Helen misses out on England call-up

Post date: Dec 6, 2017 1:11:17 PM

THOUGH thrilled to have been selected for an England trial from the regional qualifying stage at Ely last month, Stamford student Helen Holroyd (22) wasn't successful in her bid to claim a place In the England Women's Under 25 side to contest the International Series at Nottingham in February.

Nominated to skip a rink in the final trial at Rugby Thornfield, Helen, reflecting this week, felt she 'played okay, though out of position' but was honoured to have at least reached a stage where she may well have caught the eye of the selectors for the future.

A further positive outcome is that she has been identified as an assertive competitor and will no doubt continue to work on her game to make strides in the future.

Saturday's visit to Church Gresley as part of the Stamford Women's Yetton Plate team will give her a further opportunity to play a key role in the club's success.

FOOTNOTE: Bourne student Ruby Hill and nurse Chelsea Tomlin (both Spalding IBC) were included in the England Under 25 team, Chelsea as captain.

A SECOND successive win for Stamford's women bowlers kept them in the hunt to improve on last year's second place in the county A league, securing 14 of the 16 points at stake against Boston, to whom they had lost earlier in the season.

They conceded only one rink defeat but did enough elsewhere to land a 24-shot winning margin and keep the pressure,on league leaders Spalding whom they play next on January 4.

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincs Women's (Trudy Bates) League, Section A: Stamford 105 (14 pts) Boston 81 (2). T Handley, M Andrews, P Dixon, G Edwards won 19-16; R Roberts, P Jones, C Warters, P Birch lost 10-24; J Want, S Henshaw, S Suffling, C Ford won 32-11; E Wallace, M Holden, M Bloxham, J Robinson won 20-13; J Dye, A Preston-Bambridge, D Mackie, R March won 24-17.

FORMER Stamford college student Jordan Philpott (Spalding IBC) claimed the £800 runner-up prize at the Open Singles Circuit finals at Potters Resort, beaten 9-3, 6-2 by current England international Martin Puckett (Moonfleet IBC, Weymouth).

On the way to the final he beat Russell Robinson and Mark Royal but despite strong support from his club followers couldn't quite hold the Dorset man who collected £1600. Lincs county secretary Graham Smith also qualified for the final stages.