The final few days of this season’s national indoor bowls finals were held at Nottingham IBC, and saw Spalding Lightning participate in the men’s over 50 triples competition.
The rink of Brian Martin, Simon Lilley and Graham Smith started their campaign at the last 16 stage against John Cable, Steve Boswell and Rob Morphett (Falaise IBC) and won this match by 14 shots to seven.
The quarter finals saw them take on Hughie Dunachie, Mick Tandy and Mal Follis (Solihull IBC) and succeed in this game by 19 shots to eight.
On the last morning of the championships, the trio participated in the semi final against England outdoor senior team manager Kirk Smith, Stephen McAlister and former outdoor England high performance director John McGuinness (Desborough Maidenhead IBC) and saved their best performance for this game winning by 19 shots to nine
The final saw them face a team from St Andrews IBC represented by Alan Bliss, Daryl Johnson and Lee Stocker.
The Lightning team never looked in trouble and won the final 15 shots to six in 15 ends taking the national men’s over 50s triples title for the first time in their bowls careers.
Although Smith has several national titles and many England international caps to his name over the years, this is the first individual indoor national title for both Martin and Lilley.
This was a fourth individual national title in these finals for the club, in addition to a first team mixed Egham Trophy success and several of the male players helping Lincolnshire win the county Liberty Trophy for the third time.
- The 2025/26 indoor season club competition finals took place over the last week at Long Sutton. The results were as follows:
* Men’s Singles – Dominic McVittie beat Kevin Ekins 21-12
* Men’s Pairs – Andy Dunham & Kevin Ekins beat Calvin Leuty and Dominic McVittie 15-13
* Men’s Triples – Andy Dunham, Simon Lilley & Kevin Ekins beat Scott Dunham, Rob Aves and Calvin Leuty 14-13
* Ladies’ Singles – Chelsea Spencer beat Danielle Wild 21-6
* Ladies’ Pairs – Jessica Butters and Ruby Philpott beat Mandy Parkins and Julie Hicks 18-9
* Ladies’ Triples – Jessica Butters, Ruby Philpott and Chelsea Spencer beat Danielle Wild, Tracy Philpott and Maggie Wheatley 20-9
* Open Under 25s Singles – Jessica Butters beat Max Butters by two sets to one (15-2, 9-10, 2-1)
* Open Over 60s Singles – Ian Harwood beat Julie Hicks 21-6
* Mixed Pairs – Jessica Butters and Jordan Philpott beat Chelsea Spencer and Dominic McVittie 19-8
* Veteran Pairs – Eric Wakefield and Ian Harwood beat Julie and Graham Hicks 17-14
* Family Pairs – Scott and Annie Dunham beat Lewis and Dale Parnell 15-14
* Mixed Fours – Ruby Mycock, Ben Sharp, Chelsea Spencer and Dominic McVittie beat Carole Nunney, Julie Hicks, David Nunney and Graham Hicks 23-14
- The Spalding Lightning men’s over 60s team concluded their league season at home against Boston A after struggling for results for most of this campaign and rooted to the bottom of the Division 1 table.
However, they did finish well to win the match by 82 shots to 72 and collected 11 points from the maximum 14 available.
The team won on two rinks, drew on one rink and lost on one rink with the top winning rink skipped by Martin Simpson, with Tony Westland, Paul Turner and Terry Windsor who won 23-11.
Captain Ian Stafford thanked the players who contributed and continually tried their best.
There will be no relegation for the side as the league is reverting back to north and south divisions next season.
Rink scores: Tony Westland, Paul Turner, Terry Windsor and Martin Simpson won 23-11; Mick Dolton, David Amess, Graham Hicks and David Nunney won 20-13; Mike Taylor, Keith Sellars, Gavin Staite and Robin Roffe drew 21-21; Cliff Lattimer, Mel Easy, John Teesdale and Anthony Cronin lost 18-27.
The club’s quintet event was played on Monday, April 20 at Long Sutton and saw 20 players (with a few subs who helped during the evening) play in four teams of five to participate in formats of singles, pairs, triples and fours over the two-hour period.
After all games had been played and the results calculated, the winning team (with 37.5 points and two points clear of victory) was led by Calvin Leuty, with David Nunney, Tony Westland, Teresa Perry and Aidan Brickles.
- The presentation night was held last Friday evening at Long Sutton and saw approximately 40 members get together to celebrate the achievements of this last indoor season both within the club in domestic leagues and competitions, as well as those who were successful at county and national level.
- Next week’s report will see the success gained at the final event of the indoor season, the Lincolnshire IBA men’s and ladies’ county finals with a total of 13 titles won in all.
