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Post date: Sep 29, 2018 2:54:28 PM
The club was packed for the tournament with more than a 100 watching for much of the day - at least 30 of whom stayed to watch the final finish just before midnight.
MICHAEL KNIGHT, a 35-year-old account manager from the Whiteknights Indoor Bowls Club in Reading, claimed the £750 first prize at the Nigel Kettle Memorial Open Singles tournament at Stamford IBC on Sunday, writes Bob Warters.
After a gruelling 16-hour bowls session, it was just before midnight when left-hander Knight (pictured left) overcame the final challenge of 21-year-old Stamford-based Stephen Harris who had earlier beaten world No.1 Greg Harlow in straight sets in a pulsating semi-final.
With three shots on the last end of the first set of the final, Harris tied the match but dropped a crucial three-count on the penultimate end of the second set to finally lose the match 7-7, 2-8.
It was Knight's first win on the Open Singles Circuit and he paid tribute to the organisers of the Stamford tournament and vowed to be back next year to defend his title. In the semi-final he beat English two-bowl singles champion Graham Smith from Spalding.
Former World singles champions Nick Brett and Harlow were each given a severe test in the first round. Brett was beaten by current English Indoor Singles champion Jack Bird (Scarborough) in a two end shoot-out and it took a close measure to ensure Harlow a place in the next round - again after extra ends - against former world outdoor gold medallist Jamie Walker (Kingsthorpe).
Harlow later went on to reach the last 16 by defeating Sherod Winterton in straight sets. And at a similar stage, the hopes of progress by Stamford's Helen Holroyd - the last surviving woman in the competition - were dashed by former winner Jordan Philpott - again in straight sets. Harris, now representing the Spalding club where he will play his national competitions, reached the quarter-finals after surviving a thriller with Sleaford's Paul Oke in which he secured both tie-break ends.
Holroyd had earlier qualified for the last 16 after a nail-biting shoot-out with Stamford colleague Christine Ford.
The 23-year-old student first knocked out clubmate Shirley Suffling then, after Ford had squared the match by winning the second set 7-3, took advantage of an error by Ford to win the shoot-out.
In the qualifying rounds, Harris beat Jeff Pitt (Peterborough) and Terry Berridge (Grantham) in straight sets.
Club chairman Keith Rippin deserves great credit for his efforts in pulling the competition together in this its fourth successive year, perpetuating the memory of the late life-member Nigel Kettle, whose daughter Anthea agreed to continue underwriting the popular event.
Acknowledgement, too, should be given to newly appointed umpire Malcolm Smith (pictured below), who rounded up an enthusiastic group of volunteer markers and scorers, together with all those who assisted in other ways and gave their support. International umpire Colin Wilson also attended.
Lea Blackham, a retired personnel director from Ipswich, who lost to Harris in the semi-final, summed up the view of the competitors when he said: "Stamford is a great venue for the circuit, situated as it is geographically. It is also one of the best-run events and it is always a pleasure to play in front of so many spectators. I will certainly be back next year."
FOOTNOTE: Stamford IBC's oldest member - 95 year old Arthur Chapman - didn't want to miss any of the action and was delighted to meet two of his bowling heroes - Nick Brett and Greg Harlow (pictured above).
RESULTS
Saturday, Sept 29
First round : Paul Oke (Sleaford) beat Tony Barwell (Stamford) 3-11, 5-2 (2-0 after tie-break); Jeff Pitt (Peterborough) lost to Stephen Harris (Spalding) 8-2, 6-4; Helen Holroyd (Stamford) beat Shirley Suffling (Stamford) 9-4, 9-3; David Bristow (Sleaford) lost to Jordan Philpott (Spalding) 6-6, 7-3.
Alan Romaine (Stamford) lost Paul Roberts (Sleaford) 5-6, 4-7; Terry Berridge (Grantham) beat Chris Ballard (Stamford) 72, 8-3; Christine Ford (Stamford) beat Bob Greenwood (Huntingdon) 8-4, 8-7; Derek King (Stamford) beat John Holroyd (Stamford) 7-5, 0-13 (2-0).
Second Round: Harris beat Berridge 5-3, 6-2; Oke beat Roberts 13-1, 6-3; Philpott beat King 7-6, 7-2; H Holroyd beat Ford 8-2, 3-7 (2-0).
