INDIVIDUAL COUNTY MERIT FINAL

 

THE ENTRY FOR THIS YEAR WAS 265 AS OUR ENTRY INCREASED SLIGHTLY ON LAST YEAR. THE VENUE WAS A RETURN TO FURNESS VALE, WHERE WE HAD NOT BEEN FOR SOME YEARS. THE CARD WAS A REALLY STRONG ONE WITH A NUMBER OF PREVIOUS WINNERS, INCLUDING LAST YEARS WINNER DARREN CARTER. PREVIOUS ALL BRITAIN WINNER, PAUL CHAMBERLAIN, STARTED THE DAY OFF WITH A WIN 21-15 OVER LOCAL PLAYER BEN HINCHCLIFFE 21-18, BRIAN WOODCOCK NEVER GAVE DAVE MEE A CHANCE TO WIN 21-3, ANDY SPRAGG WAS IN ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS AT 9-1 DOWN TO NEIL WORTHINGTON BEFORE WINNING 21-19. IAN HIBBERT USED HIS GREEN KNOWLEDGE TO BEAT DAVE PARKIN 21-18, DAVE STEVENSON JUST GOT THE BETTER OF DAVE REDFERN, DAVE HUGHES BEAT IAN JOHNSON 21-19, DARREN BURGESS WAS OUTGUNNED IN THE CORNERS BY PAST WINNER DARREN SMITH.AND JASON ANGUISH BEAT FELLOW COUNTY PLAYER PETER CONWAY 21-12. THIS WAS THE TOP HALF OF THE DRAW. DEAN SHERWIN NOW PLAYING MORE OPEN COMPETITIONS BEAT ALLESTREE'S PETER WHEELDON 21-10, STEVE ADAMS WAS ALWAYS JUST IN CONTROL AND WON 21-16 OVER LONGDENDALE LEAGUE SECRETARY ANDY BYLIK. THE BEST GAME OF THE FIRST ROUND WAS NIGEL ARMSTRONG'S WIN OVER HOLDER DARREN CARTER 21-18. THE IMPROVING DANNY PETCHER BEAT STUART SMITH 21-15. GRAHAM JONES WAS OUT OF SORTS BEING 15-3 DOWN AT ONE STAGE TO PAST WINNER STEVE J ALLEN BEFORE LOSING TO 14. LAFARGE'S PAUL WALTON JUST GOT THE BETTER OF HEAGE'S LEE WHEATLEY 21-19, JOHN DEWEY BEAT MARK BENNETT 21-15 AND ANNUAL QUALIFIER KEN HOUGHTON LOST 11-21 TO ANGLESEY’S BRIAN SMITH. THE NEXT ROUND IS WHAT THEY CALL THE MONEY ROUND AS THE RESPECTIVE WINNERS WOULD ALL QUALIFY FOR THE ALL BRITAIN AT NORTHENDEN SOCIAL IN GREATER MANCHESTER. CHAMBERLAIN WAS ALWAYS IN CONTROL OF THE GAME WITH WOODCOCK AND WON 21­10, SPRAGG JUST GOT THE BETTER OF IAN HIBBERT 21-18, DAVE HUGHES'S GREEN KNOWLEDGE GOT HIM HOME AGAINST ROWDITCH'S DAVE STEVENSON AGAIN TO 18, DARREN SMITH HAD TEAM MATE JASON ANGUISH OFF FOR 7. STEVE ADAMS JUST GOT THE BETTER OF DEAN SHERWIN 21-19, ARMSTRONG ALSO HAD JUST ENOUGH 21-18 OVER DANNY PETCHER, STEVE ALLEN AGAIN 21-19 AND JOHN DEWEY 21-16 OVER BRIAN SMITH. IN THE QUARTER FINALS ANDY SPRAGG HAD MOVED UP GEAR AND WAS BETTER WITH THE PACE OF THE GREEN AND BEAT CHAMBERLAIN TO 14. DARREN SMITH PLAYED REALLY WELL TO WIN THE BATTLE OF THE LEFT HANDERS WITH A 21-11 WIN OVER DAVE HUGHES. STEVE ADAMS MOVED UP A NOTCH AS WELL TO BEAT NIGEL ARMSTRONG 21-11, AND STEVE ALLEN WAS ALWAYS JUST IN FRONT OF DEWEY WINNING 21-19. SPRAGG AND SMITH HAD MET IN COUNTY FINALS DAY ON 3 PREVIOUS OCCASIONS WITH THE GAMES ALWAYS BEING TIGHT AFFAIRS AND THIS WAS NO EXCEPTION, BEFORE SPRAGG GOT HOME 21-18. ADAMS HAD NO SUCH PROBLEMS IN DISPOSING OF ALLEN 21-10 AND WAS PROBABLY THE MOST CONSISTENT OF ALL THE PLAYERS ON THE DAY. IN THE FINAL THE PAIR WERE EVENLY MATCHED, LEVEL AT 13 ACROSS BEFORE ADAMS FOUND A MARK WHICH ALWAYS HAD SPRAGG STRUGGLING ON FOR THOSE WHO KNOW FURNESS,GOING ACROSS THE GREEN FROM THE TENNIS COURT, FROM 13 ACROSS ADAMS JUMPED TO 20-14 UP BEFORE SPRAGG SCORED 1, BUT WAS BEATEN BY A GOOD LAST BOWL BY ADAMS TO WIN 21-15. AT THE ALL BRITAIN, THE COUNTY’S PLAYERS HAD MIXED FORTUNES, BUT THE PLAUDITS HAVE TO GO TO ANDY SPRAGG, 19-10 DOWN IN HIS FIRST GAME ON A TREACHEROUSLY QUICK GREEN, GOT OUT OF JAIL TO WIN 21-20, MUCH AS HE HAD DONE IN THE COUNTY FINALS DAY FIRST ROUND. AFTER THAT THERE WAS NO STOPPING HIM. THE ONLY PROBLEM WOULD BE THE 3RD GAME ON THE REALLY FAR TOO QUICK GREEN FOR AN ALL ENGLAND, BUT THE RAIN CAME AND HE BEAT THE DANGEROUS WARWICKS & WORCS'S STEVE FREER 21-15. BACK ON THE MORE COMFORTABLE GREEN ANDY FOUND A CORNER MARK WHICH WOULD SEE HIM COLLECT THE TITLE AFTER BEATING GREATER MANCHESTER'S DAVID WALKER IN THE FINAL QUITE COMFORTABLY. NOT ONLY DID HE WIN THE TITLE FOR THE FIRST TIME DERBYSHIRE HAD WINNERS OF THE COVETED TITLE BACK TO BACK FOLLOWING DARREN SMITH'S WIN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. HOPEFULLY WE CAN MAKE IT THREE ON THE BOUNCE NEXT YEAR AT PENN FIELDS IN WOLVERHAMPTON. FOLLOWING ON FROM THAT HE THEN MANAGED TO DO THE RARE DOUBLE, BY WINNING THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS AT THE WATERLOO BLACKPOOL WHEN HE SLAUGHTERED LOCAL FAVOURITE MIKE LEACH 21-7 IN THE FINAL.

