The World Indoor Championships at the Potters Resort proved to be another great advert for the sport, the seventeen day bonanza was also dominated by Scottish bowlers. The main title went to 38 year old Scottish international Stewart Anderson, in an epic final Anderson beat Alex Marshall MBE 12-7, 13-10 to secure a career third World Singles title. There was consolation for Marshall who only got into the event as the Potters wildcard pick will now return to the top sixteen ranking list and will automatically qualify next year. It was to be a tremendous two weeks for Anderson as he won two titles and lost in the final of another one, it also means a likely jump up to the number one ranked player.
The Mixed Pairs title was an England-Scotland combination as Nicky Brett skipped Julie Forrest to the title. In the final against defending champions Wales Ceri Ann Glen and Scotland’s Stewart Anderson they eased to a 12-2 first set only to see the holders bounce back in set two 9-8 to force a tie break. In the three end shot out the Forrest-Brett combo held there nerve to land the title 2-0. This was Forrest’s second success while it was a third for Brett.
The Under 25 title also went north as Darren Weir after losing two previous finals finally got over the line. In the final Weir beat England’s Rebecca Moorbey 13-3, 14-6, the latter ended holder Daniel Pools hopes in the semi final.
England’s Katherine Rednall just loves the Potters set up and once again was at the forefront of the ladies World Match Play singles, in the final against Scotland’s Julie Forrest the England star recovered from losing the first set 9-5 to level it off by taking the second set 12-5, then in the three end tie breaker Rednall got home 2-1. This is Rednall’s sixth win and has now won back to back titles twice.
The World Indoor Pairs was an all Scottish affair as Stewart Anderson & Darren Burnett tackled Jason Banks and Paul Foster. The latter would usually partner Alex Marshall but as Marshall had dropped out of the top sixteen he wasn’t eligible for the event. In a cracking final it was the Anderson/Burnett combo who came out on top 8-5, 11-5, the duo go into the record books as it is there third success after wins in 2016 and 2022.
Overall the event was a resounding success and credit must go to the officials of the World Bowls Tour, other highlights included Aussie legend Aaron Sherriff’s hopes in the singles hit a brick wall in the first round otherwise known as possibly the best exponent of the portable rink Scotland’s Paul Foster MBE. Hong Kong qualifier Desmond Lai became the youngest player age 15 and the sponsors Imagine Cruising pick England’s Harry Goodwin announced himself to the portable rink by reaching the semi finals. The road to qualification starts again in September.
Solihull held the latter stages of the Under 25 Singles, the region hopes were with Stanley’s Ryan Henson. Sadly it was not to be for the Stanley young gun as he suffered a 1½-½ last sixteen loss to Egham’s Jamie Tindall. The title eventually went to Norfolk’s Aaron Johnson who beat Chawton Park’s Reece Graham on a tie break. The women’s title went to Spalding’s Ruby Hill who beat Swale’s Imogen Jenner in the final.
The area one national competitions are reaching the qualification stages, in the pairs the Vipers Stewart Hubbard’s run came to an end at West Denton losing 18-14 to Cumbria’s Daniel Pool. In the area final Pool will play either the Vipers Dave Paterson or The Parks Chris Yeomans for a place at Nottingham.
In the fours the Vipers Gary Farquhar takes on Houghton’s Peter Thomson on Sunday at Shields 6.30pm, the winner will face either Stuart Robson or Stu Irwin both from Cumbria. An all Vipers clash in the two bowl singles saw Paul Hart win a thriller against Josh Halcrow 21-20, Hart faces Cumbria’s Eddie Murray next.
Gateshead’s Ronnie Richardson’s run in the Over 60 singles continues after a 21-10 win over the Vipers Bob Craggs, the Gateshead lad will face Cumbria’s Melvyn Sallis next. In the Over 60 pairs Stanley’s Jim Hutchinson was beaten 18-12 by Cumbria’s Alan Glendinning, the Cumbria pair will face the winner of the all Vipers clash between Dave Paterson and Mal Peach.
The area final of the mixed pairs takes place on Friday as the Vipers David Bolt takes on Cumbria’s Stu Irwin, the winner will head to the latter stages at Bristol in February. Bolt has already secured a place at Bristol in the mixed fours after an extra end measure got Pat Browne, Ann Upsall and Gary Farquhar through against Cumbria’s Alan Glendinning, the Shields quartet will face either Atherley’s Kevin Smith or Camberley’s David McCallum.
In the family pairs the Vipers Layton and David Sykes ground out a 19-14 win over club mate Ruari Taylor, that win sets up a clash with club mates Shaun and Ian McIntosh, the latter ended Houghton’s Sam Patterson’s hopes 19-1.
An all Vipers clash in the Open Pairs saw Gary Farquhar beat Jaxon McKenna in straight sets, Farquhar will face Cumbria’s Robert Caruthers next.
There was good news for the Shield’s ladies as they defeated Cumbria 34-31 in the area final of the Mason double fours, the win sets up a clash with Scunthorpe on March 1.
Hartlepool will be looking to book a place in the semi finals of the Top Club on Sunday as they face Malvern Hills, the winners will face Acle or Spalding at Nottingham in March.
The Denny Cup quarter finals take place on Saturday, the regions hopes are with Cumbria who face Spalding.