Friday afternoon with the exit of both our county's senior singles title holders Martyn Dolby (Blackstones) and Elizabeth Wallace (Ketton) - but not without a fight!

Against Paul Flatters (Boston) a team-mate in the Lincs IBA County Seniors during the winter months when representing Stamford IBC, Dolby took an early 6-0 lead, before Flatters stretched the jack length, where his bowls performed better and led 13-9.

Dolby pegged him back with a well executed three count to lead 16-15 but a three on the 19th end turned the tables and though Dolby looked to be holding two shots at 17-20, Flatters drew in to reach the final.

For Wallace, to reach the semi-final stage, was quite an achievement and at 6-4, shorter jacks looked to be serving her well against Nottinghamshire's Jenny Humphries before her more experienced opponent used the full length of the rink to take advantage.

A hat-trick of threes in four ends finally put paid to Wallace's hopes and that of Northants, again failing to reach a national indoor final.