Two national titles were decided at the Poole based Dolphin club as the latter stages of the men’s and women’s champion of champions were played out. In the men’s event local hope the Vipers David Bolt failed to make the trip due to illness, the men’s title however went to Spalding’s Dominic McVittie. In the final McVittie beat Dorchester’s Martin Puckett 21-7, that was one of three single figure wins for the Spalding lad and was only tested in the last eight coming out on top 21-20 against Desborough’s John McGuinness.
The women’s title went to Lodden Vale’s Alice Lovett, in the final Lovett beat Whiteknights Morgan Merryweather 21-19. It was nearly all over in the semi finals for the champion trailing 10-1 against Norfolk’s Rebecca Willgress but managed to recover and get over the line 21-17.
The line up for the area one singles final has been confirmed, the Vipers Paul Hartley will tackle Gateshead’s Maurice Dunlop at Durham on Tuesday February 27. Dunlop completed the line up with a cracking 21-16 win over the under the weather Vipers David Bolt. There was more disappointment for the Shields club in the pairs as Dave Paterson’s run came to an end in the area semi finals, The Park’s Chris Yeoman came out on top 16-9 and will now face Cumbria’s Daniel Pool in the area final.
The area final of the fours will take place at West Denton on Saturday February 17 at 11am, it will feature the Vipers Gary Farquhar against Cumbria’s Stuart Robson, the latter ended club mate Stu Irwin’s hopes 16-12 in the semi final.
Houghton’s Stevie Hanlon’s run in the two bowl singles came to an end at the area semi final stage, Hanlon went down 21-14 in 24 ends to the Vipers Chris McGready. In the area final McGready will face Cumbria’s Eddie Murray.
Gateshead’s Ronnie Richardson missed out in the over 60 singles losing 21-9 against Cumbria’s Melvyn Sallis, the Viper’s Dave Paterson faces West Denton’s Keith Miller for a place in the area final against Sallis. Paterson is already through to the area final of the over 60 pairs after beating club mate Mal Peach 19-16, Paterson will face Cumbria’s Alan Glendinning in the area final.
In the over 50’s triples Dale Oram won an all Houghton affair against Gary McPheators 17-15 and will face Cumbria’s Paul Barlow for a place in the area final. The other semi final is an all Stanley clash between Derek Craig and Brett Arkley.
Houghton’s Frankie Froud had a cracking 20-18 win over Stanley’s Brian Harris in the over 60 fours and will face Cumbria’s Jack Walker in the area semi final.
In the latest round of Top Ten fixtures Houghton enjoyed an away win as they beat The Vipers 8-2. Houghton won in three of the disciplines, Gary McPheators took the singles 21-7, Stevie Hanlon and Peter Brickle eased to a 23-3 win in the pairs while Chris Blake, Jessica Cornthwaite, Phil Saunders and Peter Thomson got home on the last end in the fours 12-10. The only loss came in the triples as Joe Sutherland. John Burglass and Jimmy McAdoo were beaten 15-6.
Latest Table
Houghton 10-64, Hartlepool 9-61, Darlington 9-61, Aycliffe 8-47, Stanley 9-44, Durham 9-36, Ferryhill 9-23, South Shields 10-22
In the county champion of champions Houghton Stevie Hanlon booked a place in the singles final after a cracking 21-18 win over Darlington’s Colin Boston, Hanlon will play the winner of Aycliffe’s Jordan Harston and Ferryhill’s Ken Gill.
The semi final line ups in the other champion of champions are as follows
Pairs – M Peach (Vipers) v D Macdonald (Aycliffe), M Laydon (Stanley) v P Mosley (Hartlepool)
Triples – L Hall (Durham) v B Orrell (Gateshead), J McAdoo (Houghton) v M Higgins (Hartlepool)
Fours – B Arkley (Stanley) v B Attwood (Aycliffe), D Bolt (Vipers) v J Wells (Hartlepool)
There was disappointment in the county seniors champion of champions, Houghton’s Frankie Froud narrowly missed out in the pairs semi final losing 15-12 to Stanley’s Ian Peacock, in the final Peacock will play either Mal Peach (Vipers) or N Bell (Gateshead).
The other semi final line ups are as follows
Singles – S Slaughter (Hartlepool) v A Hind (Durham), D Paterson (Vipers) v I Peacock (Stanley)
Triples – B Orrell (Gateshead) v M Wright (Houghton), A Stewart (Durham) v A Bridgewater (Hartlepool)
Fours – M Peach (Stanley) v B Orrell (Gateshead), I Peacock (Stanley) v F Froud (Houghton)
The Durham County seniors took another step to the end of season play off final with a comprehensive win over North Lincolnshire in the latest round of Midland League fixtures. With home advantage at Darlington the Durham lads won on five of the six rinks and winning 168-72 overall. Locally Houghton’s Dale Oram steered Jim Hutchinson (Stanley), Stevie Tindale (Houghton) and Alan Hind (Hartlepool) to a 29-8 win. The top rink however saw Gateshead’s Alan Jobling rattle up a 43-12 win. The only Durham loss saw the Vipers Billy Ferry lose 18-13. Durham will face their nearest challengers Yorkshire at Darlington on February 29 knowing a win will secure the play off place.
Houghton ladies return to inter club action on valentine’s day as they tackle South Shields (1230), the follow squad has been selected.
At Houghton – J Classen, P Bambridge, E Faith, V Bambrough, J Watt, A Dale, S Forster, J Rodgerson
At Shields – M Hall, K Sinclair, F Phythian, N Stephenson, M Godfrey, E Morris, B Robson, J Baker
Entries for the popular Hartlepool Open Singles Circuit event are now being taken via the EIBA competition portal, entry fee is £18 with a first prize of £750 on offer, the date is Good Friday March 29.