There has been plenty of local interest at the National Championships down at Leamington Spa – although the Durham hopefuls have had a bit of a quiet time. In the women’s Junior Singles both Durham players lost their openers, Woodland’s Sophie Wood lost 21-6 against eventual finalist Rhianna Russell 21-6 and Silksworth’s Charlotte Williams went down 21-11 to Leicestershire’s Kat Bowman.
In the men’s Junior singles Silksworth Pumas Layton Sykes beat Norfolk’s Leo Cook 21-17 but went out in the next round 21-18 to Hertfordshire’s D Martin.
Both Durham squads in the Women’s Fours won their first games, Woodland’s Tracey Fairless beat Isle Of Wight’s Tracey Hughes 20-13 before succumbing to Leicestershire’s Joy Golding 17-14 in the next round. The Houghton Dairy Lane quartet of Maureen Hall, Evelyn Barkes, Glynis Morgan and Norma Stephenson beat Cornwall’s Mandy Kellow’s 25-8 and then backed it up with a 19-10 win over Oxfordshire’s Angela Ives. Sadly the run came to an end in the last sixteen losing 17-11 to Bedfordshire’s Rita Grant.
In the Men’s Fours the Blackhall quartet of Mark Hodgson, Ian Jackson, John Mansfield and Paul Hartley missed a good opportunity losing 22-17 to Oxfordshire’s AJ Docherty. The Silksworth Pumas rink of Jaxon McKenna, Neal Ridley, John Leeman and David Bolt eased to a 19-9 win over Lincolnshire’s Matthew Orrey. In the next round against Wiltshire’s Scott Edwards the Silksworth quartet were scratching around and did well to get it back to 15-13 down going into the last end. With Bolt holding two for an extra end the Wiltshire skip played a massive bowl running the jack into the ditch to end the Pumas hopes.
All four Durham triples suffered first round defeats, in the men’s competition the Houghton Dairy Lane trio of Joe Sutherland, Jimmy McAdoo and Dale Oram lost a low scoring thriller on an extra end 12-11 against Worcestershire’s Richard Moule. Dunston’s Tom Pope saw an early lead slip away in a 19-7 loss to Dorset’s Graham Crockett.
In the women’s event Woodland’s Jane Pattison lost 22-6 against Warwickshire’s T Tuner-Smith and White le Head’s Star Scudder never recovered from 13-0 down and finished 25-8 down against Derbyshire’s Helen Broughton.
There were early exits in the women’s pairs for both Durham hopes, Sunderland’s Barbara Ledger and Jane Hore lost 20-11 to Northumberland’s Kayleigh Procter while Silksworth’s Charlotte Williams and Anne Upsall put up a good fight in a 18-14 loss to Lincolnshire’s Chelsea Spencer.
On Friday morning the Durham Over 60 Mixed squad are in semi final action at Leamington as they tackle Northamptonshire. The winners will play either Hampshire or Worcestershire later in the day.
The final round of fixtures in the Earl Cup saw the two relegation places decided. Usworth’s fate was sealed when they were beaten 5-1 at home by champions Silksworth Pumas. The remaining spot was a straight shootout between Seaham Town and Sunderland. The latter needed a rink point to avoid the drop and send Seaham Town down and that’s just what they got. Despite Seaham winning 5-1 they are relegated by an agonising half a point and the newly promoted Sunderland live to fight another day. other results saw New Herrington beat Marine 5-1 and Dairy Lane B got the better of the A team 6-0.
The final round of games in Division Two saw the champions North Biddick suffer a fourth loss this time 4-2 at Thompson Park. Promoted Pemberton also lost 5-1 at Whitburn, there were wins for Houghton Town, Hylton Colliery and South Hylton.
The only other league to be decided was the Harold Howey Division Two, with Sunderland B having played all their games they were left hoping that either Pemberton A and Washington B slipped up in two rearranged games. As it happens Pemberton A were away at Washington A but hopes of doing a favour to the B team were dashed as Pemberton ran out 4-0 winners to leap frog Sunderland B and go up as champions. There was more heartache for the Sunderland lads as news filtered through that Washington B won 3-1 at Whitburn A to snatch the remaining promotion spot by 1½ points.
Two Storey Bowl games were played, champions Seaham Town lost 4-3 at Thompson Park and Houghton Town won 5-2 at Hylton Colliery.
There are two new names on the Sunderland & District Champion of Champions roll of honour. In the main final Roker Marine’s Patrick Thomson beat Usworth’s Steve Copeland 21-18. The latter was looking for a third career success and at 18-18 will regret losing the jack which resulted in a match winning treble for Thomson.
In the Seniors final Silksworth Pumas Paul Baker beat Pemberton’s Steve Farrell 21-13, the Pemberton lad acquitted himself well in his first District final but the experience of Baker told in the end. This was the Silksworth club’s second Senior’s success with the late Harry Barker back in 1999 delivering the first one.
In the final round of the women’s SWBA league, newly crowned champions New Herrington ended their campaign with a 4-0 win at Whitburn. Sunderland A sealed runners up spot with a 3-1 win over the Sunderland B team and Roker Marine beat Barnes Park A 4-0.
Final Standings – New Herrington 36, Sunderland A 29½, Whitburn 23, Sunderland B 21½, Roker Marine 19½, Barnes Park B 18½, Barnes Park A 17.
As the outdoor season is coming to a close all clubs should have received the entry forms for the 2026 Silver Jacks, Burkett Shield and David Morgan Mixed Pairs. Entry sheets to be handed in at the AGM which will take place on Saturday 15 November (10am) at Houghton Dairy Lane. Any notice of motions for the AGM need to be with the Association Secretary by 15 September. There are plans to introduce a new Vet’s Knock Out Cup comprising of a three bowl pairs and a two bowl triples, ties will be played on a fixed Friday over the course of the season.