 

JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL COUNTY MERIT

 

THE FINAL'S DAY TOOK PLACE AT THE SUPERB RYKNELD BC IN DERBY THE FIRST TIME. ON A PLEASANTLY WARM DAY TO PLAY BOWLS AND WE HAD A FIELD OF 27 PLAYERS. THE FIRST ROUND SAW A COUPLE OF FANCIED PLAYERS GO OUT. JAMIE HARDY LOST 20-21 TO JAMES DENNIS IN AN EXCELLENT GAME, IN ANOTHER QUALITY GAME JAMES GLASBY BEAT NICK DUNN 21-16, MATT FEARN LOST OUT 20-21 TO LIAM MCNEILLY, AND CONOR CHAMBERLAIN BEAT TEAM MATE MATT MILSOM 21-17 IN A MARVELLOUS ADVERT FOR JUNIOR BOWLS. IN THE SECOND ROUND YOULGRAVE'S SAM HARRISON BEAT LEWIS BELCHER 21-13, JOE GOODING AND JAMES DENNIS WAS AS GOOD A GAME AS YOU WILL SEE BEFORE GOODING GOT HOME 21-18, LIAM MCNEILLY BEAT JAMES GLASBY 21-19, AND ANDY SPENCER WAS ALWAYS TO ACCURATE OVER A LONGER DISTANCE OVER COUNTY COLLEAGUE CALUM MAILER. SURPRISE PACKAGE ON THE DAY AND THERE IS ALWAYS ONE WAS KINGS NEWTON'S JOSHUA HALL AS HE BEAT FANCIED ALEX WAIN 21-18, BEN RYDER WHO HAD THE BYE IN THE FIRST ROUND WAS OUT CORNERED BY CONOR CHAMBERLAIN IN AN IMPRESSIVE DISPLEY.TOM BALDWIN NOT PLAYING MANY SUNDAYS THIS YEAR BEAT ADAM STONES 21-17 AND DAN HARTLEY SHOWED GOOD FORM TO BEAT LUKE MCNEILLY 21-16.  IN THE QUARTERFINALS JOE GOODING WAS ALWAYS IN CHARGE AS HE BEAT SAM HARRISON 21-12, ANDY SPENCER BEAT LIAM MCNEILLY 21-14. JOSHUA HALL JUST GOT THE BETTER OF CHAMBERLAIN IN PROBABLY THE BEST GAME OF THE DAY 21-17 DESPITE CONOR'S FIGHTBACK FROM 18-10 DOWN. TOM BALDWIN'S ACCURACY WAS ALWAYS THE DECIDING FACTOR IN HIS 21-17 WIN OVER DAN HARTLEY. FIRST SEMI FINAL SAW SPENCER JUST GET THE WIN 21-20 OVER JOE GOODING THE SECOND SEMI WAS AN ENTHRALLING AFFAIR WITH THE MATCH EVENLY MATCHED AT 18 ACROSS BEFORE BALD­WIN GOT HOME 21-18. THE FINAL STARTED VERY SLOWLY WITH BOTH PLAYERS NERVOUS, BUT AFTER THEY HAD SETTLED DOWN THEY PRODUCED A REALLY HIGH STANDARD OF LEAD BOWLING, BEFORE TOM WON 21-18 THE PRIZES WERE PRESENTED BY SPONSORS SHIRLEY AND CLIVE THORNHILL. AT THE ALL BRITAIN AT PENNFIELDS IN WOLVERHAMPTON BOTH PLAYERS LOST THEIR FIRST ROUND MATCHES.

 

COUNTY CUP

 

