Kent Tourists' lively visit to Stamford

The 55-strong group featured players from most of the county's 18 indoor clubs determined to enjoy themselves and pit their skills against Denis Stapleton's and Maggie Holden's Presidents' invitation team.Frantically encouraging bowls down the rink and shouting instructions to the player on the mat, the Kent tourists were at times a little unsettling for some less exuberant Stamford bowlers but the spirit was infectious and generated some high quality 'heads'.The tourists, celebrating their golden jubilee, had previously visited Sleaford, Lincoln and Grantham indoor clubs and were due to play at Chelmsford on their way home.

Despite losing on three rinks and drawing on another they deservedly won the match 117-99.

Results (Stamford names only):

Stamford President's team 99 Kent IBA Tourists 117. R Graham, D Stapleton, C Warters, B Warters won 19-18; R Roberts, M Holden, J Holroyd, D Henshaw drew 16-16; T Barwell, J Barwell, S Henshaw, C Ford won 19-17; Jeanette Bourne, B Edwards, M Bloxham, K Rippin lost 15-22; P Sharman, P Birch, D Heffernan, D Ford won 19-16; B Sims, I Hall, T Freeman, M Hewitt lost 12-28.

Stephen Harris (19) must face the defending English Indoor singles champion Martin Spencer (Spalding) if he is to progress to the Area 5 final of the EIBA National.Singles. Spencer beat his international clubmate Matt Whyers 21-18, while Harris accounted for Spalding's Martin Simpson 21-14, picking up three on the last end to clinch the match

Spalding were also visitors to Stamford on Sunday morning in the Over 60s fours in which Graham Wright's rink comfortably accounted for Dave Hudson, Doug Want, Peter Edwards and Martyn Dolby. Mike Humphreys, Harris and John Holroyd were also unsuccessful at Spalding. They lost 14-5 over 15 ends to Whyers, Spencer and Graham Smith in a triples match riddled with tight heads.

With a convincing 20-9 defeat of Geoff Horry and Colin Ayres at March, Stamford's Bob Warters and Roger Martin earned a showdown with clubmates Mike Ramsden and Cliff Watson for a place in the EIBA Area 5 final.

The pair quickly adjusted to the pace of the March carpet and took a 7-0 lead, stretching it to 14-1 and 19-3 before the home duo finally conceded after two killed ends.

In the Federation mixed pairs Shirley Suffling and Derek King beat John and Moira Holroyd 19-14 to earn a home quarter-final tie. In the Federation pairs, Jay Travis-Jenner and Paul Bailey beat Alan Romaine and John Holroyd 19-14.

An outstanding bowl by Denise Mackie (playing with neighbour Jan Want) accounted for Shirley Suffling and Christine Ford in the NWBF two-bowl pairs after the teams were tied at 15 shots apiece with one end to play.