Now Lincoln indoor bowlers join Federation scheme
Post date: Jul 20, 2017 8:05:30 AM
Left: Captains Margaret Bloxham and Bob Warters with the Lincs IBA Division One Mixed and Men's A Shields, won for the first time in the club's history.
UPTO 40 bowlers at Lincoln IBC have followed the example of some at Stamford by forming an independent club in order to play county Federation competitions on indoor surfaces.
This was revealed at the annual meeting of the Lincolnshire Indoor Bowling Association when American-born Jon Utnage (65) was elected president.
Federation rules insist that players must be members of a club affiliated to an outdoor county in order to compete in their local Federation county's indoor competitions. But following the formation of the independent Vanguard club in the Northants Federation (with no green of its own), Lincoln bowlers spotted the same loophole to follow suit.
Said Utnage, a former US Airforce serviceman and tenpin bowler, who settled in the UK after working for Citroen in Europe and is currently president of Bowls Lincolnshire: "My goal is to get as many players in the county playing the game. I don't care what code you play and if this scheme gets more to compete, so be it."
He is a member of Burton House (Boston) outdoor club and Lincoln IBC.
At the annual meeting the county paid tribute to the 40 years service of Dave Hempsall (pictured left with new county president Jon Utnage) a former county secretary, with the award of a clock. He was succeeded as treasurer by Russell Dent (Horncastle). Following the resignation of county secretary and fixture secretary Stephen Cornwell, Graham Smith (Spalding) agreed to take on the roles on a temporary basis with assistance from current team captains. Simon Reeson (Horncastle) was re-elected league and competitions secretary.Stamford Indoor Bowls Club was applauded for its success in claiming three county league titles - two of them the Men's First Division and the Mixed League First Division - for the first time in the club's 27-year history. Stamford also won the Men's third division - promoted into a new look second division of seven teams - and were also promoted to the first division of the Men's Over 60 League.