THE ENTRY FOR THIS YEAR WAS MARGINALLY UP AT 55, BUT WE MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK AT POSSIBLY HANDICAPPING TO TRY AND GET THE ENTRY INCREASED IN THE FUTURE FINALS DAY SAW 2 NEW TEAMS REACHING THIS STAGE, SWADLINCOTE CATHOLICS AND MAREHAY, UP AGAINST PAST WINNERS STRETTON ANGLESEY AND OLD WHITTINGTON. MAREHAY WERE BEING QUOTED AS 50/1 OUTSIDERS ON THE DAY, WITH STRETTON ANGLESEY AS SHORT ODDS ON FAVOURITES. THE FINALS DAY GREEN WAS ANOTHER EXCELLENT GREEN AT NEW MILLS CRICKET & BOWLING CLUB.  THE DRAW WAS THAT STRETTON ANGLESEY WOULD PLAY SWADLINCOTE CATHOLICS AND MAREHAY TOOK ON OLD WHITTINGTON. THE FIERCE LOCAL RIVALRY OF THE TWO BURTON TEAMS WAS APPARENT FROM THE START BUT THE SLIGHT UNDERDOGS STARTED WELL AS SWAD'S RICHARD GOLDBY BEAT PAUL CHAMBERLAIN 21-11 AND THE EVER CONSISTENT ANDY FEARN HAD DAVE MAY OFF 21-16 TO GIVE SWAD THE BEST POSSIBLE START. ANGLESEY'S DARREN CARTER RESTORED THE BALANCE WITH A 21-11 WIN OVER BRIAN JORDAN, BUT JOHN "CHIPPY" INSLEY BEAT ADY CHEADLE 21-12 AND THE GAP HAD OPENED AGAIN. NEIL WORTHINGTON MADE A FEW SHOTS BACK IN BEATING JOHN BARNETT 21-16, BUT THIS WAS TO BE ANGLESEY'S LAST WIN AS TIM BARNETT BEAT BRIAN SMITH 21-18, GRAHAM BAILEY 21-16 OVER ANDY MILSOM, SIMON SMITH 21-14 ON JOHN O'GORMAN, ROB SWEET ALWAYS HAD THE BETTER OF ALAN JOHNSON AND WITH THE RESULT ALREADY WELL GONE WALLY REDFERN 21-17 ON DARREN SMITH. THIS GAVE A RESOUNDING 195-163 WIN, AND CATHOLICS WERE IN THEIR FIRST COUNTY CUP FINAL. OLD WHIITTINGTON CAME IN  MASSIVE FAVOURITES TO BEAT MAREHAY, BUT IT SOON BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS WAS NOT GOING TO BE ALL ONE WAY. DAVE CARTER FROM MAREHAY SOON HAD ALL BRITAIN CHAMPION IN ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS PLAYING CONSISTENTLY ACCURATE BOWLS ON A DIFFICULT GREEN AND TOOK SPRAGG 21-6 FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE START. MAREHAY WITH A NUMBER OF THEIR REGULAR PLAYERS ON HOLIDAY HAD A NUMBER OF SECOND TEAM PLAYERS IN THEIR SQUAD. LEE PASHLEY COULD NEVER GET AWAY FROM DAVE ALLSOP AND JUST MANAGED TO WIN 21-20. STUART SMITH PLAYED IMMACULATELY TO BEAT CHRIS CARTER TO 4 AND OLD WHITTINGTON WERE JUST IN FRONT. STEVE HASLAM BEAT PHIL HUNT 21-20, AND STUART SHARPE BEAT COLIN RILEY 21-19 IN