As 2025 comes to an end it is that time again to look back at some of the highs and lows of the local bowls scene. The year started off with the Vipers duo of Paul Harley and David Bolt both in action at the World Indoor Championships to Potters Resort. It was an early exit for Bolt to Scotland’s Alex Marshall however Hartley had a cracking win over former champion England’s Jamie Walker. That win was backed up with a last sixteen straight sets win over South Africa’s Colleen Pikett to set up a quarter final against another former champion England’s Mark Dawes. In a game of fine margins Hartley missed out 2-1 on a tie breaker, the loss also saw the chance of breaking into the top sixteen ranked players snatched out of his grasp. The whole of the Indoor Championships was dominated by one player – Scotland’s Jason Banks who went on to become the first player to win all three titles on offer adding them to the other WBT title the Scottish International Open earlier at West Lothian.
February saw the Vipers Chris McGready make the long trip to the Poole based Dolphin club for the latter stages of the Champion Of Champions. McGready had a tough draw and lost his opener 21-11 to Norfolk’s Wayne Willgress, Torquay’s England international Sam Tolchard took the title. In the Bury St Edmunds Masters event the Vipers David Bolt was beaten in the final by Westlecots Shaun Jones. Locally Hartlepool booked a place in the semi final of the Denny Cup with a 75-64 win over Chelmsford based Falcon. England secured a seventeenth U25 women’s home international series win at Aberdeen. England’s men also took the U25 series at Northampton.
February ended on a high as the Vipers quartet of Jackie Stewart Tallack, Maureen Charles, Jaxon McKenna and Paul Hartley landed the national mixed fours title at Bristol. Trailling 11-5 in the final Hartley hauled the rink over the line 15-11 against Riverain’s Lloyd Sabbatini. Hopes of a mixed pairs Vipers double were dashed when Tallack Stewart and David Bolt lost there opener against eventual champions Spalding’s Annie Dunham and Dominic McVittie.
In March at the British Isles Championships the Hartlepool quartet of Amica Fordy, Sam Richardson, Dani Martinson and Lauren Mosley took the women’s fours title beating Scotland’s Caroline Brown 21-19. England women took the home international series at Llanelli however an English clean sweep was ended as Scotland took the men’s home international series. The Durham County seniors took the Midland League Play Off title beating Northampton 115-113. However hopes of another Liberty Trophy title were dashed as Durham lost 116-97 to Northants at Alfreton in the semi final. Hartlepool remained on course to repeat the 2021/22 Egham Trophy success as they booked a final spot with a 88-56 win over Solihull.
At the national finals in April there was more regional success. The Vipers duo of Paul Hartley & David Bolt took the Open Pairs title while Hartlepool beat Torquay 84-81 to win a second Egham Trophy, Cumbria won there first women’s Yetton Trophy title beating Egham 79-65. The Cumbrian – Scottish combination of Stu Irwin and Derek Ferguson took the annual Hartlepool Masters Pairs title while the Vipers Josh Minto landed his first Open Singles Circuit success at Hartlepool.
Early May saw one of the final indoor events the PBA Scottish International Open qualifiers take plae place at Hartlepool, the Vipers David Bolt came out on top beating former Northumberland star Robert Chisholm in the final. England’s Emily Kernick & Dominic McVittie won a dramatic World Mixed Pairs title at Aberdeen, McVittie converting the head with his final to count five and secure a 16-15 win.
In freezing May conditions the Durham County women’s Walker Cup squad produced a cracking performance to secure a place at the latter stages down Leamington Spa in August.
June saw good news for the Durham County female young guns squad of Sophie Wood, Charlotte Williams (Silksworth Pumas), Abi Porter (Darlington RA), Rosie Stoker, Chloe Proctor, Charlotte Welsh (all Lyndhurst), Jessica Cornthwaite (Dairy Lane) qualified for the Amy Rose down at Leamington Spa.
Durham’s Alsop Trophy defence came to an end in July after a second loss this time to Yorkshire, there was better new sin the Middleton Cup as the A Team won a thriller against Northumberland to set up a quarter final against Lincolnshire at Dunnington. The Over 60 Inter County Mixed squad booked a last eight tie against Lincolnshire. In the national double fours Houghton Dairy Lane B had a cracking win at Stockton only to be kicked out due to an administration error. The month ended on a high as the area collected four county titles. Seaham Town’s Mark Higgins repeated his 2022 success in the men’s singles. The Silksworth Pumas quartet of Jaxon McKenna, Neal Ridley, John Leeman and David Bolt took the men’s fours and club mate young Layton Sykes the Under 25 singles. The Sunderland duo of Barbara Ledger and Jane Hore recovered from 16-4 down to take the women’s pairs title.
August saw the Silksworth Pumas win the 3-2-1 Knock Out Triples beat Roker Marine in the final. A 6-0 home over Dairy Lane A also saw the Pumas successfully defend their Earl Cup title. North Biddick secured the Swan Cup division two title while Barnes Park retained the Harold Howey with an unblemished record. At the Northern Counties Championships played at Silloth Seaham Town’s Mark Higgins took the men’s singles title. Durham’s Middleton Cup dreams came to an end as they lost 119-115 at Dunnington against Lincolnshire.
A busy August saw the Pumas Layotn Sykes, Gary Farquhar and Billy Ferry take the Burkett Shields and club mates Mick Smith & James Sneller landed the Silver Jacks title. The David Morgan Mixed Pairs went to the New Herrington duo of Pam Bainbridge and Garry Wallace. Houghton Dairy Lane landed the Swan Cup albeit by half a point from New Herrington. The Storey Bowl title went to Seaham Town. New Herrington ladies won their first SWBA League title. North Biddick completed a double promotion this time taking the Earl Cup division two title.
Two new names went onto the Champion Of Champions, Roker Marine’s Pat Thomson took the main title with the Pumas Paul Baker taking the Seniors title.
September saw the outdoor season come to a disappointing end for the County Over 60’d Mixed squad as they lost the semi final against Northamptonshire by 23 shots. Silksworth Pumas completed another Grindon League and double fours double. The indoor season saw another title for the Vipers duo of Paul Hartley & David Bolt as they landed the Summer National Open Pairs title.
It was a great October as Stanley’s Brett Arkley, Stanley’s Mark Higgins both secured places in the World Indoor Singles at Potters in 2026. The Vipers duo of Paul Hartley & David Bolt secured spots in the World Pairs also at Potters. There was more good news for Hartley as he received the sponsor’s wildcard into the singles.
The Vipers enjoyed wins during November in the Denny, Top Club and Yetton however a run in the Denny was not to be thanks to a loss to Hartlepool. Houghton went out in both first rounds.
The year finished on a high for Houghton as they top the Inter Club and the Gilpin squad head the Seniors table. There was more good PBA qualifying news as Hartlepool’s Russell Bewick secured a place at the UK Masters at Potters in 2026.The Vipers Paul Hartley ended a tremendous year by qualifying for the UK Open at Cambridge & Chesterton in 2026.
Sadly during 2025 we have lost several names familiar to many of us, our thoughts go to all the family and friends.
Gilbert Matheson, Derek Irwin, Thomas Almond, Wilson Emmerson, Alan Chapman, Audrey Potts, Danny Armstrong, David Key, Nora Theakstone, Alan J Dunn, Thomas Bryce, Joan Lilley, Brenda New, Mabel Coulson, Fred Turnbull, Stan Fletcher, Brian Race, Alfie Newton, Trevor Joicey, Ray Robinson