Following the improved sponsored deal the World Bowls Tours (WBT) reintroduced the UK Open which was last played at Stanley four years ago. It also enabled the WBT to bring back the Tour Card which gives the winner entry directly into the three main WBT tournaments. Last weekend saw Hartlepool and Carlisle host two Tour Card events featuring the top thirty two season ranked PBA players with sixteen playing a group format at both venues.
At Hartlepool hopes of a local success were high with the Vipers duo of Paul Hartley, David Bolt and Stanley’s Brett Arkley in the field. With only the winner of each of the four groups progressing Hartley eased through his group with three wins. An opening 12-5, 14-4 win over Scotland’s John McHutchinson was backed up with a 12-8,9-4 win over England’s Paul Maynard. With Hartley’s shot difference superior only a heavy loss in his final group game against Scotland’s Derek Ferguson would have stopped Hartley from progressing. As soon as Hartley took the first set 12-9 that was that and despite drawing the second set Hartley booked a semi final place.
Bolt & Arkley were drawn in the same group, Bolt opened up with a straight forward 11-4, 16-3 win over England’s Lucy Smith while Arkley lost to Scotland’s Allan Ramsay 9-7,6-5. The two then met in game two with Bolt narrowly getting over the line 7-7,6-5 ending Arkley’s interest in the competition. Bolt then faced Ramsay in a winner take all final group game, Ramsey dominated both sets against an out of sorts Bolt and the Scot got over the line 8-5,9-2.
The semi final draw saw Ramsey take on England’s Scott Edwards while Hartley faced another Scot Connor Milne. The latter tie saw Milne continue his great run of form taking the first set 10-5 and then securing a final berth with a 8-4 second set win. The other semi final saw Ramsay get over the line 8-2,3-12 then 2-0 on a tie break.
The all Scottish final saw Milne take the first set 9-4 and trailed 8-7 on the final end of the second set. Milne held shot and when Ramsay’s final bowl dipped under Milne secured the Tour Card drawing the second set 8-8.
Over at Carlisle Hartlepool’s Gary R Smith won his group winning all three games, an opening 9-8,12-3 win over current England star Tom Holmes was followed by a tie break win over another current England star Martin Heitzman. Smith actually lost the first set 16-3 but won the next 6-5, the third win was a 11-4,8-7 win over Michael Cheeseman to set up a semi final against Scotland’s Darren Weir.
In the semi final Weir never missed a thing and ran out a 12-3,9-2 winner. It will be little consolation to Smith as Weir went onto to beat England’s James Rippey in the final 10-5,8-5 to complete a Scottish Tour Card double. Weir and Milne by pass the PBA qualifiers next season and go straight into the World Open Singles, UK Open and Scottish International Open.
The 2026 PBA Qualifiers get underway on 11/12 April at Carlisle with two Scottish International Open events. Entries are open for all the rest of the qualifiers via www.ticketsource.com and search for PBA.
Houghton ladies hopes of winning the Inter Club were dashed as they lost a winners takes all final clash against champions Durham. It was a mixed afternoon at Houghton, Joan Watt, Ann Dale, Ellen Faith and Joan Rodgerson turned around an 11-4 deficit to get home 22-15 against Christine Budd. It was a tough day for the other rink of Pam Bainbridge, C Bolton, Linda Watson and Lorraine Galley as they went down 23-10 to Arlene Stafford. That left the home leg 38-32 in Durham’s favour. Down Durham Norma Stephenson steered Maureen Hall, Evelyn Barkes and Elizabeth Morris to a cracking 20-9 win over Eileen Horan 20-9. The other rink of Margaret Godfrey, Janice Todd, Brenda Robson and Joan Baker never recovered from a slow start and finished 23-9 down against Fay Slinn. Durham took the away leg 32-29 securing the overall 70-61 and the Inter Club title.
Both Houghton senior squads are in action this week as the newly introduced Inter County Vet’s Knock Out gets underway. Sancroft head to Ferryhill with the following line up – F Fletcher, M Baker, P Brickle, F Froud, C Milburn, C Blake, M Wright, C Watson, W Roberts, J Webster, I Whorlton, D Wright
Gilpin host The Parks with the following team – D Surtees, P Robinson, G Stephenson, D Robson, P Hicks, P Holliday, P Bennett, H Smith, P Saunders, L Todd, D Hockaday, R Johnson.
Houghton men head to Great Aycliffe on Sunday for the end of season Inter County play off final against Darlington. This will be Houghton’s third crack at the play final having lost the previous two appearances. The Houghton line up is as follows – G Loadman, R Potts, P Brickle, F Froud, C Blake, P Bennett, R Mckie, C Watson, F Fletcher, J Webster, I Whorlton, D Armstrong, W Roberts, I Armstrong, M Baker, D Wright
England won a dramatic Home International series at Belfast. An opening 143-95 win over Wales was followed by a 120-102 loss to Scotland this after England led 85-74 only for a 46-17 return in the run in looked to have ended England’s series hopes. It was expected that Scotland would roll Wales over however the Welsh raced into an early 31-13 lead, Scotland got it back to four only for Wales to pull away and run out 114-99 winners leaving the Scot’s shell shocked. As that drama un-folded England tackled the hosts Ireland knowing a win may get them over the line. However Ireland raced into a 54-34 lead, England dug in and went into the lead 94-91, the lead changed hands several times and in the end it with the scores level it came down to a measure which went England’s way and sealed a dramatic series win.