A REALLY GOOD GAME AND EVERYONE EXPECTED OLD WHITTINGTON TO RUN AWAY WITH THE MATCH, BUT MAREHAY WERE NOT JUST GOING TO LIE DOWN. SECOND TEAM PLAYER STEVE LANYON PRODUCED THE MATCH WINNING RESULT WHEN HE BEAT THE OUT OF SORTS JAKE GREVESON 21-6 AND THEN THIS WAS CONSOLIDATED WITH GEOFF SENIOR BEATING YOUNG LUKE HASLAM 21-18. NEIL PICKERING JUST LOST TO LEE DAVIES 19-21 SO AS LONG AS THERE WERE NO DISASTERS IN THE LAST TWO GAME THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM, BUT IAN JOHNSON HAD GONE 16-4 UP ON JOHN ALLSOP, AND MICK GRATTAN'S GAME WAS 6 ACROSS SO THE MATCH COULD HAVE TURNED, BUT ALLSOP GOT 11 AND GRATTAN RAN AWAY FROM JOHN BENNISON FOR A MATCH CLOSING 21-14 WIN AND MAREHAY IN THEIR FIRST FINAL 177-170. STILL THE ODDS HAD NOT CHANGED MUCH AS SWAD HAD BEATEN MAREHAY HOME AND AWAY IN THE REGULAR LEAGUE SEASON, BUT WE WOULD SEE! DAVE CARTER CARRIED ON WHERE HE HAD FINISHED AGAINST SPRAGG CONTINUED PLAYING VERY WELL IN AN EXCELLENT GAME AGAINST RICHARD GOLDBY TO WIN 21-15. CHRIS CARTER AFTER HIS MAULING IN THE SEMI DID NOT WANT TO PLAY THE SECOND GAME, BUT WENT ON TO PRODUCE A CUP WINNING RESULT TO BEAT ANDY FEARN 21-17 AND MAREHAY WERE AT IT AGAIN. BRIAN JORDAN PLAYING BETTER IN THIS MATCH BEAT COLIN RILEY 21-20 AND CHIPPY INSLEY HAD TOO MUCH CONTROL FOR PHIL HUNT AND WON 21-17 TO PUT SWAD ON THEIR WAY. NO SOONER HAD THAT HAPPENED THEN THE MATCH SWUNG AGAIN AS DAVE ALLSOP HAD TOO MUCH POWER AND ACCURACY FOR VETERAN JOHN BARNETT AND HIS WIN REVERSED THE 21-7 WITH A WIN. STEVE LANYON WAS NOW VERY NERVOUS BUT GOT A CREDITABLE 15 AGAINST TIM BARNETT. NEIL PICKERING THEN DELIVERED WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE TELLING BLOW IN DEFEATING GRAHAM BAILEY 21-6, THE OTHER GAME ON THE GREEN WAS VERY TIGHT AS MICK GRATTAN JUST LOST TO 18 AGAINST SIMON SMITH, SO THE MAREHAY ADVANTAGE WAS MAINTAINED, BUT WALLY REDFERN CLAWED A FURTHER 9 SHOTS BACK IN BEATING JOHN ALLSOP. THE LAST GAME ON THE GREEN MEANT THAT ROB SWEET HAD TO KEEP GEOFF SENIOR FROM GETTING 13, BUT THAT TASK WAS TOO MUCH AS SENIOR WON 21-18 TO GIVE MAREHAY A REMARKABLE WIN 177- 168 WIN. ONE PERSON LATER IN THE WEEK SAID THAT THE RESULT WAS A FILLIP FOR THE COMPETITION AS ALL THE BIG GUNS DID NOT HAVE A DEVINE RIGHT TO WIN THE COMPETITION.

