The World Indoor Championships is being held again at the Potters Resort, the Vipers David Bolt is flying the flag for the region and made a winning start to his singles campaign beating USA Qualifier Giulia Gallo in straight sets. It was the American’s Potters debut and she made a good start collecting a double on the first end but that was as good as it got. Bolt settled on a length and ran out 12-3 in the first set and then in the second as Gallo lost line and length Bolt wrapped up the match 13-0 with three ends of the set un-played. Bolt will now face England international Les Gillett in the next round on Thursday, the two met in the Scottish Open where Gillett overpowered Bolt in straight sets.
Houghton ended 2023 with a win and started 2024 with a win. In the latest round of fixtures in the Top Ten they beat Hartlepool 6-4. In the singles Mal Baker got off to a slow start trailing Matty Ray 9-0 but then recovered and went 13-9 up. The bowlers curse “thirteen” struck again as Baker slumped to 17-13 down and eventually ended up on the wrong end of a 21-16 loss. There was better news in the pairs as Joe Sutherland and Jimmy McAdoo won the last three ends against Gary Dougherty to get home 13-8. There was a cracking win in the triples Tony Grimes, Peter Brickle and John Buglass, despite dropping a five the Houghton trio ran out 12-9 winners against John Mansfield. In the fours Phil Saunders, debutee 14 year old Jennifer Cornwhaite, David Robson and Peter Thomson let slip a 12-5 lead against John Wells, back to back doubles on the last two ends sealed a 14-13 defeat.
Latest Table – Houghton 8-54, Hartlepool 7-51, Darlington 7-51, Gt Aycliffe 7-39, Stanley 8-36, Durham 7-26, Ferryhill 8-21, Sth Shields 8-20
In the latest round of Inter Club fixtures Houghton got 2024 off to a winning start beating Stanley 7-3. At Houghton Frankie Froud recovered from 10-5 down to beat Brett Arkley 19-13, unfortunately it wasn’t enough to seal the win at home. A last end dropped three for the other rink skipped by Dan Todner left them 19-12 down leaving Stanley victors 32-31. At Stanley both Houghton squads recorded wins, Dale Oram 17-12 and Jimmy McAdoo 20-14 to seal the away points 37-26. Those scores also sealed an overall Houghton win 68-58.
In the latest round of Vets Inter club Houghton Sancroft hopes of making the play off’s took a fatal blow as they were well beaten 5-0 at nearest challengers Stanley. The loss leaves Houghton needing Stanley to slip up in their final two games. In group two Houghton Gilpin were also white washed 5-0 away at Hartlepool A.
Gilpin are back in action on Tuesday as they host Darlington B and Houghton Kepier are also in action on Friday as the make the trip to Durham.
In the local section of the national singles Paul Hartley moved into round five after winning an all Vipers affair against Josh Halcrow 21-18. Hartley will face Cumbria’s Stu Irwin in the next round. Club mate David Bolt also booked his place with a 21-5 win at The Parks against Chris Yeomans, Bolt will make the trip to Gateshead next to face Maurice Dunlop after Dunlop ended Houghton’s Gary McPheators run 21-13.
In the pairs the Vipers Stewart Hubbard had a cracking 23-12 win over Cumbria’s Stu Irwin, club mate Dave Paterson also booked a place in round five with a comfortable 17-4 win over Stanley’s James McKenna.
In the triples the Vipers James Sneller ended Houghton’s Dale Oram’s run 20-14 and will host The Parks Chris Yeomans next, the latter won a thriller at Shields beating Jaxon McKenna 16-15. Gary Farquhar won an all Shield’s affair in the after beating James Sneller 19-9, Farquhar will host Houghton’s Peter Thomson next after the Houghton squad received a walk over.
The Vipers Chris McGready beat Houghton’s Patrick Thomson 21-13 in the two bowl singles and will host Houghton’s Stephen Hanlon in the next round, Hanlon beat West Denton’s Paul Timney 21-13.
Stanley’s Ryan Henson has qualified for the latter stages of the Under 25 singles, in the area final the Stanley youngster received a walk over off Cumbria’s Daniel Pool. In the latter stages at Solihull Henson will face Egham’s James Tindall in the last sixteen.
In the latter stages of the champion of champions it has been confirmed the Vipers David Bolt will face Isle Of Wight’s Darren Griffith in the last sixteen on February 3 at the Dolphin Indoor club.
The regional final of the Denny Cup saw Cumbria book a place in the last eight after a 41 shot win over Hornsea. The Cumbrians will face Spalding on 27 January.
In the Top Club Hartlepool have also booked a last eight place after a 14-2 win over Hornsea. In the Quarter finals Hartlepool will face Malvern Hills.
It is a busy week at Houghton, this morning (Tuesday) Houghton A take on Stanley in the next round of the national Over 60’s Double Fours.
At Houghton – M Baker, M Wright, I Whorlton, F Froud
At Stanley – J Sutherland, S Tindale, P Brickle, D Oram
On Wednesday Houghton ladies return to Inter Club action as they tackle Great Aycliffe.
At Houghton – J Classen, M Eggleston, E Faith, V Bambrough, J Watt, A Dale, S Forster, J Rodgerson
At Aycliffe – M Hall, E Morris, F Phythian, N Stephenson, M Godfrey, E Barkes, B Robson, J Baker
Durham County are back in Liberty Trophy action at the weekend as they head New Earswick to face Lincolnshire.
There was some great news for a local lad as the Silksworth Pumas and Shield’s Vipers member Jack Deverson was awarded an MBE in the Kings Honours List. The 31 year old is co-founder and managing director of Sunderland based Evidence Based Education received the honour for services to education.