EXTRA SPORT • LOCAL BOWLS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – LATEST INFORMATION MEN’S PAIRS The National Finals in the Men’s Pairs commenced on Friday, 8th April, 2016, at Melton & District IBC, and two of the County’s bowlers, having qualified through the Area stages, were there in the last 32 in the country. 1st Round: J a s o n Bryan and Connor Cinato, Kingsthorpe BC Indoor Section, pairing for the first time in national competitions following Connor’s move to Kingsthorpe, certainly set about their first round opponents with great determination – beating John Barnes and Clive Baugh of White Oak IBC, Swanley, Kent, pretty emphatically 30-11 shots. They started off very well and were 5 shots up at 8-3 after 5 ends of play, and the next few ends saw them completely dominate play as they collected 16 shots to just 1 conceded over the next 5 ends. At the three quarter stage the score was still heavily in the County men’s favour at 29-7, and although the Kent men picked up 4 shots to reduce the deficit to 18 shots, when the Kingsthorpe duo won the next end, the passage to the next round was theirs. 2nd Round: Jason and Connor had a terrific fight on their hands in the second half of their match against Tom Doig and Phil Broughton, both former England Internationals, from Nottingham IBC, eventually winning by just 1 shot at 19-18 shots. After 5 ends of play the County men had posted 9 shots without reply, but against this sort of opposition it was not expected that this rate of progress would last. Over the next 5 ends, however, Jason & Connor maintained an excellent lead of 10 shots at 15-5. They were then stuck on those 15 shots for the next 4 ends with their opponents scraping themselves back into contention just 3 shots adrift at 12-15 shots after 14 ends of play. The last 7 ends were very tense for the Kingsthorpe duo, as their opponents kept pace with them right to the last end when the scores were equal on 18 shots. On that last end Tom Doig ditched the jack with his bowl following into the ditch some 18 inches away, but 20 years old Connor played a Jason Bryan ‘toucher’ bowl into the ditch to rest closer to the jack for match and a passage to the Quarter Finals. As well known Bowls Journalist, Commentator and former International player, David Rhys-Jones described it as “The morning’s most exciting finish” QUARTER FINAL: Jason and Connor now faced 2 more current England Internationals, the very well known Louis Ridout and Sam Tolchard, of Torquay United IBC, both of whom have won national titles, both indoor and outdoor, with Louis also adding the 2015 indoor Open Singles Circuit to his achievements. They lost 12-25 shots. After 4 ends of play the scores were even at 2 shots each, but from then on the Devon men got in front and stayed there, albeit not by many shots with the score 14-8 shots in their favour after 11 ends, but the deficit had grown to 9 shots at 12-21 after 17 ends, and in the next end it was all over when dropping a count of 4 shots. It was very unfortunate for Connor that he had experienced the trauma of being at the scene of an horrific fatal road accident between home and Melton Mow-
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bray the night before, for against such opposition he would need to be completely focussed on the match, instead of recalling the horror of the accident in which he and his family were first on the scene and who gave what assistance they could to the injured. Louis and Sam, however, did play very well indeed, going on to take the title by 10 shots against a Cyphers IBC pair, and the County duo would have needed to be at their super best to beat them. Nevertheless this was some achievement for Jason and Connor – reaching a National Quarter Final is no mean feat, so well done to them. BOWLS ENGLAND – MEN’S JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL TRIAL SELECTION Bowls England has named its Trial Team for the Men’s Junior Internationals, with County players included. Jamie Walker, Northampton West End BC and Connor Cinato, Kettering Midland Band BC have both got a place in the Trial which will take place at Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, on Monday, 30th May, 2016, at 10.0 a.m. The team of 24 players plus 2 travelling reserves, will be selected immediately after the Trial, to represent England in the British Isles Bowls Council Junior International Series to be held on the weekend of 10th/11th September, 2016, at Elgin BC, Scotland. Connor &Jamie will be hoping to retain their places in the England team, and we congratulate them on their selection