 

REPECHAGE TROPHY

 

WE AGAIN WENT BACK TO NEW MILLS FOR THE FINAL WHERE HOLDERS OF THE TROPHY DERBY CO-OP WERE TO PLAY SURPRISE PACKAGE YOULGRAVE. THE MATCH STARTED EVENLY AS YOULGRAVE'S ROBERT BRASSINGTON BEAT FRED DYSON 21-10 AND DEAN TAYLOR RESPONDED WITH A 21-10 WIN OVER TONY CARTER. AFTER THAT IT BECAME A ONE SIDED FINAL IN FAVOUR OF YOULGRAVE, RICHARD PARTRIDGE BEAT ADAM DICKERSON 21-11, RICHARD'S FATHER MICK THEN BEAT WAYNE PENNY TO 15 AND STEVE BAKER LOST TO BARRY OLDFIELD 17-21. TWO FURTHER WINS FOR YOULGRAVE TOOK THE RESULT ALMOST AWAY FROM CO-OP AS COLIN BRASSINGTON BEAT PHIL CLIFF TO 11 AND MALCOLM HARRISON HAD BRIAN SCALES TO 16, DESPITE DAVE FOX WINNING TO 14 AND ROGER BROWN TO 14, RICHARD DAWSON CLOSED THE GAME OUT WITH A 21-14 WIN FOR YOULGRAVE AND A 182-154 WIN FOR YOULGRAVE.

 

JACK & JEAN ISHERWOOD VETERAN'S INDIVIDUAL MERIT

 

