Spalding Lightning returned from the Lincolnshire Men’s, Ladies and Mixed County Finals at Sleaford with a huge haul of trophies.
They had interest in 13 of the 18 matches and were guaranteed three winners, thanks to their players meeting each other to decide the silverware.
The men’s pairs saw recently crowned national champions Jordan Philpott and Dominic McVittie beat Boston’s Nathan Dunnington and Jonathan West 18-8 to complete a memorable double.
A second title was quickly wrapped up when Ruby Philpott, Chelsea Spencer and Annie Dunham took on Caroline Cullum, Ann Burchell and Amy Pharaoh, of Louth, and were never in trouble as they stormed to a 16 shots to one victory.
A third title for Spalding was guaranteed in the men’s singles final when McVittie and Stephen Harris met, with Harris winning 21-17 for his first title in the event since 2018.
The scoreline was repeated in the ladies’ singles with victory for Chelsea Spencer earning a fourth title for the club against Boston’s Helen Butler.
Philpott and Spencer then successfully defended their ladies’ pairs title with a 16-10 win against Dunholme’s Rene Walker and Barbara Heath.
Another title defence saw the men’s triples of Martin Spencer, Mathew Orrey and McVittie beat Jake Johnson, Dean Stevenson and Kevin Rands, of Lincoln, 18-10, to make it six out of six so far for Spalding.
The men’s fours saw an all-Lightning affair and Harris, Spencer, Orrey and McVittie kept hold of the trophy by beating Graham Smith, Kevin Ekins, Simon Lilley and Jordan Philpott 20-7.
The ladies’ fours honours went 23-12 in favour of Danielle Wild, Jessica Butters, Annie Dunham and Chelsea Spencer against Jayne Taplin, Karen Kirton, Judy Moody and Olive Wells, from Horncastle.
McVittie went into the mixed pairs final with a new partner, having won the title for the past three years with Jean Patterson. This time he played alongside Julie Hicks but the result was the same, with a 20-7 success against Stamford’s Christine Ford and Neil Wright.
A double-figure title haul was completed when Danielle Wild beat Boston’s Lucy Allerton 21-5 in the ladies’ u25s singles.
Jessica Butters then earned her first individual county title by beating Jack Hoyles, of Boston, in straight sets (2-0) in the open u15 singles.
A 12th trophy was guaranteed for one Spalding member in the open u18 pairs with Lightning players in both teams. It went to Aidan Brickles, partnering Boston’s Freddie Knapp to a 2-1 win against his clubmate Butters, playing with Boston’s Harry Allerton.
A 13-out-of-13 haul was completed in the open u18 triples when Butters, Knapp and Brickles saw off the challenge of Louth’s Harry Allerton, Chloe Bland and Jack Hoyles 14-10.
Chelsea Spencer ended the finals with four trophies to her name, while, for what is believed to be the first time, Spalding won all four of the main men’s competitions as well as the mixed pairs title.
- Spalding’s AGM at Long Sutton saw Kevin Ekins, Graham Hicks and Simon Lilley elected to become life members, due to their hard work in both securing the temporary move to the Long Sutton venue and making it an effective alternative for members to enjoy both the carpet and facilities.
- Summer domestic leagues and drives have started this week at Long Sutton.
Monday: Maisie’s Australian Pairs League, 10am-noon; Tuesday: Morning Summer Triples League, 10am-noon; Wednesday: Maisie’s fun drive, 10am-noon; Thursday: Evening 4321 Triples League, 6.30pm-8.30pm; Friday: 50-plus Morning League, 10am-noon, and Maisie’s Fun Afternoon Drive, 1pm-3pm.
The 2026/27 winter season domestic league forms are ready to complete at the club bar. If any assistance is needed, ask the steward on duty or contact David Nunney (internal league secretary).
The closing date is August 24.
