Stamford Indoor Bowls Club round-up
Ollie Jeapes, who plays his domestic league bowls at Stamford IBC and his national and county competitions for Spalding Lightning, has been selected for the 10-player England Under 18 side to compete in the British Isles series at Sully in Wales from January 12-14.
Despite selected to play number three and skip during the trials at Northampton, Stamford’s other contender Owen Aspinall was unsuccessful but says he learned a lot from the experience.
There was contrasting fortunes emerged for Stamford’s A and B teams contesting the Lincs Men’s Indoor Bowls League (South) on Saturday.
While the A team humbled local rivals Grantham by 74 shots, the B side suffered a similar defeat by 44 shots at league leaders Spalding, conceding all 14 points.
At Stamford, the A team result was never in doubt from the early stages as they built up a 51-24 lead at 10 ends with late replacement Jeff Bourne outstanding at lead for Roger Martin’s rink, inspiring them to 32-11 win.
However, it was not quite enough to take the rink prize which went to the quartet of Wayne and Owen Aspinall, Mike Ramsden and Jon Earl who won by 22 shots, including a six count on the 18th end.
Lincs League (South): Stamford ‘A’ 119 (14 pts) Grantham 45 (0). Stamford names only: w Aspinall, M Ramsden, O Aspinall, J Earl won 32-10; T Barwell, K Rippin, C Ballard, M Linnell won 25-15; J Bourne, A McNaughton, B Warters, R Martin won 32-11; M Humphreys, W Morris, N Wright, A Warrington won 30-9.
Lincs League (South): Spalding 105 (14 ) Stamford B 61 (0). Stamford names only: J Suffling, R Blake, J Hare, M Hewitt lost 16-21; S Christie,G Patrickson, D Wilkinson, D Henshaw lost 19-27; P Linnell, M Owens, D Bruce, D Edwards lost13-20; M Smith, C Jones, M Dye, N Crees lost 13-37.
Stamford A will be looking to improve their league table position when they travel to Boston A on Sunday.
On Saturday, Stamford B entertain Boston B, looking for their first win of the season, against their fellow strugglers. Both matches start at 2pm.
Stamford A team to play away to Boston A on Sunday is: W Aspinall, D Miller, O , CBallard; M Linnell, B crouch, K Rippin, B Warters; P Linnell, M Owens, A Mc Naughton, N Wright; T Barwell, M Ramsden, P Buckley, R .Martin.
Stamford B: S Christie,M Smith, D Bruce, D Wilkinson; H Gordon, G Clarke, B Orme, P Smith; J Suffling, R Blake, C Jones, D Henshaw; P Linnell, M Owens, G Patrickson, M Hewitt.
Conceding shots on the last end cost Stamford’s senior women bowlers a place in the second round of the national Masons Trophy.
With rinks of four against Grantham playing at home and away simultaneously over 18 ends, they trailed 29-30 when the home rink finished.
But drama quickly followed as Denise Mackie’s away quartet fought back within a shot at 15-16 with the last end to play but a four count by their opponents put the overall score out of reach.
Masons Trophy: Stamford 32 Grantham 33. Stamford names only. Home - J Brennan, E Wallace, R Downs, C Ford won 17-13; away - A Northen, P Jones, S Suffling, D Mackie lost 15-20.
Despite a comprehensive 49-shot victory over nearest rivals Spalding, Stamford‘s Senior bowlers failed to improve on their second-to-last spot in the six-strong Lincs Over 60s League (South).
The 13 points they collected merely keeps them one behind Spalding but still 20 adrift of leaders Lincoln A.
However, the team showed the stamina to push on after taking an early lead, with three rinks winning by a substantial margin and the other snatching a point in the last minutes of the match after conceding seven shots in the closing ends.
The team’s next match is away to bottom side Boston B on Wednesday (10am).
Lincs Over 60s League (South): Stamford 95 (13 pts),Spalding 46 (1).Stamford names only. G Patrickson, S Miner, M Hewitt, K Vinter won 24-12; D King, C Jones, P Burt, T Christie drew 16-16; T Barwell, I Hall, P Smith, R Martin won 27-11; J Bourne, D Bruce, M Owens, B Warters won 28-7.
Stamford Seniors: J Bourne, M Ramsden, M Owens, B Warters; T Barwell, D Henshaw, P Smith, R Martin; S Miner, I Hall, M Hewitt, K Vinter; D King, D Bruce, K Rippin, J Holroyd.
Stamford’s Shirley Suffling featured in one of only two winning rinks when Lincs WIBA lost 101-79 against Leicestershire away in the Midland Counties competition on Sunday.
She played number three to Betty Deaton (Spalding) alongside Horncastle’s Mary Johnson and Lynn Ulyett in a 20-9 rink win.
June Brennan and Chris Ford reached the second round of the county pairs with a convincing win at Sleaford against Linda Smith and Shirley Beardsley (Grantham).
Teams planning to enter the Stamford IBC Christmas Fours Tournament on Thursday, December 28, should act soon with only a handful of places still available.
Already 18 teams have entered the event. The organisers can accept a maximum of 24 teams, all of which will play four sessions of seven ends with two points awarded for a win and one for every end won.
Entry forms (£20 per team) are available from the club’s reception. Closing date is December 15. Hot food is available on the day if ordered and paid for in advance at Woody’s on-site cafe.
Empingham-based Durant Cricket has stepped in to sponsor the tournament.
The company, which supplies and installs equipment nationwide, recently installed the club's new state-of-the art electronic scoreboard, which has received excellent compliments from its membership.
Its injection of £250 prize money for the fun tournament is a gesture of its support for the event.