THE COUNTY FINALS TOOK PLACE AT THE BUXTON PARK BC, THE COUNTY ENTRY WAS DOWN BY 10 TO 40 THIS YEAR WITH NO SOUTH DERBYSHIRE AREA QUALIFIER FOR THE FIRST TIME. BRANNIE WHITE GOING FOR HIS 3RD NATIONAL TITLE IN THIS EVENT, HAD AGAIN QUALIFIED FROM THE CHESTERFIELD AREA FOR THE COUNTY FINALS. 5 COUNTY VETERAN'S TEAM PLAYERS HAD QUALIFIED. GED BRIDDON IN HIS FIRST YEAR ON THE VETS CIRCUIT CAME UP AGAINST DAVE TUBEY IN THE FIRST ROUND MATCH AND TUBEY WAS THE VICTOR 21-18. ERIC TAYLOR THE LONGDENDALE SENIOR SELECTOR WAS UP AGAINST FELLOW SELECTOR PAT HEANEY AND HEANEY TOOK THE GAME COMFORTABLY 21-7. REX HALLOWES FROM PEAKDALE WAS UP AGAINST FIRST TIME QUALIFIER THE EVER CONSISTENT TERRY BOSWORTH FROM THE BELMONT SERVICES IN BURTON, AND IT WAS LOCAL KNOWLEDGE THAT WON THE DAY AS HALLOWES WON 21-16. IN THE FINAL FIRST ROUND GAME BRANNIE WHITE WAS UP AGAINST ANOTHER SENIOR SELECTOR IN DAVE HUGHES FROM SPRING GARDENS, AND IT WAS WHITE WHO WAS THE VICTOR 21-14. DESPITE OUR REDUCTION IN NUMBERS THE FIRST 4 WINNERS HAD ALL QUALIFIED FOR THE NATIONAL FINALS DAY TO BE HELD AT MILLHOUSES PARK IN SHEFFIELD FOR THE FINAL YEAR OF IT'S SPONSORSHIP, BUT ON THE DAY THE NUMBER OF OUR QUALIFIERS HAD NOT BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE BCGBA. IN THE SEMI FINAL'S TUBEY BEAT HEANEY 21-12 AND WHITE BEAT HALLOWES 21-15. IN THE FINAL WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY GOOD GAME WITH THE LEAD CHANGING HANDS A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE BRANNIE WON THE COUNTY EVENT FOR THE FIRST TIME 21-18. THE NATIONAL FINALS WERE HELD AT MILLHOUSES PARK FOR THE LAST TIME AS THEIR 3 YEAR SPONSORSHIP CAME TO AN END. EASTWOOD PARK'S BRANNIE WHITE STARTED AS FAVOURITE HAVING WON THE TITLE ON THAT GREEN FOR THE PAST TWO SEASONS. THE RANKS OF THE VETS COMPETITION HAD BEEN SWELLED BY GOOD COMPETITION PLAYERS NOW ELIGIBLE ON THE AGE RULING, NON MORE SO THAN THE SOUTH YORKSHIRE CONTINGENT. TUBEY AND HALLOWES LOST THEIR FIRST GAMES, PAT HEANEY LOST IN THE QUARTER FINALS, BUT BRANNIE GOT THROUGH 21-20 IN HIS QUARTER FINAL CLASH, BUT HE WAS TO BE UP AGAINST 3 SOUTH YORKSHIRE PLAYERS IN THE SEMI'S. BRANNIE EVENTUALLY LOST 20-21 TO KENNY BOOTH, AND THAT GAME PROBABLY TOOK EVERYTHING OUT OF KENNY WHO LOST 21-8 TO ARTHUR BROMLEY IN THE FINAL. AT THE TIME OF WRITING THERE WAS NO NEW SPONSOR AND THE VENUE HAD TO BE DECIDED, BUT THE EVENT WILL DEFINITELY RUN.

 

JAMES BIRKS MEMORIAL MIDLAND MASTERS

 

