Shirley Suffling Runner Up in Federation 2 Bowls Singles

Shirley Suffling pipped in national final

Local bowlers hoping to grab a title at the English National Federation outdoor championships at Skegness were disappointed when they failed in their bid for silverware.

However, Shirley Suffling, treasurer of Stamford Indoor Bowls Association and representing Ketton and Northants, came closest - in the two-bowl singles.

She had earlier beaten Jenny Shaw (North Essex) and Nottingham’s Anne Patten and had one hand on the blue riband trophy in the final. But she couldn’t quite hang on against Northumberland’s Naomi Scott.

Suffling led 18-15 after 26 nail-biting ends but inspired by her daughter Zoe’s win in the ladies under 25 singles on an adjoining rink, the North Shields West End bowler, suddenly found line and length on a tricky surface.

It finally took 31 tension-packed ends for Scott to secure a 21-18 win. 

Elsewhere Blackstone’s Stephen Harris held Russell Robinson to 14 shots apiece in the four bowl men’s singles semi-finals but conceded seven shots in two ends to the Derbyshire bowler who then went on to take the title against Wayne Burrage (Norfolk).

The only bright spot for Northants was the 95-91 win by Peterborough Parkway in the Durham Centenary Shield, landing the four rink triples team prize for the first time in the county’s history. The team included, Neil Wright, Paul Dalliday, Michael and Ollie Jeapes, all members of Stamford Indoor Bowls Club.

FOOTNOTE: Morton resident Denise Mackie also a member of the indoor club,, representing Lincolnshire, also lost to Derbyshire in the ladies two-bowl triples final. The Lincs trio had earlier beaten Ketton’s Shirley  Suffling, Helen Tilley and Elaine Upton in the semi-final. Upton also lost 21-11 to Northumberland’s Karen Waite in the Senior singles first round.