Re-formatting the Lincolnshire men’s league from which their A has withdrawn - from regionally geographical to the original promotion and relegation status - has not provided a successful outcome for the Stamford club.
Languishing in Division Two, the club’s ‘B’ team faced a 100-mile round trip to Skegness - only to return with just two points. They take on a further 160 mile journey to Scunthorpe in March.
Led by captain John Suffling - and thanks to Mike Ramsden stepping up at the last minute - they sportingly fought hard on an unfamiliar surface but with little to show for it.
Only the rink of Don Bruce, Charlie Jones, Ron Blake and Dennis Henshaw emerged with points, thanks to a single shot on the last end.
Next they will play Boston B away on January 18.
Lincs Men’s League, Division Two. Skegness 86 (12 pts), Stamford B 47 (2). Stamford names only. C Richardson, M Ramsden, A Hynes, M Hewitt lost 10-20; P Shaw, G Clarke, M Dye, P Smith lost 9-37; J Suffling, D Morgan, B Orme, J V Pearson lost 15-17; D Bruce, C Jones, R Blake, D Henshaw won 13-12.
Stamford women’s Trudy Bates team pictured at Long Sutton. From the left: Lynn Hulme, Shirley Suffling, Michelle Smith, Margaret King, Moira Holroyd,, Janet Clarke, Denise Mackie, Elizabeth Wallace, Rose March, Janet Lonslow, Chris Ford, Sue Moir, Valerie Du’Kett, Julie Hynes, Gil Oakey, Rita Downs
After a great start to their season, winning both their opening matches, Stamford women’s team have suffered a reality check in the county ‘Trudy Bates’ League (South) with two away defeats, from which they have picked up only four of the 28 points at stake.
At the newly re-furbished Long Sutton rinks, where Spalding temporarily play their home games, they emerged with just one winning four as Margaret King, Michelle Smith, Lynn Hulme and Denise Mackie picked up ten shots after trailing 12-9 at 12 ends.
Spalding 81 (12) Stamford 58(2) Stamford names only, M King, M Smith, L Hulme, D Mackie won 19-13; G Oakey, V Du’Kett, S Suffling, R March lost 16-18; J Clarke, J Lonslow, M Holroyd, S Moir lost 10-24; J Hynes, E Wallace, R Downs, Ford lost 13-26
On Wednesday December 17 (10.30 am) Stamford seniors host Horncastle looking to improve their league position after last week’s nightmare journey from Lincoln which took nearly six hours, only to return empty-handed.
Team: B Warters, D Henshaw, D Oakey, T Collins; G Patrickson, P Shaw, D Bruce, J Holroyd; T Barwell, F Addy P Smith, M Hewitt; D Hudson, A Hynes, P Burt, K Vinter.
A maximum 24 teams have signed up for Stamford IBC’s Christmas gala fours on Sunday, December 28.
Each team will compete over four sessions of seven ends, for a total of £300 prizemoney, scoring two points for each match win and a point for each end won.
The draw will be revealed later this week with sessions starting at 9.30 and 10.30 am.