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More than one hundred bowlers contested the Christmas Open Fours gala at the Stamford Indoor club at the weekend - the winners ending a four-year reign by the defending champions.
More than one hundred bowlers contested the Christmas Open Fours gala at the Stamford Indoor club at the weekend - the winners ending a four-year reign by the defending champions.
Twenty-four teams took part, including a group of youngsters aged between six and 12, supervised by club coaches and embraced by the tournament organisers to give them a first taste of competition.
Twenty-four teams took part, including a group of youngsters aged between six and 12, supervised by club coaches and embraced by the tournament organisers to give them a first taste of competition.
Stamford juniors with Jeannette Bourne and head coach Keith Rippin.
Action from the finals ends with the juniors involved
Most, from the Sir Malcolm Sargent School, had received their first taste of bowls at a birthday party for junior member Annabelle Morris (10) in the summer and had subsequently joined the club’s junior training scheme on Thursday afternoons. They have never looked back and shown real talent.
They all performed enthusiastically and behaved impeccably in what is traditionally an adult environment. Indeed three of them - Martha Norman, Olivia White and 12 year old Freddie Knapp - had a hand in the tournament’s eventual outcome and almost caused an upset.
Tutored by Jeff and Jeannette Bourne, in their final match they took shots from the eventual winners, the rink of Malcolm Mitchell, Jay Travis, Neil Wright and Jeff Pitt.
But despite claiming points on two ends, they were unable to halt the experienced quartet’s tally of 29 points which edged out defending champions - father and son Wayne and Owen Aspinall, Chris Ballard and England international lead Stephen Harris - by four points overall.
Chair of Directors, Keith Rippin (centre), presented the winners trophy and prizes to, from the left Jeff Pitt, Neil Wright, Jay Travis and Malcolm Mitchell.
Action from the Tournament
Roger Clarke’s team finished third.
Christmas solidarity from the Blackstones quartet of Sam and Rita Downs, Pete Linnell and Darren Middleton.
Third place on 23 points went to the rink of the club’s league secretary Roger Clarke - with Paul Jenkinson, Neil Crees and Ron Blake, scoring a superior shots difference to Ally McNaughton (Wayne Morris, Darren Russell and Paul Bailey).
Fifth place with 21 points on a countback from the teams of Graham Allen and John Cox went to new members Mick Porter from Crowland and his wife Karen playing with Tony and Judy Barwell.
Results ( team captains only): 29 pts N Wright, 25 C Ballard, 23 R Clarke, A McNaughton; 21 M Porter, J Cox, G Allen; 20 P Smith, J Goode19 T Newman- Borrett, P Linnell, P Collins, 18 J Ward, M Kenworthy, A Williamson, 17 L Tuck, K Vinter, 16 J Williamson, 15 P Lamb, D Cave, I Zucchetti, 13 P Frampton, 9 J Bourne, E Purvis.
FOOTNOTE: During the marathon 9-hour tournament more than 5,300 bowls were delivered in eight sessions of seven ends. Teams scored a point for each end won, two points for a match win and one for a draw.
Open day for new bowlers
Open day for new bowlers
Sunday, January 12 (10am- 4pm) has been set aside for Stamford IBC’s first open day of 2025, when newcomers to the sport are invited to try it at the club’s state of the art 6-rink facility.
Coaches and experienced bowlers will be on hand to introduce the game to potential new members of all ages. Tuition and equipment is provided free of charge, merely bring flat soled shoes or trainers. For those with limited mobility bowls specific electric wheelchairs are available.
Seniors in action
Seniors in action
Stamford IBC is due to re-open on January 2 with the second round of the women’s Senior double rink against Sleaford set from 10 am on January 3 - one rink at home and away playing simultaneously.
On Tuesday, January 7 in the men’s Senior equivalent Stamford play Horncastle at 10 am for a place in the inter-area final:
Home - T Barwell, J Holroyd, T Scarr, T Collins; away - J Pitt, D Heffernan, M Linnell, R Martin.
Colin Burgess Funeral
We now know that Colin's Funeral will be at 11 on Jan 20 at Marholm Crematorium. All Welcome.
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