for Connor and the Trial, and wish them well on the day. OPEN SINGLES CIRCUIT – WELLINGBOROUGH BC EVENT The nationwide ‘Open Singles Circuit’ holds events at a number of indoor clubs around the country, with the qualifying players from each event being invited to participate in the Grand Final at Northampton & District IBC on Saturday, 29th October, 2016. Wellingborough BC is the penultimate venue in the series of events, holding its competition on the weekend of 16th/17th April, 2016, with play commencing at 10.0 a.m. on the Saturday going right through to around 7.0 p.m. Sunday will see further competition commencing at 9.0 a.m. and once more play will continue throughout the day culminating with the ‘Final’ scheduled to be played at 6.0 p.m. As is usual for these events a number of top players will be showing their talent on the green, including the likes of Rob & Ed Elmore, Steve Tuohy, Tom Doig, Phil Broughton, plus several of the County’s own talented bowlers, including Paul & Tina Broderick, Dennis Collins,Mick Cooper, Neil Corbyn & Alison Dring, all from the host club.. Les Gillett and our own Jamie Walker may also be there but this is dependent upon how successful they are in the National Singles at Melton & District IBC, where the Finals are on the same weekend. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE MEN FRIENDLY versus MIDDLESEX IBA – RESULT The men of Northamptonshire Indoor Bowling Association took a coach ride on Wednesday, 6th April, 2016, to North Finchley, London, to play Middlesex IBA at Glebelands IBC, and came away with a handsome win by 45 shots, and just 1 losing rink, and
then by only 3 shots. The highest scoring County rink was that skipped by Pete Mellor that recorded a 17 shots win. Final score was Northamptonshire 137 shots – Middlesex 92 shots. Details as follows, Middlesex skips only: Rink 1. Rick Hayes, Tony Warren, Brian Jones & John Greaves 24 shots – Peter Wilcock 12 shots Rink 2. Jim Diver, Dave Garland, Geoff Hunt & John Haines 15 shots – Fred Halverson 18 shots Rink 3. Roger Summers, Mike McKeown, Geoff Allen & Richard Somerton 22 shots – Andy Docker 14 shots Rink 4. Brian Hunt, Brian Langton, Brian Diver & Tony Weston 25 shots – Eric Prior 15 shots Rink 5. Stuart Lowe, Trevor Tilley, Bob Tingle & Norman Gibb 19 shots – Godfrey Sheldon 18 shots Rink 6. Don Scott, Mike Weatherill, Ted Guiver & Pete Mellor 32 shots – Brian Elbourn 15 shots NORTHAMPTONSHIRE BOWLS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (NBYDS) COMPETITIONS COUNTY FINALS From the afore going it will be seen that the County Indoor Competitions have reached the Finals Stage, and the following is the schedule for the playing of those Finals at Daventry IBC, Browns Road, Daventry, NN11 4NS Saturday, 16th April, 2016 – 9.30 a.m. NBYDS Under 15 Singles between Jack Lee, Northampton & District IBC & Tay O.Neill, Desborough IBC Women’s Fours between Marlene Armitage, Jean Burgess, Sue Collins & Tina Broderick, Wellingborough BC Indoor Section and Jackie Dale, Elaine Cox, Louise Haladij & Sue Lane, Northampton & District IBC Men’s Fours between Matt Pownall, Callum Height, Paul Broderick & Darren Childs, Wellingborough BC Indoor Section and Richard Lemon’s rink, Northampton & District IBC NBYDS 15-18 Singles between Billie Swift, Northampton & District IBC and Adam Pitfield, Wellingborough BC Indoor Section Saturday, 16th April, 2016 – 2.0 p.m. Women’s Pairs between Katie Smith/Tina Broderick, Wellingborough BC Indoor Section and Billie Swift/Joyce Porter, Northampton & District IBC NBYDS Pairs between Maisie Lee & Jack Lee, Northampton & District IBC and Connor Rollings & Kieran Rollings, Kettering Lodge BC Indoor Section Men’s Unbadged Singles between Tom Wellburn, Kingsthorpe BC Indoor Section and Mark Turner, Kettering Lodge BC Indoor Section Sunday, 17th April, 2016 – 9.30 a.m. Women’s Under 25 Singles between Louise Haladij, Northampton & District IBC and Billie Swift, Northampton & District IBC. Men’s Tipler Rose Bowl between John Haines’ rink, Desborough IBC and Malc Mattinson’s rink, Rushden Town BC Indoor Section Men’s Triples between Iain Walker, David Walker & Ray Castle, Kingsthorpe BC Indoor Section and Richard Lemon’s Triple, Northampton & District IBC Women’s Triples between Sue Briggs, Pat Starsmore & Audrey Height, Kettering Lodge BC Indoor Section and Julie
Report by John G Church MBE
PAIRS: Jason Bryan and Connor Cinato in play in the National Pairs (photo courtesy of David Rhys-Jones)