THE DERBYSHIRE ENTRY WAS DOWN ON LAST YEAR AT 61. THE FINALS DAY WOULD BE AT FLORENCE PRIVATE BC, STOKE ON TRENT, GREENS A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR PLAYERS WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN. FAVOURITE' ON THE DAY WAS NEWLY CROWNED BCGBA MERIT WINNER ANDY SPRAGG, BUT IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE STRONGEST FIELDS AT A MIDLAND MASTERS WITH PREVIOUS WINNERS AND ALL BRITAIN CHAMPIONS IN THE FIELD. LEN ROBINSON WAS THE FIRST TO OUT LOSING TO STAFFORDSHIRE'S MARK CLAYTON 12-21. ADY HOWARD LOST TO 10 AS KNOWLEDGE OF BOTH THE GREEN'S LOOKED TO BE IMPORTANT. LEE DAVIES PROVIDED THE FIRST BOOST FOR THE BOOKIES AS HE BEAT A GOOD HANDICAP PLAYER IN CARL FIELDING WINNING TO 19. SPRAGG WON HIS FIRST GAME 21-13 AGAINST VETERAN NORTH MIDS JOE CALLAN. RICHARD GOLDBY WAS DRAWN AGAINST A POTTERIES PLAYER IN THE FIRST ROUND WHICH WAS THE HARDEST OF THE DRAWS ON THESE GREENS AND JUST LOST 18-21. SOUTH DERBYSHIRE'S SECRETARY GRAHAM JACKSON WON 21-18 IN FINE WIN A ON WHAT WAS BECOMING A WARM DAY. STUART SMITH STARTED WELL ON THE BACK GREEN IN THE BOTTOM HALF BUT HARDEST HALF OF THE DRAW WINNING 21-8, PHIL CLAPHAM IN THE GAME AT 10 ACROSS LOST TO 12 , IAN DALY UP AGAINST EXPERIENCED POTTERIES PLAYER MICK HARVEY WAS ALWAYS OUT MANOEUVRED AND LOST TO 8, ONE OF THE DRAWS OF THE DAY SAW PAUL CHAMBERLAIN UP AGAINST WARWICKS. & WORCS STEVE FREER BUT FREER WAS ALWAYS IN CONTROL AND WON 21-12, DAVID MAY WON 21-16 AGAINST MARK PICKNELL. THE SECOND ROUND SAW THE PLAYERS ALTERNATE GREENS AND THE N0.2 BACK GREEN WAS THE ONE CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEMS. LEE DAMES JUST LOST TO PREVIOUS WINNER AND SOON TO BE FAVOURITE STAFFORDSHIRE'S CHRIS WARD 15-21, FOLLOWED QUICKLY BY ANDY SPRAGG WHO COULD NOT GET TOP SIDE THE GREEN KNOWLEDGE OF POTTERIES PAUL PHILLIPS AND LOST TO 11. GRAHAM ALSO WENT OUT ON THIS GREEN AND LOST TO ANTHONY ALDRIDGE OF STAFFS 11-21 AS WELL. IN THE BOTTOM HALF STUART SMITH WAS 11-0 DOWN TO POTTERIES PLAYER NICK TIDESWELL DESPITE PLAYNG WELL, BUT AT 15-5 DOWN HE FOUND A MARK THAT WAS GOING TO PAY HIM DIVIDENDS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, GOING IN FRONT AT 17-16 HE USED THE MARK TO GET HOME 21-18. DAVID MAY LOOKED COMFORTABLE ON THE NO.1 GREEN AND TOOK OUT ANOTHER POTTERIES PLAYER IN ADRIAN JOHNSON 21-16. WARD WAS NOW HOT FAVOURITE AS THE GREENS ALTERNATED AGAIN , AND WITH ONLY TWO POTTERIES PLAYER LEFT IN THE COMPETITION IT WAS WIDE OPEN. WARD DESTROYED WARWICKS AND WORCS PAUL HEMMING 21-8 TO ENHANCE THE FAVOURITE'S SPOT, BUT SMITH HAD THE BOOKIES STARTING TO SMILE AS HE BEAT THE PREVIOUS WINNER OF THE EVENT AT THE FLORENCE GREEN'S IN STAFFS CARL FIELDING 21-12. DAVID MAY WAS ALWAYS BEHIND AGAINST SHROPSHIRE'S JOHN BREEZE AND LOST 11. THE QUARTER FINALS AND ONWARDS THEN MOVED ALL ONTO THE NO.1 GREEN. WARD BEAT FELLOW STAFFS PLAYER MARK CLAYTON 21-14, STAFFS MICK LEDWIDGE BEAT FELLOW STAFFS PLAYER ANTHONY ALDRIDGE 21-19. LEDWIDGE IS PROBABLY THE MOST CONSISTENT PLAYER IN THE MIDLAND MASTERS EVERY YEAR REACHING THE QUARTER FINAL STAGES, FIRST TIME IN THE SEMI'S. STUART SMITH WINNING 21-17 AGAINST A NOTHER STAFFS PLAYER BUT HAD NOW CONSOLIDATED ON THE DIFFICULT MARK, AND BREEZE HAD BEATEN ANOTHER STAFFS PLAYER STEVE DAVIS. WE CAN SEE WHY STAFFS REACHED THE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS THIS YEAR WITH SO MANY PLAYERS IN GOOD FORM. THE SEMIS SAW WARD IN FRONT EARLY AGAINST LEDWIDGE, BUT THEN LEVEL AT 12, ONLY FOR WARD TO GO IN FRONT 15-12, THEN LEDWIDGE PLAYING REALLY WELL WENT 19-15 IN FRONT THEN SEEM TO STOP, 20-16 LOOKED TO BE HOME AND DRY BEFORE WARD A PEDIGREE HANDICAP PLAYER START TO PUT LEDWIDGE UNDER SEVER PRESSURE AND IT BECAME 20-20 AS LEDWIDGE COULD NOT FIND THE WINNING BOWL AND WARD WON 21-20. SMITH AND BREEZE WAS A CAT AND MOUSE AFFAIR, IN THE EARLY STAGES, BREEZE WAS NOW A SHORT SECOND FAVOURITE AND SMITH AN ASTONISHING 6/1. AT 4-8 DOWN SMITH GOT ONTO THE MARK HE KNEW AND WENT AWAY FROM BREEZE TO 15-9, AND BREEZE WAS ALWAYS PLAYING CATCH UP ON THE MARK HE HAD FAVOURED BUT BY THE END SMITH WAS CONFIDENT OF TURNING OVER ON, AND STUART WON 21-16. SMITH WAS STILL 2/1 IN THE FINAL WITH WARD 2/5 ON. SMITH WENT STRAIGHT FOR THE JUGULAR ON THE MARK HE KNEW SO WELL AND WHICH WARD COULD NEVER GET ANYWHERE NEAR.A 8-2 ADVANTAGE SOON BECAME 15-9 AND IN THE END A 21-15 WIN AND SMITH'S FIRST MAJOR WIN AND OUR FIRST IN THE COMPETITION SINCE PAT HEANEY SOME 16 YEARS AGO.

