On the back of the Durham County seniors national title success at Nottingham the area enjoyed two more national title wins. In the men’s Over 60’s singles Stanley’s Brett Arkley was in unstoppable form as he took the title 21-10 beating Hornsea’s Paul Footitt. In the last sixteen Arkley beat Malvern Hills Nigel Smith 21-5 and then backed the win up with a last eight 21-7 win over Atherley’s Colin James. In the semi final Arkley completed a trio of single digit wins with a 21-4 win over Hounslow’s David Pitt.
The area’s second title came in the Para Open Pairs when the combination of the Vipers Stevie Angus and Wellingborough’s Christopher Gray, in the final they beat Gray’s club mate Sam Gamble 7-3,8-1. In the semi final Angus & Gray beat Colchester’s David Fisher 11-5,13-1.
In the men’s Two Bowl Singles there was an early last sixteen loss for the fancied Viper Paul Hartley against Victoria’s Mark Woods 21-14,the title went to Norfolk’s England international Wayne Willgress. The women’s title went to another England star Solihull’s Emily Kernick, the local hope was the Viper’s youngster Charlotte Williams who went down in the last sixteen 21-14 to Isca’s Pauline Howe, despite the loss it will be a good experience for the talented youngster.
In the men’s Novice Singles Hartlepool’s Steve Hanlon beat Welford On Avon’s William Bundle 21-10 and then beat Bromley’s Diane Clark 21-16 to set up a semi final against Barking’s Peter Burnell. Sadly despite a spirited fightback Hanlon’s hopes were dashed as Burnell ran out a 21-17 winner.
The men’s Liberty Trophy title went to Lincolnshire, in the final they beat Essex 115-102, the women’s Atherley final takes place on Saturday with Surrey tackling Norfolk.
The Darlington duo of Tony Macey & Mark Jones won their opening Over 60’s Pairs tie against Cumbria’s Bruce Robison 22-10, in the quarter finals the Darlington pair face Mote Parks Michael Horlock.
Stanley are the first winners of the County Seniors Knock Out Cup, with the semi finals and final being played at Shields the Vipers went into the latter stages as favourites. In the semi final the Vipers eased past Sancroft’s conquerors Darlington B 5-0, the other tie saw the league champions Stanley cruise to a 5-0 win over Hartlepool A. The final was expected to be a tight affair and so it proved with the lead changing hands several times, Stanley however opened up a fifteen shot lead and looked to be set for a good win but the Vipers never gave up and got it back to three shots with one end left on the remaining two rinks. On his final end Dale Oram was always in trouble and went chasing for a count or kill the end only to drop a five in a 18-18 draw with Derek Craig, the Viper will also look back to a dropped seven early doors so to get a draw was a cracking effort. Billy Ferry’s quartet were always chasing against Brian Houghton and the Stanley rink ran out 19-8 winners. The final rink on was Dave Paterson who never looked like conjuring up the required count and had to settle for a 11-9 win over Keith Minnis. So it finished 3½-1½ to Stanley who complete a league and cup double.
Division 1 Champions – Stanley
Relegated – Darlington A & Great Aycliffe
Division 2 Champions – Houghton Sancroft, Promoted – Gateshead.
Knock Out Winners – Stanley
Another two World Bowls Tour (WBT) qualifying events for the Scottish International Open took place at Carlisle over the weekend. The first qualifying place was secured by the host clubs Stu Irwin, in the final Irwin beat Scotland’s Daniel Gormley. The second qualifying place went to Glasgow’s Charlie Bence, with age just being a number the eighty year old Bence was outstanding during his nine hour stint on the green. In the final Bence beat thirty one year old fellow Scot John Orr which just shows the sport is one of the rare ones where an eighty year old can compete on a level playing fielding against players more than half his age. Both Irwin and Bence join Martin Puckett for the latter stages at West Lothian in October.
There is another WBT Scottish International Open qualifier on Saturday at Abbeyview. Locally Paul Hartley, Nick Armstrong, Marcus & Chris Mosley are among the sixty four field. The following day at the same venue there is an Under 25 qualifier, locally Layton Sykes, Charlotte Williams and Marcus Mosley are entered in the field of thirty two. Both days are being streamed via the Wrong Bias Podcast Facebook & YouTube platforms. There is a planned qualifier at Hartlepool on 25 April, there are still places available.
More club finals have been completed at Houghton, the senior fours went to Colin Milburn, Peter Brickle, David Wright and Colin Watson. In the final against David Simpson, Malcolm Smith, Gordon Dunkley and David Sim the Watson quartet ran away with it winning 24-6. Lorraine Galley took the ladies singles 21-19 against Norma Stephenson, the pairs went to Ann Dale & Gill Ferguson who won a thriller 17-16 against Pam Bainbridge & Linda Watson.
As the indoor season nears a conclusion the Houghton Annual General Meeting takes place on 25 April (10am) and the South Shield’s Vipers AGM takes place on 28 April (7pm).