At the indoor World Championships at Potters the Vipers David Bolt’s run came to an end. After a first round straight set win over the USA qualifier Giulia Gallo the Shield’s lad once again came up against an inform number two seed England’s Les Gillett. The two had locked horns earlier in the season in the Scottish Open where Gillett over powered Bolt, sadly although not as comprehensive it was Gillett who came out on top again. The first set saw Bolt struggle to settle and lost it 10-5, again in the second set he never settled and was left trailing 7-4 needing a four on the final end to force a tie break, with no shot on for the required count Bolt landed a treble to at least tie the second set 7-7 but still went out 1½-½. Currently ranked at twenty three this will be a disappointment for Bolt in his quest to break into the coveted top sixteen as that gap will increase, so it is back to the qualifiers in September for the Shields lad.
The Durham County Liberty Trophy squad made the trip to New Earswick for a quarter final clash with Lincolnshire. One change from the selected line up saw Hartlepool’s Andrew Kirtland come in for the not available Mark Higgins. It turned out to be a thriller with Durham trailing for the majority of the match, however the infamous Durham late charge reared its head and they turned around an 11 shot deficit into an 8 shot win. Across the green it was an even three-three split, Hartlepool’s Russell Bewick, the Vipers James Sneller and the Hartlepool duo of debutee Gavin Abraham and Gary R Smith were the key ingredient in the win, the quartet turned around a 6-0 start into a match winning 34-10 score line over Graeme Smith. The all Vipers rink skipped by David Bolt’ of Chris McGeady, Mal Peach and Gary Farquhar were always ahead against Martin Spencer and ran out 24-14 winners. The third Durham winning rink saw Aycliffe’s Jordan Harston and the Hartlepool trio of Alex Portway, Stevie Slaughter and Marc Squirrell turn an early deficit into a 19-16 win against Matthew Orrey. Team captain the Vipers Paul Hartley was involved in a low scoring affair and was a tad unfortunate to go down on the last end 13-12 to John West. Hartlepool’s Paul Mosley was always playing catch up finishing 21-12 down against Stephen Harris. The remaining rink of Stanley’s Ryan Henson, the Vipers duo of Jaxon McKenna and Josh Minto plus skip Hartlepool’s Bryan Henderson had a tough afternoon against Jordan Philpott losing 30-11. Ultimately Durham finished 112-104 winners and will face Norfolk in the semi finals on a neutral green on March 2.
In the women’s Atherley Trophy there was disappointment for Durham as they were beaten 121-112 by Nottinghamshire at Leeds. Across the green Durham only had two rinks up, Aycliffe’s Julie Robinson won 29-12 and Durham’s Arlene Stafford won 25-13. Durham did lead 31-25 at the five end mark but were always playing catch up from the ten end mark as they trailed 63-50. Notts will face Norfolk in the semi finals.
There has been plenty of local action in the national competitions, in the singles the Vipers Paul Hartley booked an area final place after beating Cumbria’s Stu Irwin 21-2 at West Denton, Hartley will face the winner of the Maurice Dunlop (Gateshead) and the Vipers David Bolt clash. In the triples the Vipers Jack Deverson’s (MBE) run came to an end losing 20-8 to Cumbria’s John Baird, the Carlisle triple will face the winner of the James Sneller (Vipers) and Chris Yeomans (Parks) tie.
In the Over 60’s singles Houghton’s Stephen Hanlon’s run came to an end at West Denton as Keith Miller beat him 21-18. The Vipers Dave Paterson will face the West Denton hope after Paterson was given a walk over against Gateshead’s Alex Bryden. In the Over 60’s pairs Houghton’s Dale Oram lost at home 20-8 to Stanley’s Jim Hutchinson and will face Cumbria’s Alan Glendinning next. There is an all Vipers affair as Mal Peach will lock horns with Dave Paterson. Peach beat Houghton’s Frankie Froud 19-13 while Paterson beat Gateshead’s Frank Close 16-7.
In the Over 60’s double fours there was disappointment for the Houghton A squad as they were beaten by past winners Stanley, in the next round they will face Hartlepool A.
In the latest round of Vets Inter club fixtures Houghton Gilpin were narrowly beaten 36-31 by Darlington B. Gilpin’s solitary point came from Dave Surtees, M Johnson, Ray Potts and Brian Race who beat Stan Blewitt 13-9. David Robson went down 12-9 against John Lynch and R Barnes lost 15-9 to T Henderson.
Houghton ladies had a cracking win over Great Aycliffe in the latest round of inter club fixtures. Both Houghton squads recorded home wins, Joan Rodgerson steered J. Watt, Ann Dale and Susan Forster to a 20-13 win over Julie Robinson. While Jaclyn Classen, Margaret Eggleston, Ellen Faith and Val Bambrough beat Susan Young 26-15 to leave the home leg 46-28 in Houghton’s favour. Down the A1 it was a mixed afternoon, Norma Stephenson’s quartet of Maureen Hall, Karen Sinclair and Florence Phythian beat Tracy Fairless 18-10 however Joan Baker’s quartet were left to rue a mid game collapse in a 25-14 loss against S Wetherston, that result saw Aycliffe take the away overall but left Houghton the winners overall by 15 shots.
Stanley youngster Ryan Henson makes the trip to Solihull this weekend as the latter stages of the Under 25 Singles take place. Henson faces Egham’s Jamie Tindall in the last sixteen.
The fixtures for the Sunderland & District outdoor leagues plus the Grindon League fixtures have been published on the website, a copy has also been emailed to all club secretaries, anyone that has not received them are advised to contact R Mckie.