Last weekend, Spalding Bowls Club member Owen Aspinall made his debut for the main England team (after representing the British Lions side last season) at the under 18 international series at Cumbernauld IBC in Scotland.
Aspinall participated in both the men’s pairs, skipping this discipline with former member Ollie Jeapes, and the fours alongside Tommy Walker, Lilli Murray and fellow Lincolnshire bowler Jake Johnson.
The team secured bronze in the fours and first place and gold in the pairs.
Unfortunately, England finished second in the overall standings to Scotland.
Before Aspinall left to play in Scotland, he qualified in both the later stages (last 16 onwards) of the men’s under 25 singles to be held during the EIBA national finals at Dolphin IBC on Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1, as well as the later stages (last 16 onwards) of the open under 18 singles to be held during the EIBA national finals at Nottingham IBC on Sunday, April 19.
- Spalding Lightning’s mixed national Egham Trophy team played their fourth round match last Sunday versus strong competitors in Nottingham IBC, and they managed an excellent overall victory by 90 shots to 73, proceeding to the quarter finals.
After five ends, both at home and away, the game was close with a one-shot Lightning lead (23-22) and at ten ends, the opposition got their noses in front by three shots (43-46).
Once 15 ends had been played, the game bounced back in Lightning’s favour with a four-shot lead (64-60) and by 18 ends, this had been widened to 11 (77-66).
Lightning were then able to push on again and once all 21 ends were played, there was a 17-shot victory for Spalding.
That quarter final fixture will be against Cumbria IBC on Sunday, January 25.
Rink scores: Home – Graham Smith, Dan Mills, Chelsea Spencer and Annie Dunham won 22-10 (top rink) and Carole Nunney, Julie Hicks, Calvin Leuty and Dominic McVittie won 25-19; Away – Louise Harris, Karen Martin, Andy Dunham and Stephen Harris won 23-21 and Danielle Wild, Tracy Philpott, Brian Martin and Martin Spencer lost 20-23.
- Spalding Lightning’s mixed county league team took part in their fifth division 1 match, at Scunthorpe IBC last Sunday.
After two wins from four games previously, the team collected a third victory of the season by 86 shots to 62 and gained ten points from the maximum 14 available.
The team won on two rinks and lost on two, with the top winning rink skipped by Graham Wright, with Tony Westland, Sue Slayven and Maggie Wheatley who won 29-12.
Their next match is away at Louth IBC on Sunday, January 25.
Rink scores: Tony Westland, Sue Slayven, Maggie Wheatley and Graham Wright won 29-12, Dinah Fairbanks, Ben Sharp, Maisie Belding and Cliff Lattimer won 23-12, June Taylor, Gill Haydon, Rob West and Anthony Cronin lost 19-21, George Deaton, Shelia Chamberlain, Betty Deaton and David Nunney lost 15-17.
- The Spalding Lightning friendly team played in their fourth game of this season, with a fixture at home against Horncastle IBC last Saturday, which saw an overall drawn result (65-65).
The team won on two rinks and lost on two, with the top winning rink skipped by Hazel Tokley, ably assisted by David Murray, John Venters and Phil Everett who won 21-14.
The next friendly is away at Huntingdon IBC on Sunday.
- After five league matches, the Spalding Lightning men’s over 60s team were still looking for that elusive first victory and last Thursday had the opportunity at home versus Stamford IBC.
However, the opposition proved too strong and Lightning lost by 65 shots to 85 and only gained four points from the maximum 14 available.
The team won on two rinks and lost on two, with the top winning rink skipped by Ian Harwood, with Tony Westland, David Amess and Rob West who won 19-15.
Their next match at home against Scunthorpe IBC on Thursday, January 29.
Rink scores: Tony Westland, David Amess, Rob West and Ian Harwood won 19-15, Chris Judd, David Murray, David Nunney and Graham Hicks won 21-20, Pete Bendell, Cliff Lattimer, Gavin Staite and Chris Warboys lost 18-19, Mick Dolton, Derek Chamberlain, Paul Turner and Terry Windsor lost 7-31.
- Congratulations to the Lincolnshire men’s county Liberty Trophy team, winning the second round by 27 shots (131-104) versus Yorkshire CIBA away at Selby IBC last Saturday.
The players representing Lincolnshire from Spalding were Kevin Ekins, Stephen Harris, Simon Lilley, Dominic McVittie, Dan Mills, Mathew Orrey, Martin Spencer and the captain/manager Graham Smith.
The next match will be in the quarter final versus Cumbria CIBA being held at Hartlepool IBC on Saturday, February 28.
- Finally, well done to the Lincolnshire ladies’ county Atherley Trophy team, winning the second round by 51 shots (117-66) versus Leicestershire WIBA at Boston IBC last Saturday.
The players representing Lincolnshire from Spalding were Maisie Belding, Annie Dunham, Louise Harris, Karen Martin, Chelsea Spencer and Danielle Wild.
The next match will be in the quarter final versus Yorkshire WIBA on Saturday, February 28.
