Harris,Law help Lincs to Liberty triumph
Post date: Apr 15, 2018 11:35:25 AM
The Lincs team with the Liberty Trophy, in which they defeated Kent.
CONGRATULATIONS to Stephen Harris and Simon Law, members of Stamford IBC, who helped Lincolnshire win the English inter-county championship - the Liberty Trophy - by defeating Kent at Nottingham.
Having narrowly defeated Norfolk in the semi-finals in a nail-biter they quickly took the initiative against Kent, who included England legend Andy Thomson skipping against Jonathan West (Boston).
Lincs led 67-54 at halfway in the 21-end duel with Harris leading for Graham Smith's rink, alongside Terry Berridge (Grantham) and Smith's Spalding colleague, Ashley Caress. The quartet led 16-6 early on and went on to win at a canter 30-16.
Elsewhere Law played No.3 to Martin Spencer (Spalding) but just like against Norfolk the previous day they faced a torrid time and did well to hold their opposition to just ten shots.
Kent finally conceded with just one end to play and the match out of reach at 107-120.
Writes David Rhys Jones: "Not one of the Lincolnshire players were in the side that last won the Trophy 37 years ago. Lincolnshire came close to winning the title three years ago, when they lost agonisingly to Northamptonshire in the final, so there were a lot of happy faces when player manager Graham Smith was handed the Liberty Trophy by EIBA President Margaret Allen.
"Former international star Billy Jackson, who won the World Bowls Tour World title in 2006, said, "I can't tell you how much that means to me - it's the one thing that was missing from my CV. We came close in 2015, but today makes up for it - though Kent made us fight for it."
"England regular Smith, who won national two-wood singles and fours titles in Melton last month, played a captain's role, skipping his rink to an influential win over a Kent rink skipped by Ian Honnor, husband of Bowls International editor and 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Sian.
"Matt Orrey skipped his rink to a seven-shots win against Mark Johnson, while the rink skipped by Jonathan West defeated a Kent rink skipped by England team captain Andy Thomson by three shots, and Jordan Philpott's quartet edged home by two shots against Perry Martin's rink."
Results (Lincs names only):
Liberty Trophy final: Lincs 120 Kent 107. (Lincs names only) K Rands, R Ashton, D Brown, B Jackson won 18-15*; A Field, A Watts, K Ekins, J Philpott lost 13-15*; S Harris, T Berridge, A Caress, G Smith won 30-16; S Dunham, R Flowers, S Law, M Spencer lost 15-25; M Whyers, R Vinter, M Pulling, M Orrey won 25-18; Clark, R West, A Dunham, J West won 20-17.
*match incomplete
STAMFORD CLUB FINALS
Yet again Martyn Dolby and Christine Ford dominated the Stamford IBA club competitions weekend, combining to win all three mixed events - pairs, triples and fours - and sharing with others to win the respective men's triples and women's pairs.
Above: Mixed Fours Finalists, from left: Martyn Dolby, Pat Jones, Stephen Harris, Christine Ford, Louise Harris, John Holroyd, Michael Humphries & Moira Holroyd.
The Ladies Singles was won by Joan Robinson pictured left with fellow finalist Christine Barnes.Christine Barnes (left) and Joan Robinson.
The Men's Singles was won by Stephen Harris pictured right with finalist Martyn Dolby and Umpire Mal Smith: from left to right are: Stephen Harris, Mal Smith (Umpire), and Martyn Dolby.
However, one of the outstanding results of the two-day event came in the men's pairs when musician and former drama teacher Paul Galloway teamed up with RAF instructor Mark Hebden to win the prestigious men's pairs against the experienced combination of Adam Warrington and Neil Wright 20-18. Wright had the chance to take the tie into extra time but in trailing the jack, took it only to an opposition bowl.
There was also well-deserved joy for hard-working competition organisers Glenys and Peter Edwards. Glenys combined with Elizabeth Wallace, Margaret Andrews and Peggy Birch to win the women's rinks, having earlier joined Jan Want and Denise Mackie to claim the women's triples and husband, Peter (pictured right with Tony Barwell) took the senior singles, defeating Tony Barwell 22-15.
Above: Women's fours finalists from the left: Shirley Suffling, June Brennan, Jan Want, Chris Ford, Margaret Andrews, Elizabeth Wallace, Glenys Edwards and Peggy Birch.
Above: Men's Triples finalists, from the left : Tony Barwell, Jon Earl, Adam Warrington, Peter Cox, Keith Rippin and Martyn Dolby.
Results in detail:
Mixed Triples: A Warrington, C Ford, M Dolby beat M Andrews, S Suffling, M Humphreys 21-8.
Ladies Triples: K Bailey, H Holroyd, L Harris lost to J Want, G Edwards, D Mackie 16-17.
Men's Rinks: R Allam, M Cullingworth, R Montgomery, A Barnes lost to A Romaine, D Want, P Edwards, P Bailey 12-20.
Ladies Pairs: S Suffling & C Ford beat L Harris & H Holroyd 22-19;
Men's Pairs: A Warrington & N Wright lost to P Galloway & M Hebden 18-20.
Ladies Rinks: J Brennan, J Want, S Suffling, C Ford lost to E Wallace, M Andrews, P Birch, G Edwards 11-19;
Men's Triples: T Barwell, P Cox, K Rippin lost to A Warrington, J Earl, M Dolby 9-27.
Mixed pairs: C Ford & M Dolby beat S Moir & A Speechley 27-11.
Men's Over 65 Singles: T Barwell v P Edwards.
Ladies Singles : J Robinson beat C Barnes 21-11.
Mixed Rinks : M Holroyd, L Harris, J Holroyd, M Humphreys lost to S Harris, Pat Jones, C Ford, M Dolby 23-15.
Under 25 Singles (Sets): Helen Holroyd beat Owen Aspinall and James Hebden in a round robin tournament.
Men's Singles: M Dolby lost to S Harris 15 - 22.
COUNTY WIN FOR STAMFORD JUNIORS
Owen Aspinall and James Hebden featured in Lincolnshire Under 18's 72-46 victory over Norfolk at Boston. Liam Reeson (Boston) skipped their triples rink which won 15-13.