As the indoor national championships at Nottingham come to a conclusion the region collected a fourth national title. Following his win in the Para Pairs the Vipers Stevie Angus completed a double after taking the Para Singles title. In the semi finals Angus beat Chawton Park’s Danny Brown 21-16 before taking the title with a 21-6 win over Wellingborough’s John Greaves.
In the Over 60’s Pairs there was heartache for the Darlington duo of Mark Jones and Tony Macey as they missed out on the title in a thrilling final losing 19-18 against Dolphin’s Gary Fountain.
The Cumbrian brothers Mark & Stu Irwin won the Family Pairs title, win’s over Barry Jenkins (Egham), Jamie Barker (St Neots) and Alan Geary (Dolphin) set up a final clash against Norfolk’s England star Wayne Wilgress. In the final the Irwin brothers stuck at it despite lady luck being out early doors and eventually ran out 23-15 winners.
The Stanley quartet of Brian Harris, Keith Christopher, Brian Houghton and Brett Arkley opened up there Over 60’s fours campaign with a 19-10 last sixteen win over Grantham’s Martin Pulling. However in the last eight the Stanley hopes were ended with a 19-16 loss against Clarrie Dunbar’s Keith Bailey.
In the Open Pairs the Hartlepool duo of Lee Maughan & Mark Higgins lost their opener in straight sets 14-7,10-5 against Spalding Lightning’s Dan Mills. The Cumbria Irwin brothers on the back of the Family Pairs success missed out in the semi finals on a tie break to Swale’s Isaac Jenner, the latter went on to beat Atherley’s Kevin Smith in the final.
The Durham ladies trio of Joan Brown, Christine Budd and Arlene Stafford beat Colchester’s Pam Smith 20-13 before losing narrowly in the last eight 17-15 to Torbay’s Charlotte Aspinall.
In the men’s Over 50’s the Cumbria defending champions of Paul Barlow, Kenny Johnstone and Stephen Farish saw their defence end in the quarter finals 19-12 against Desborough’s Stephen McAlister.
The entry window for next seasons indoor nationals is open, as a trial the EIBA will be introducing re-spot instead of dead ends and if successful it will be added to the current formats.
There were more club finals played at Houghton, in the ladies fours final Pam Bainbridge, Ann Dale, Lorraine Galley and Linda Watson beat Maureen Hall, Evelyn Barkes, Elizabeth Morris and Norma Stephenson 17-6.The triples title went to Janice Todd, Joan Baker and Brenda Robson, in the final they beat Hall, Barkes and Morris 21-8. A correction to last week’s report Norma Stephenson beat Lorraine Galley 21-19 in the ladies singles final.
There were two more World Bowls Tour (WBT) Scottish International Open qualifying events held over the weekend. At AbbeyView the Vipers Paul Hartley’s hopes were dashed in the second round while Houghton’s Peter Thomson lost his opener against the host clubs Commonwealth Games bound Sophie McGrouther. Hartlepool’s Marcus Mosley had two cracking wins before losing out in the last sixteen to Sam O’Donnell. Dad Chris in his first qualifier had a tough opener against Ian Mclean losing in straight sets. The AbbeyView qualifier went to Scotland’s Kenny Bald. Another event was held at Bromley and Egham’s Barry Jenkins secured his place in the main competition at West Lothian in late October.
Two of the regions young guns made the trip to AbbeyView for the WBT Under 25 qualifier. The Viper’s Layton Sykes lost out in a cracking first round tie with Jamie Noon, Sykes took the first set 9-6 but lost the second set 8-3 and then the best of three tie break 2-0. Hartlepool’s Marcus Mosley lost a tough opener against host clubs Frazer Lees 8-2,6-4. The place at West Lothian went to Scotland’s Ross Gouldstone beating Noon 5-2,7-3 in the final.
There are two more qualifiers taking place on Saturday at Hartlepool (32 entries 10am start) and Erewash (48 entries 9am start), the latter will be live streamed via the Wrong Bias Podcast Facebook & YouTube channels from 9am. Another Under 25 qualifier takes place at Erewash on Sunday, locally the Vipers Layton Sykes will face Oliver Jownally and Darlington’s Alex Wood tackles Harry Duffield. It will also be live streamed from 10am.
With the Glasgow Commonwealth Games now under 100 days away Bowls Scotland have announced there line up. Paul Foster and Alex Marshall take the pairs spot and Jason Bank will make his games debut in the singles. The ladies team will feature two young guns, alongside the experienced Caroline Brown both Sophie McGrouther and Beth Riva will make their Commonwealth Games debuts. The Para squad is Pauline Wilson, Mary Stevenson, Garry Brown, Stuart Sloan, Robert Barr, Sarah Jane Ewing and Jim Aitken.
As the outdoor greens open up attention turns to the start of the outdoor season. Sunderland & District leagues get underway on May 4, clubs are reminded Earl & Swan Cup games are 15 ends up to and including 17 May after which they revert to 18 ends up to 7 August then revert back to 15 ends.
Sunderland Women’s league starts on May 19 with holders New Herrington hosting Whitburn.
The Grindon League start on May 22 with holders Silksworth Pumas away at North Biddick.
At County level the men’s B team start their Northern Counties Alsop campaign on May 9 at Blackhall against Lancashire. The A team don’t start their Middleton Cup group until June 6, sadly the Muras Trophy appears to have ran its race and for the second year running will not take place.
The women’s county Northern Trophy and Stella Logan squads have a preseason friendly on Friday before the Northern Trophy opener at Hexham against Northumberland on May 8.