World No.2 Nick Brett & rink win our Christmas event
Post date: Dec 27, 2017 8:16:14 PM
Stamford President Kevin Vinter (centre) prepares to present the Mick Owens Trophy to (from the left) Howard Shipp, Nick Brett, Joe Randall and Nick Wilkie.
FORMER world indoor singles champion Nick Brett broke off his preparations for his bid to regain the 2018 title at Potters in January to skip his rink to victory in the Stamford IBA Christmas tournament.
And he revealed that despite the competition offering only £80 in prize money to the winning rink, compared to the £35,000 at stake to the outright winner of the world championship, the competition among club bowlers provided a vital part of his preparation.
Tension at the end of the tournament with the result hanging in the balance.
"I don't do roll-up practice on my own before a big tournament," Brett (pictured in action above left) revealed. "I can't see the point. I need the competition and this was an ideal way to prepare. We were all made very welcome."Members who had the opportunity were delighted to pit their skills against the world's No.2 bowler. Brett's rink included fellow Huntingdon IBC members Howard Shipp and Joe Randall and Nick Wilkie from Spalding IBC. As expected, they won all their four 8-end games to win their section with 30 points (two points for each win and a point for each end won). But then they had to sweat it out to see if the rink of Mick Humphreys, Stephen Harris, Rod West and Jonathan Earl could win the five ends they needed to pip them in the other section.However, in their last match, despite winning 9-5, the Earl quartet could claim only three ends against Ally McNaughton's Wittering contingent, to chalk up a total of just 29 points.
Third place went to Dave Hudson, Sue Moir, Margaret Bloxham and Cliff Watson.
The event was organised by club secretary Carol Warters and administered by Peter Edwards and Nina Rawlins.
The next major event at Stamford IBC is a Presidents' triples on January 28. Entries are still available.
Contact Kevin Vinter (Tel: 01780 751735).