No silverware for local bowlers at Newark in national finals

Post date: May 9, 2013 9:19:06 AM

Twelve months on from clinching a national title in the triples, Stamford bowlers, representing Northants, failed to deliver a repeat performance at the finals of the English Bowling Federation indoor championships at Newark IBC, despite some solid performances.

Perhaps the best of them came from Martyn Dolby who reached the semi-final of the four-bowl singles before he was beaten by the eventual winner.

Having overcome Kevin Moore (North Essex), 21-18 and seven times champion Ian Wones (Norfolk) 21-20 in a nail-biting quarter-final, Dolby came up again Ashley Clipston, current holder of the English indoor Under 25 singles.

Dolby started competently and led 6-1 and 8-6 before Clipston controlled the pace of the carpet on full-length jacks leaving Dolby playing weight to keep in touch. But it proved an uphill struggle and Clipston finally ran out a 21-10 winner and went on to take the title.

In the under 25 singles Queen Eleanor School pupil Jon Bailey (15) lost 21-11 to the vastly experienced Rob Elmore (Hunts) while Doug Want had to withdraw from the Veteran singles against Notts' Ray Maskell, who went on to claim the trophy.

Stamford's women bowlers each got through their first round matches. Jan Want and Chris Ford beat Suffolk 19-14 and Joyce Foster, Connie Cox and Peggy Birch (deputising for Glenys Edwards) beat Humberside 23-18. But both groups went on in the quarter finals 21-6 (v Notts) and 20-12 (v Derbyshire).

Mike Ramsden (country secretary) was part of the Northants executive team beaten 106-88 by Humberside in the Eversley Trophy final.