Sunday, Sept 30
Will Bell (Lincoln) lost to Jeff Moore (Turpin)1-8, 3-8; Graham Smith (Spalding) beat Bradley Prowle (Riverain) 9-3, 2-8; Tony Webb (Riverain) lost to Matt Whyers (Spalding) 3-8, 5-4 (1-2 Winterton ( Charnwood) beat Andy Speechley (Stamford) 8-2, 7-3; Jamie Claydon (Riverain) beat Gordon Wood (Lincoln) 9-4, 8-2; Kevin Rands (Lincoln) beat Scott Whyers (Boston) 7-2, 10-4. Ed Elmore (City of Ely) lost to Paul Maynard (Foxhill) 6-8, 1-9; Chris Brereton (Welford in Avon) beat Brenda Barlow (Lincoln) 6-5, 7-3; Martin Shepherd (Chipping Norton) beat Chloe Brett (Huntingdon)7-5, 8-5; Greg Harlow (City Of Ely) beat Jamie Walker (Kingsthorpe) 5-6, 6-1 (2-1); Mark Burdett (Welford on Avon) lost to Lee Rowland(Avon Valley) 4-9, 5-5; Jack Bird (Scarborough) beat Nick Brett (Huntingdon) 3-6, 5-4 (2-0).
Andy Moore (Christie Miller) beat Donna Knight (West Berks) 7-5,7-2; Lea Blackham (Ipswich) beat Jordan Moore (Christie Miller) 7-3, 5-4; Jake Leslie(Norfolk) beat Jacqueline Henderson (Erewash) 10-5, 10-1; Geoff Moore (Christie Miller) lost to Michael Knight (Whiteknights) 1-10, 0-13; Mick Humphreys (Stamford) lost Phil Last (Ipswich) 5-7, 3-6; Richard Coverdale (Norfolk) lost to Paul Reynolds (Herga) 3-5, 0-10.
David Miles (Whiteknights) lost to Andy Ware (City of Ely) 3-9, 4-6; Russell Robinson (Erewash) beat Mark Royal (Mid Suffolk)6-6, 8-7; Steward Douglas (Bainfield, Scotland) lost to Dom Warren (Ipswich) 4-4, 1-8; Nik Elphick (West Berks) lost to Sam Watts (Oxford) 2-8, 6-5 (1-2); K Moore lost to Maynard 0-9, 6-6; Smith beat Brereton 4-4, 9-2.Second round: Wendy Brown (Lincoln) lost to Last 1-6, 1-9; Glenn Williams (Riverain) beat Reynolds 8-7, 4-7 (2-0); M Whyers beat 9-4,10-1; Shepherd ; Winterton lost to Harlow 0-11, 3-10; Claydon beat Rowland 11-5, 2-9 (2-0); Rands beat Bird 3-8, 9-8 (2-1)
Third round: Blackham beat Robinson 8-5, 1-8 (2-12), A Moore beat Ware 7-2, 8-8; Knight beat Watts 2-7, 6-5 (2-1); Leslie beat Warren 5-4, 3-5 (2-0) Harris beat Oke 4-5, 7-4 (2-0); Philpott beat H Holroyd 9-2, 11-3; Williams beat Claydon 8-4, 5-5; Last v Whyers; Rands lost to Harlow 6-7, 0-7; Smith beat Maynard 0-8, 8-3 (2-1); Blackham beat Moore 3-8, 8-2 (2-1).
Quarter-finals: Jordan Philpott lost to Greg Harlow 3-8, 5-8; Glen Williams lost to Graham Smith 3-7, 7-7; Stephen Harris beat Lea Blackham (Ipswich) 3-6, 4-3 (2-0); Matt Whyers lost to Michael Knight (Whitenights) 5-10, 1-8.
Semi-finals: Harris beat Harlow 7-6, 5-4; Knight beat Smith 8-3, 7-7.
Final: Harris lost to Knight 7-7, 2-8.
CASH BOOST: Players who are beaten in rounds up to the quarter-finals are expected, as Open Singles Circuit rules dictate, to mark the next match on the rink on which they lost. Stewart Douglas (he of the bright yellow bowls) had travelled from Bainfield near Edinburgh was beaten in straight sets by Dom Warren but gave his apologies that he was unable to stay to carry out his duties. Instead, he sent a £150 donation towards next year's event. Thanks Stewart!
Quarter-finalists (from the left) Matt Whyers, Greg Harlow, Graham Smith, Jordan Philpott, Glen Williams, Lea Blackham, Stephen Harris and Michael Knight. (All images by Alan Romaine
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