Hartlepool held it’s 53rd Masters Pairs competition over the Easter weekend. Thirty two pairs competed in two sixteen team sections with the top four qualifying for the Quarter Finals. The Vipers duo of Paul Hartley and David Bolt qualified for the quarter finals with a 5-1 win record, in the quarters they beat club mate David Sykes & Hartlepool’s Mark Higgins. In the semi final they beat the host clubs Marc Squirrell & Bryan Henderson which set up a final against Hartlepool’s Carl Higgins & Spalding’s Jordan Philpott. The twelve end final saw Hartley pepper the jack at lead and set the heads up for Bolt who was equally impressive. An early 6-1 lead was extended to 9-3 after nine ends and when Bolt drew a second shot in on end ten at 10-3 and when a final Philpott runner missed hands were shaken. This was Hartley’s first Masters win and was Bolt’s third success, the previous two some twenty three years ago with the late David Morgan.
The EIBA Open Singles Circuit rolled into Hartlepool with sixty four players battling it out for £750 first prize. The host clubs Marc Squirrel booked his place in the final with a last gasp tie break win over the Vipers Paul Hartley. In the other semi final Scottish international Bradley Buchan was in terrific form beating the Vipers David Bolt 7-4,6-2. In the final Buchan continued his impressive form producing some cracking bowls only for Squirrel to convert the final end and draw the set 6-6. The second set was another tight affair with Buchan leading 4-2, the final was decided on end six. Buchan put four bowls within a foot and when Squirrels final bowl agonisingly fell short it was the Scottish stars title 7-2. Buchan must be the first current Scottish international to have won one of the EIBA’s OSC as these events are mainly held in England.
The national finals are still going on at the Nottingham club and there was some local success as the Durham County seniors lifted the Inter County Over 60’s title for the first time. Durham in their third final had lost the previous two attempts and a couple of late changes due to illness and car issues against Essex trailed 14-12 early doors. Across the green the Durham lads rattled off eighteen shots without reply to lead 32-14 and that set the scene for a very dominate Durham performance. When the lead reached forty shots an Essex comeback was not on the cards with Durham finishing 128-93 winners. Across the six rinks Durham won on four, drew one and lost one. Top rink was Brian Poulter (Gateshead), Malcolm Lusk (Stanley), Alan Jobling (Gateshead) and Brian Houghton (Stanley) who beat John Anderson 30-13. Darlington’s Mark Jones beat Nigel Smith 28-17, Hartlepool’s Steve Slaughter beat Richard Healey 20-10. The Vipers trio of Mal Peach, John Leeman and Dale Oram with Hartlepool’s Alan Hind at lead beat Brian Henry 21-16. Hartlepool’s Jimmy Ainger drew 18-18 while Stanley’s Keith Minnis lost 19-11.
There was more northern success as Cumbria ladies landed the Mason Trophy double fours title. In the final Cumbria beat Moonfleet 42-20. The blue riband men’s singles title went to Spalding Lightning’s Dominic McVittie who beat Selby’s Mark Hughes 21-13. The ladies title went to Exonia’s Nicole Rogers who beat Oysters Sian Honnor 21-7, this will be a little consolation for both McVittie and Rogers who both missed out on selection for England’s Commonwealth Games squad.
In the men’s triples Hartlepool’s Steve Hanlon, Marc Squirrell and Bryan Henderson lost their last sixteen tie 19-3 to Ilminster’s Oliver Collins. There was no better news in the ladies triples for the Hartlepool club, Sam Richardson, Bev Lynch and Dani Martinson were also beaten in the last sixteen 18-11 by North Wilts Alex Jacobs.
Bromley took the men’s Over 60’s double fours, in the final they beat Malvern Hill 41-26. Nottingham retained the Denny Cup after beating Egham 81-52 while Lincoln won the ladies Yetton Trophy as they beat Bromley 73-46.
In the Denny Plate final Boston beat Folkestone 77-65 and in the ladies Yetton Plate final Norfolk beat Swale 96-87.
The Top Club title went to Solihull who white washed Egham 16-0, the Egham Trophy went to Spalding Lightning after they beat Ilminster 87-52.
The semi final and final of the newly introduced Seniors Knock Out competition takes take at South Shields this week. The host club tackle Sancroft’s conquerors Darlington B while Gilpin’s conquerors Stanley take on Hartlepool A. The final takes place on Friday at 1030am.
As the season at Houghton starts to come to an end only the internal club finals are left to be played. Two finals have been played this week, in the Senior singles Peter Brickle won a cracking game against Colin Milburn 21-18 to land his first Senior singles success. In the Senior pairs Mal Baker & Frankie Froud notched their third success beating Gary Loadman and Michael White 21-17.
The World Bowls Tour (WBT) Scottish International Open qualifiers got underway at the Bournemouth based Dolphin club, Martin Puckett secured the first place beating Charlie Souter 8-6, 6-2 and will head to the main event at West Lothian in late October. The WBT have also reintroduced the Under 25 competition, the first qualifier is Millie Tuck who beat Issac Jenner in the final also at the Dolphin club. Cumbria host two qualifiers this weekend with fields of fifty six competing for one spot on each day. Both days will be live streamed via the Wrong Bias Podcast social media platforms from 8.30am.