Stamford rink's narrow defeat in national final

Post date: Feb 24, 2013 11:35:17 AM

The difference between success and failure in bowls can at times be a matter of millimetres - a touch on the jack, a missed drive, a measure for shot.And so it proved for four Stamford Indoor Bowls Club players for whom, if the opportunities had fallen in their favour, they might have been crowned English National Over 60s Fours winners and representing their country in the Home Internationals later in the year.As it was, Mike Ramsden, Bob Warters, Peter Edwards and Martyn Dolby - the teacher, the golf writer, the retired caretaker and the funeral director - had to settle for reaching the final of one of the game's most prestigious events but losing on the last end after the scores were level 15-15 with Tye Green IBC from Harlow in Essex.Earlier the quartet had travelled to Melton IBC, headquarters of the English Indoor Bowls Association, hoping to merely give a good account of themselves in their last 16 match with Royal Tunbridge Wells. They certainly did that with a comprehensive 27-12 victory, following up with a 27-18 triumph over Ross Peers IBC from Soham in Cambridgeshire.Semi-final opponents Featherstone had already beaten favourites Banister Park in the quarter-finals and were expected to be Stamford's toughest opposition. And so it proved when the Yorkshire quartet picked up a five to tie the scores mid-way through the match. But with some immaculate drawing by lead Ramsden and precise conversions by Edwards and skip Dolby, Stamford re-established their superiority. Featherstone finally conceded after 20 ends (17-23) needing six to force and extra end.Despite a gruelling two days of competition and more than 15 hours on the rink, Stamford forged into a 15-10 lead in the final thanks chiefly to some superb conversions by Edwards with only a few ends to go. But inspired and marshalled by their skip, former policeman John Anderson, the Essex players hit back to lead 16-15 by the 19th end.

The turning point came at the penultimate next end with Stamford holding one shot and needing a six-inch trail on the jack for a five count and almost unassailable lead for the title.

With Stamford knot of supporters on their feet with excitement, Dolby's final bowl only grazed the jack and with the scores level at 15-15, Stamford were unable to dislodge Tye Green's nearest bowl on the final end.

Said Warters: "While at first we might have settled for reaching the national finals and at least winning our first game, in the end it was tinged with disappointment of what might have been. But that's bowls - sometimes it's down to nerve and millimetres.

"It was a great thrill for all of us playing and the club to be represented at that level and enjoy the cameraderie of other clubs around the country - equally proud to be represented. It has certainly given us an appetite for more success and helped to put Stamford IBC on the map."

He added that perhaps the best recognition had come from a message this week from former World champion Andy Thomson MBE, England's most capped bowler, who visited the club in September.

"Congratulations on getting to the final of the Over 60s Fours - a fantastic effort by the Stamford rink. I hope the season continues to be a success," said Thomson.

Picture caption: Flanked by EWIBA and EIBA presidents Sheila Storey and Bernard Millard, Stamford players are pictured with their finalists trophy, from the left Martyn Dolby, Mike Ramsden, Peter Edwards and Bob Warters

Doug Want is making steady progress in the Northants Federation competitions and has reached the semi-finals of both the men's and veterans singles.

His latest triumph was a 21-10 defeat of fellow club member Derek King, following a 21-12 defeat of Wilf Redhead at Stamford in the Over 65 singles.

In their latest Lincs League Division One match, Stamford's mixed team lost 133-67 at Lincoln securing only two points from the 21-13 win by John Little rink of Dave Hudson, June Brennan and Christine Ford.

Results (Stamford names only):

Lincs Mixed League Division One: Lincoln A 133(16pts), Stamford 67 (2). D Hudson, J brennan, C Ford, J Little won 21-13; A Cox, C Barnes, P Cox, A Barnes lost 8-31; S Bailey, K Bailey, T Harris, P Bailey 14-24; J Harris, W Kettle, M Bloxham. R Harvey lost 14-17; M Andrews, D Mackie, T Mackie, M Bailey lost 10-39.

Lincs Ladies Trudy Bates League: Stamford 101 (16pts), Dunholme 81 (2): M MacKellar, R Roberts, M Daly, M Andrews won 24-17;J Brennan, C Warters, R March, C Ford lost 11-23; J Want, P Collicott, S Moir, D Mackie won 16-15; J Foster, M Broadbelt, C Cox, G Edwards won 21-11; F Rogers, J Gamble, J Harris, A Edwards won 29-15.

Stamford's holders of the English Bowling Federation Triples title are out of the competition for 2013 - beaten at the Northants EBF county quarter-final stage.

Adam Warrington, Paul Bailey and Peter Edwards (substituting for Martyn Dolby) had hoped to represent the club for a second successive year but came up against a tough combination of players from Peterborough and their own club.

With Stamford's John Holroyd peppering the jack at lead, supported by father and son John and Keith Burrows, the holders never looked in it, despite having home advantage and finally conceded 14-21 on the 20th end.

There's was better news, however, for the Edwards family when Peter's wife Glenys teamed up with Joyce Foster and Connie Cox to out-fox Margaret Andrews, Jan Want and Christine Ford 21-16 and reach the finals on March 17.

The trio, along with Peggy Birch, also qualified for the Lincs County rinks quarter-finals with a five shot victory over Sylvia Wade's Spalding quartet at Sleaford.

In the Lincs County Men's Third Division, Stamford Men's B team promotion hopes took a jolt when they lost by just one shot to rivals Grantham. With three matches to play they are tied on 63 points.

Results (Stamford names only)

Lincs Men's League Division Three: Grantham 84 (12 pts), Stamford 83 (6). K Rawlins, B Gretton, M wallis, A horton lost 14-22; T Barwell, C Ballard, P Pheasant, M Owens won 17-12; C Jones, D Bruce, W Kettle, M Hewitt lost 13-20; D Ingham, I Young, D Miller, J Earl won 20-15; H Fidom, T Mackie, A Barnes, P Banks won 19-15.

Stamford's junior bowlers came up against the cream of Lincolnshire's Under 25s at Boston and acquitted themselves well playing to a sets format against several players who had represented Lincs in winning the English Under 25 county championships the previous day.

Though Nathan Rigby came up against International Matthew Orrey in his first match, Jay Travis beat Jake Meakins before losing to Jonathan West from the home club.

Jon Bailey accounted for David Bristow (Sleaford) but went out to Ruby Hill (Spalding) who had earlier defeated Stephen Harris in a tie break. Katie Bailey lost to Spalding's Jordan Philpott in the quarter finals, having beaten Chris Pope (Sutton St James).