Ollie Jeapes wins the English Bowling Federation national Under 25 singles outdoor title at Skegness
Rising bowls star Ollie Jeapes has won another national title.
The teenager, who plays his winter bowls at the Stamford Indoor club, added the outdoor version of the English Bowling Federation national Under 25 singles at Skegness to the indoor one he won at Lincoln earlier in the year.
His victory was quite poignant.
He beat Alex Scott 21-16 in the final having earlier lost to the Northumberland bowler's dad, Steve, in the first round of the men’s four-bowl singles.
Representing the Parkway outdoor club, Ollie was unable to complete an English Bowling Federation double, losing the Under 25 pairs final with Stamford colleague Owen Aspinall (Blackstones) to Suffolk's Joe Sims and Ryan Hard.
Success at the Suncastle greens meant Northants currently holds all four age-limit-specific English Bowling Federation singles titles.
When Whittlesey Manor’s Graham Agger retained the veteran singles title by beating Colin Cleary (Horncastle) 21-5 in the final, he added the outdoor crown to the indoor one, county president Martyn Dolby (Blackstones) won in April.
Blackstones players also reached the final of the two-bowl triples at the blustery seaside greens but Mick Humphreys, Paul Buckley and Stephen Harris lost 19-7 to Nottinghamshire.
Elsewhere, Angela Cox almost single-handedly carried the flag for the county’s women bowlers, who must be reflecting on a disappointing series of matches.
Earlier, she lost in the Secretaries singles and the pairs with Langtoft clubmate Pat Booth, but soldiered on to reach the final of the four-bowl singles with wins against Hunts and North Essex.
But, against last year’s pairs winner from Norfolk Claire Turner, she lost 21-5.
"I didn't play well but at least I reached the final," said Angela, who emulated club-mate Sue Moir who previously reached the same stage.
FINALISTS
Under 25 singles: Ollie Jeapes (Parkway) bt Hunts 21-9, North Essex 21-18 and Northumberland 21-16 in the final.
Veterans singles: Graham Agger (Whittlesey Manor) bt Durham 21-8, Norfolk 21-16 and Lincs 21-5 in the final.
Under 25 open pairs: Ollie Jeapes (Parkway) and Owen Aspinall (Blackstones) bt Norfolk 21-4, Lincs 20-7, Humberside 22-17 then lost to Suffolk 18-13 in the final.
Men’s two-bowl rinks: Michael Humphreys, Paul Buckley, Stephen Harris (Blackstones) bt Durham 19-8, Hunts 20-13 then lost 19-7 to Notts in the final.
Women’s four-bowl singles: Angela Cox (Langtoft) bt North Essex 21-19, Notts 21-18 then lost 21-5 to Norfolk in the final.
FIRST ROJND WINNERS
MIxed pairs: Paul Dalliday and Michelle Coleman (Parkway) bt Humberside 18-19 then lost 19-18 to Durham.
Women’s senior pairs: Helen Tilley and Elaine Upton (Ketton) bt Norfolk 18-9 then lost 26-10 to Hunts.
FIRST ROUND DEFEATS
MEN: Two-bowl singles: Paul Dalliday (Parkway) 21-16 v Cleveland; Four-bowl singles: Ollie Jeapes (Parkway) 21-19 v Northumberland; Secretary singles: Robert Heath (Yaxley) 21-14 v Lincs; Champion of Champions: Roger Stevens (Whittlesey Manor) 21-8 v Norfolk; Pairs: Graham Agger and Peter Brown (Whittlesey Manor) 18-12 v Humberside; Senior pairs: Dusty Millar and Martyn Dolby (Blackstones) 22-3 v North Essex; Three-bowl rinks: Adam Emery and Trevor Collins (sub) 21-12 v Norfolk; Mixed rinks: Paul Dalliday and Michelle Coleman (Parkway) 21-13 v Northumberland.
WOMEN: Two-bowl singles: Jan McDougall (Crowland) 21-6 v Humberside; Senior singles: Chris Ford (Stamford) 21-9 v Northumberland; Secretary singles: Angela Cox (Langtoft) 21-6 v Lincs; Champion of Champions: Elaine Upton (Ketton) 21-7 v Suffolk; Pairs: Pat Booth and Angela Cox (Langtoft) 18-17 v Humberside; Two-bowl rinks: Carol Warters, Shirley Sufflng, Helen Tilley (Ketton) 21-16 after extra end v Norfolk; Three-bowl rinks: Carol Warters, Shirley Suffling, Helen Tilley sub (Ketton) 22-10 to Norfolk.
While many bowlers have been toiling between the extremes of rain-lashed outdoor greens and Mediterranean temperatures, some of their colleagues and contemporaries have chosen to enjoy a more sheltered existence delivering their bowls on an immaculate, six-rink carpet at the Stamford and District Indoor Club from May through to August.
No less skilled and enthusiastic than those who relish the fresh air, unpredictable grass surfaces and the sun and rain on their backs, the indoor bowlers’ preference offers guaranteed stable conditions all year round to hone their talent for the game, ahead of another competitive winter season which starts in September.
Among them were those who took part in the club’s summer indoor pairs knock out which reached its climax last week - a scheduled 18-end, four-bowl doubles which matched Geordie King and Jeff Pitt against David Edwards and Chris Ballard.
As expected between the keenest of foes, the match see-sawed early on until the King-Pitt combination finally secured a couple of counts to emerge 18-10 winners.
The indoor club - in Exeter Gardens - hosts its open weekend on September 14/15 when from 10am to 4pm each day it encourages newcomers to try bowls for free with experienced players and coaches standing by to assist.