 

UNDER 16 COMPETITIONS

 

THE FINALS DAY WOULD BE PLAYED AT ASHBOURNE TOP GREEN, WHICH WAS AGAIN IN EXCELLENT CONDITION FOR THE TIME OF YEAR. CHESTERFIELD 1 WOULD PLAY BURTON 11 IN THE ONE SEMI AND CHESTERFIELD 11 WOULD PLAY BURTON 1 IN THE OTHER. THE BIGGEST SHOCK CAME IN THE SEMI WHEN CHESTERFIELD 1 LOST CONVINCINGLY TO BURTON 11 BUT THEY HAD BEEN SURPRISINGLY BEATEN BY THEIR OTHER TEAM IN THE SOUTH COMPETITION. CALUM MAILER WON 21-12 AGAINST GREG CHILMAN, BUT STEVE YARNALL ONLY GOT 9 AGAINST MATT FEARN, ALEX WAIN OUTGUNNED MARK BOOTH 21-13, ADAM STONES SUFFERING WITH TONSILITIS WON 21-19 BUT THE RESULT WAS WELL, OVER AT THIS STAGE AND BURTON 11 HAD WON 73-54. IN THE OTHER GAME THE SURPRISE PACKAGE OF BURTON 1 HAD ALL 4 WINS AGAINST AN INEXPERIENCED TEAM, STUART GOODRUM GOT A NERVY 10 AGAINST LIAM MANDER, JAMIE BRADSHAW A GOOD GAME 21-18 WIN OVER TOM YEOWART, MAKING A STEP UP TO THIS LEVEL. DARREL MATKIN ALWAYS TOO ACCURATE FOR DARCY DYE AND JOE BROOKES AGAIN TO ACCURATE FOR JAMES DYE FOR A 84-50 WIN. THE FINAL WOULD SEE A TEAM LOOKING FOR REVENGE FOR THEIR DEFEAT IN THE SOUTHERN FINAL AGAINST A CONFIDENT TEAM OF WINNERS. HOWEVER THE BURTON 11 TEAM STARTED WELL WITH A 21-16 WIN FOR GREG CHILMAN OVER LIAM MANDER 21-16, FOLLOWED BY MATT FEARN A REALLY STRONG 21-14 WIN OVER JAMIE BRADHSAW. ALL THE LAST TWO HAD TO DO WAS KEEP IT TIGHT AND THEY DID JUST THAT ALEX WAIN 21-20 OVER DARRELL MATKIN AND JOSH HALL 21-19 OVER JACK BROOKS FOR ALL 4 WINS AND AN 84-69 WIN FOR THE BURTON SECONDS. CHESTERFIELD A BEAT CHESTERFIELD B 71-45 IN THE PLAY OFF. THE COMPETITION CONTINUES TO SPONSORED BY CLIVE AND SHIRLEY THORNHILL. THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN EXCELLENT COMPETITION THIS IS AND THE STANDARD OF OUR JUNIORS AND U'16'S IS VERY HIGH AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL DO BETTER AT JUNIOR LEVEL NEXT YEAR, BUT THE YEAR AFTER WE WILL BE PUSHING FOR THE TITLE WITH SOME CERTAINTY.

 

GLYNN HOLMES

 

Secretary’s Report (page 2)

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY CROWN GREEN BOWLING   ASSOCIATION