HIGHLY COMPETITIVE STARTS TO EIBA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Post date: Aug 27, 2018 3:28:43 PM

Stamford IBC bowlers will be better represented than ever in the early rounds of the English Indoor Bowling Association national championships, hoping to make the final stages in Melton or Nottingham next Spring.

An expected fresh influx of competitive players joining Stamford IBC, guarantees a healthy representation in several competitions - especially in the senior age group events - where the club already has a history of success.

Stamford youngsters Louise Harris and Helen Holroyd will also be challenging Spalding IBC stranglehold on Area 5 women's events.

In several competitions local bowlers will have to face clubmates in order to progress further against Barwell, Leicester and Melton players - including the men's pairs, where Ally McNaughton faces Paul Dalliday and John Holroyd meets Simon Law. Adam Warrington also takes on Law in the triples.

Martyn Dolby, who reached the final stages of the Over 60s singles last year faces singles specialist from Peterborough Jeff Pitt in the first round, while Keith Rippin's rink takes on Ray Keating in a bid to again reach the closing stages of the Over 50 triples.

Stephen Harris, the 2017-18 club singles winner will be representing Stamford in the EIBA champion of champions singles, even though he has switched his allegiance to Spalding IBC for 2018-19 national competitions. His first round opponent is Jeff Pitt (Peterborough) to be played by November 11. Joan Robinson plays England International Ruby Hill at Spalding by November 25.

Selected first round draws (Stamford IBC unless stated):

Men: singles - S Harris (Spalding) v T Barwell, A Warrington v J Pearson; pairs - A McNaughton v P Dalliday, J Holroyd v S Law; Warrington v N Wilkie; triples - Warrington v Law, J Philpott (Spalding) v J Holroyd; fours - Law v Philpott (Spalding).

Over 60 singles - Barwell v Pearson, D King v J Hope (Grantham), T Scarr v J Needham (Spalding), J Pitt (Peterborough) v M Dolby; Over 60 pairs - B Warters v T Scarr, J Crees v R Barrett (Grantham); Over 60 fours - Warters v K Rippin, Scarr v G Wright (Spalding). Over 50 triples - Keating (Peterborough) v Rippin, T Berridge (Grantham) v King, Scarr v N Orrey (Grantham), Wright (Spalding) v J Holroyd, N Wilkie (Spalding) v P Bailey.

Family pairs: L Harris v A Wild (Spalding), Bailey v N Orrey (Grantham), C Tomlin (Spalding) v M Hebden; mixed pairs - H Holroyd v A Dunham (Spalding), Bailey v M Spencer (Spalding)

Women: singles - L Harris v R Hill (Spalding), Holroyd v Tomlin (Spalding); pairs - Harris v D Wild (Spalding); triples - Harris v Tomlin (Spalding); fours - Harris v A Dunham (Spalding); over 50 triples - G Edwards v S Craig (Peterborough), G Haney (Spalding) v C Ford.

Bob Warters