PRESENTATION: John Chester (Desborough President) presenting Grouse Trophy to left to right Dougie Cooper, Norman Gibb & Peter Mellor (photo courtesy of Vic Cosgrove) Spreadbury, Vicki Rushall & Joan Watts, Daventry IBC Women’s Singles between Rebecca Wigfield, Desborough IBC and Linda Warren, Northampton & District IBC As reported last week the Men’s Under 25 Singles Final was played early, and was won by Connor Cinato, Kingsthorpe BC Indoor Section. The County Finals will be concluded by the ‘Presentation Luncheon’ being hosted by NIBA President Geoff Allen, at his Club, Daventry IBC, on Sunday, 17th April, 2016. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE INDOOR BA CELEBRATES NATIONAL WIN On Friday, 8th April, 2016, Northamptonshire Indoor Bowling Association held a Celebration Dinner at Desborough IBC, following the winning of a National Title on Sunday, 27th March, 2016, by the County’s Over 60 Team. The Association invited all the team members and their wives/ partners, plus the Officers, Past Presidents and their wives/partners, with the event hosted by the County President Geoff Allen, and around 80 people were there to enjoy a very fine meal in celebration, with the grand trophy taking pride of place. In attendance were 8 Past Presidents of the Indoor Association, Team Manager John Haines, and County Press Officer John Church and his wife Susan, who were invited guests. In addition to the President making a short speech of congratulation, John Haines also spoke about the success and the support that he had received, and the ‘Poet Laureate’ of the Team, Mick Richardson, delivered a very amusing poem that he had written about all the matches played in the Competition. FAMOUS GROUSE TOURNAMENT AT DESBOROUGH IBC This ever popular competi-
tion, sponsored by the ‘Famous Grouse’ whisky, concluded on Sunday, 10th April, 2016, with the Finals being held at Desborough IBC. 12 Triples had qualified from earlier in the season, and they were organised into 2 Groups in which they played a series of ‘round robin’ matches to provide the Finalists, from which the following came out on top: Winners: Dougie Cooper, Peter Mellor & Norman Gibb ( All Desborough IBC) Runners-up: Donna Williamson (Kingsthorpe BC), Carl Wigfield & Carl Haines (both Desborough IBC) 3rd Place: Connor Dolby, Chris Bland(both Northampton IBC) & Ron Chambers (Desborough IBC 4th Place: Paul Munday, Kyle Buckley & Martin Keech (All Rushden Town BC) Desborough IBC, which has hosted this event for many years, thanks the long time sponsors for the support to the event. SPORT AND RECREATION ALLIANCE NEWS The Sport and Recreation Alliance has announced nominations for the 2016 Community Sport and Recreation Awards are now live. The Awards, which have been running for over 20 years, celebrate the excellent work conducted by sport and recreation organisations in local communities. Clubs, programmes and initiatives affiliated with English Indoor Bowling Association Ltd are encouraged to enter one or more of the five award categories. These highlight the breadth of work undertaken by the grassroots sport and recreation sector. This year the categories are: • Young Volunteering in association with GBGroup • Innovative Project in association with Perkins Slade • Professional Club Community Programme of the Year in association with the Professional Footballers Association
• Social Impact in association with Hiscox • 2016 Overall Winner The Awards are free to enter and each winner will receive a financial prize, with the 2016 Overall Winner set to receive £2,500. The Awards ceremony will be held on Thursday 14 July and presented by HRH Prince Edward, the The closing date for nominations is Friday 29 April 2016. Please visit the Sport and Recreation Alliance website to find out how to enter and learn more about why SPICE – Special People on Ice were crowned the 2015 Overall Winner and what the club has been up to since receiving the £2500 award. FIXTURES DAVENTRY IBC Competitions Presentation: 22.4.16. Club holds its end of season ‘Celebration and Presentation’ evening at 7.0 p.m. Annual General Meeting: 23.4.16. Club holds its Annual General Meeting at 2.0 p.m. Fixtures: 16.4.16. Club hosts the County Competition Finals KETTERING LODGE BC (Indoor Section) Presentation Evening: 29.4.16. The Club will hold its competition ‘Presentation Evening’ at 7.30 p..m Annual General Meeting 20.4.16. The Club will hold its Annual General Meeting at 7.0 p.m. NORTHAMPTON & DISTRICT IBC 18.4.16. Browston Hall IBC, Norfolk, visits for a mixed match at 2.0 p.m. Annual General Meeting: 18.4.16. The Club holds its Annual General Meeting at 7.0 p.m. WELLINGBOROUGH BC (Indoor Section) 16/17.4.16. Club hosts an ‘Open Singles Circuit’ event on these dates.