Shipp-wrecked by Howard's county bowlers

HOWARD Shipp and his three-man crew of county bowlers sailed off with the top prize at the Stamford indoor Bowls Club's Christmas tournament.Completed by Nick Wilkie, Jeff Newson and Joe Randall, the quartet emerged unbeaten from their four, seven-end matches to share the £80 booty, dropping only five shots while amassing 46 and collecting a record 33 points - two for each win and one for every end they won.However, the event was played in true Christmas spirit and helped to raise valuable cash for charities nominated by the widow of Peter Edwards, who died recently and did much in the past to organise the tournament.Second place went to John Hawkins, John and Shirley Suffling and Paul Buckley on 26 points with Joan Robinson, Margaret Bloxham, Cliff Watson and Dave Hudson third on 23.The event, which attracted 20 teams, was organised by club secretary Carol Warters, assisted by Edna Rippin and Christine Ford.

Pictured above from left to right: Nick Wilkie, Joe Randall, Stamford IBC lady president Shirley Suffling who presented the prizes, Jeff Newson and Howard Shipp.

COUNTY DRAWS REVEALED

The Lincs IBA county competitions have reached the last 16 stage with several Stamford teams deeply involved. The county semi-finals will be at Spalding in March 29 and the county finals at Lincoln on April 19.

Stamford IBC will stage the county Under 25 singles qualifiers played to a set format on February 23. (Registration at 11.30am). Those considering entering should contact Bob Warters as early as possible if they have not already done so.

Pairs(by Feb 9, home dates offered by January 6): Stamford A (J Travis-Jenner & P Bailey) v Boston B ( A Field& W Phoenix), Grantham (J Meakins & M Eurich) v Stamford C (M Linnell & R Martin), Stamford B (C Ballard & W Aspinall) v TBC.

Triples (Dates and contact as above): Stamford A (J Holroyd, M Humphreys, P Bailey) v TBC, Boston B v Stamford C (C Watson, B Warters, R Martin), Grantham v Stamford B (D Hudson, T Scarr, A Barnes).

Rinks (Dates and contact as above): Spalding B v Stamford B (P Linnell, A McNaughton, R Blake, D Middleton), Grantham B v Stamford A ( D Hudson, M Owens, T Scarr, A Barnes), Stamford C ( M Dolby, N Wright, M Linnell, A Warrington) v Grantham.

TEAM MATCHES COMING UP

Stamford IBC re-opens on January 2 after the Christmas and New Year break with some important team matches coming up.

Currently chasing the leaders in the Lincolnshire Over 60s league division one are Stamford who take on Scunthorpe on Monday (January 6 at 10.30 am).

Team: T Barwell, M Linnell, M Owens, T Collins; D King, M Dye, R Montgomerie, Roger Martin; D Hudson, C Jones, P Burt, C Watson; D Heffernan, D Cave, D Miller, B Warters; R Blake, S Travis, K Vinter, T Christie. Res: R Graham, K Rippin, K White, P BNks, D Bruce, D Henshaw.

Stamford's Seniors Double rink A team play Melton on Tuesday (10am) for a place in the last 16 of this national competition - one rink at home and one away, played simultaneously.

On Thursday (January 9, 12.15) Stamford women host league leaders Spalding in the Trudy Bates A League.

Team: M King, L Cave, S Suffling, C Ford; J Dye, C Gray, M Broadbelt, S Moir; J Lonslow, T Handley, C Warters, P Mumford; J Want, V Shackleton, E Wallace, D Mackie; J Brennan, M Holden, M Holroyd, P Birch.

The Stamford Men's B team to host Boston A in the county league first division on January 11 (1.10 pm) is: D Henshaw, D Edwards, CJones, A Barnes; T Barwell, MHebden, K Rippin, R Montgomerie; R Blake, Mick Smith, A McNaughton, T Christie; DHeffernan, PGray, M Dye, K Vinter; P Linnell, D Cave, DMiddleton, R Graham.

The Stamford Men's A team to entertain Spalding in a county league division one clash on Sunday, January 19 (1.10pm) is: D Hudson, M Linnell, J Earl, M Dolby; R Allam, M Humphreys, T Scarr, Roger Martin; W Aspinall, C Ballard, N Wright, A Warrington; Mal Smith, O Aspinall, D Miller, P Bailey; M Ramsden, J Travis-Jenner, B Warters, T Collins.

MORE CLUB COMPETITIONS DRAWN

Using the new BowlR software system, the club is trialling to handle its domestic league competitions in future, the club knock-out competitions have been randomly drawn and will be completed in time for the finals on the weekend of April 18-19.

Entries were slightly down on last season but will be no less competitive.

Women's singles: (by March 1) S Suffling v C Ford, J Want v D Mackie, M Holroyd v M King, L Harris v J Robinson.

Women's pairs: (first round by March 1, semi by April 4): E Wallace or M King v L Harris, DMackie or C Ford v M Bloxham.

Women's Triples: (first round by March 1, semis by April 4): P Birch or M Bloxham v M King, C Ford v D Mackie.

Women's rinks (final only): M Bloxham v C Ford.

Men's pairs: (first round by January 26, second by Feb 23): P Linnell or M Jeapes v J Holroyd or DKing; T Barwell v W Aspjnall or C Ballard; K Vinter or D Heffernan v D Hudson, M Hebden or R Allam v G Knights. Second round: J Pearson v A Barnes, M Dolby v A Barnes, P Bailey v R Blake, I Cooper v N Crees.

Men's Triples: (first round by Jan 26, second round by March 1): T Barwell or W Aspinall v P Linnell, A Warrington or J Holroyd v R Blake. Second round: S Harris v B Crouch, D King v D Hudson.

Men's Rinks: (quarter final by March 1, semis by April 5): M Dolby or D King v W Aspinall, J Holroyd or P Linnell v D Hudson.

Mixed Triples (first round by Feb 9, quarter final by March 15): J Little or S Suffling v D King, M Dolby or D Hudson v J Holroyd, P Bailey or M Jeapes v D Heffernan. Quarter-final: I Cooper v A Barnes.

Mixed rinks (quarter-finals by March 15, semis by April 5): D King or P Bailey v M Dolby, J Holroyd or M Jeapes v S Suffling or D Hudson.

Over 65 Open Singles (first round by Feb 9, quarter-finals by March 15): M Mann or T Barwell v D King, K Vinter or M Dolby v P Linnell, A Barnes or D Hudson v P Green. Quarter-final R Blake v J Pearson.

Under 25 singles (semis by March 15): O Aspinall v S Harris, L Harris v O Jeapes.

MEN'S SINGLES AND MIXED PAIRS APPROACHING FINAL STAGES

Because of the volume of entries, the club men's singles and mixed pairs have already reached third round and quarter-final stages respectively with rounds due to be played by February 2.

Men's singles: I Cooper or M Wallace v A Barnes or M Jeapes, P Linnell or D King v A Warrington or R Graham, S Harris or M Humphreys v C Ballard or M Dolby, D Edwards or D Hudson v R Allam or O Aspinall.

Mixed pairs: J Little or M Jeapes v C Watson or D King, M Dolby or R Allam v R Graham or J Bourne,