Spalding’s Royal Mail Cart enjoyed success in the final week of the Bowls England National Championship.
The Bowls Lincolnshire mixed over 60 inter-county championship team took to the greens at Royal Leamington Spa last Thursday in their national semi final against Bowls Sussex and won by 15 shots (104-89) to qualify for the national final later the same day versus the eventual other semi final winners Bowls Devon.
Rink scores (RMC players unless mentioned): Paul Dent, Tracy Dent (both from Cleethorpes BC), Lin Mountain (Dunholme St Giles BC) and Kevin Lewis (Branston BC) won 22-10 (top rink); Glenys Bolt, Anne Burchell (both from Cleethorpes BC), Phil Cooke and Martin Simpson won 21-10; Cheryl Hanslip (Blossom Way BC), Caroline Cullum (Cleethorpes BC), Chris Hanslip (Blossom Way BC) and Dave Cullum (Cleethorpes BC) won 18-17; Mary Johnson, Maria Clarke, Keith Jackman and Mick Thompson (all from Moorlands Railway BC) drew 17-17; Barbara Heath (Dunholme St Giles BC), Sharon Day (Cleethorpes BC), Rod West (Boston BC) and Ian Walker (Dunholme St Giles BC) lost 14-16; Pat Reynolds (Cleethorpes BC), Lesley Holmes (Dunholme St Giles BC), Andrew Bird and
Trevor Cope (both from Sleaford Town BC) lost 12-19.
In the final, the side managed the match very well and picked up the title for the first time by 11 shots (100-89) with most of the Lincolnshire players picking up their inaugural national title.
RMC players Cooke and Simpson won both of their games on the finals day.
Rink scores (RMC players unless mentioned): Glenys Bolt, Anne Burchell (both from Cleethorpes BC), Phil Cooke and Martin Simpson won 19-10 (top rink); Cheryl Hanslip (Blossom Way BC), Caroline Cullum (Cleethorpes BC), Chris Hanslip (Blossom Way BC) and Dave Cullum (Cleethorpes BC) won 18-10; Mary Johnson, Maria Clarke, Keith Jackman and Mick Thompson (all from Moorlands Railway BC) won 20-15; Paul Dent, Tracy Dent (both from Cleethorpes BC), Lin Mountain (Dunholme St Giles BC) and Kevin Lewis (Branston BC) lost 13-14; Pat Reynolds (Cleethorpes BC), Lesley Holmes (Dunholme St Giles BC), Andrew Bird and Trevor Cope (both from Sleaford Town BC) lost 18-20; Barbara Heath (Dunholme St Giles BC), Sharon Day (Cleethorpes BC), Rod West (Boston BC) and Ian Walker (Dunholme St Giles BC) lost 12-20.
Following on from the over 60s success, the Bowls England National Championships concluded last Sunday with the men’s county Middleton Cup competition, and the Bowls Lincolnshire team were looking for their second triumph in four seasons after winning this in 2023 and being the runners-up last year in 2025.
The semi final was against the host county Bowls Warwickshire and they won a close match by ten shots (101-91) to qualify for the national final in the afternoon versus the other semi winners in Bowls Buckinghamshire.
Rink Scores (RMC players unless mentioned): Steve Hill, Gareth Bland (Cleethorpes BC), Lee Boucher (Horncastle BC) and Dominic McVittie won 18-11 (top rink); Dave Cullum (Cleethorpes BC), Chris Mycock, Alan Dent Jr (Cleethorpes BC) and Martin Spencer won 15-10; Dave Ellis (Shires BC), Russell Dent (Cleethorpes BC), Paul Roberts (Burton House BC) and Colin Barks (Dunholme St Giles BC) won 20-16; Chris Hanslip (Blossom Way BC), Darren Trapmore (Horncastle BC), Matt Whyers (Burton House BC) and Jordan Philpott won 21-18; Dan Mills, Kevin Ekins, Dion Auckland and Mathew Orrey (those 2 from Grantham BC) lost 15-17; Andrew Bird (Sleaford Town BC), Mick Thompson (Moorlands Railway BC), Stephen Harris (Blackstones BC) and Ashley Caress lost 12-19.
In the final, the team found themselves behind for most of the match but at approximately the 14/15 end mark, the side lifted their games and in a superb turnaround won the title again by 20 shots (104-84).
This was the fourth time in the county’s history the have won this competition after success in 1976, 1996 and 2023.
The club had eight players (Ashley Caress, Kevin Ekins, Steve Hill, Dominic McVittie, Dan Mills, Chris Mycock, Jordan Philpott and the captain / manager, Martin Spencer) in the team.
Rink scores (RMC players unless mentioned): Dan Mills, Kevin Ekins, Dion Auckland and Mathew Orrey (those 2 from Grantham BC) won 25-9 (top rink); Dave Ellis (Shires BC), Russell Dent (Cleethorpes BC), Paul Roberts (Burton House BC) and Colin Barks (Dunholme St Giles BC) won 24-14; Steve Hill, Gareth Bland (Cleethorpes BC), Lee Boucher (Horncastle BC) and Dominic McVittie won 18-12; Chris Hanslip (Blossom Way BC), Darren Trapmore (Horncastle BC), Matt Whyers (Burton House BC) & Jordan Philpott won 15-13; Dave Cullum (Cleethorpes BC), Chris Mycock, Alan Dent Jr (Cleethorpes BC) & Martin Spencer lost 15-16; Andrew Bird (Sleaford Town BC), Mick Thompson (Moorlands Railway BC), Stephen Harris (Blackstones BC) & Ashley Caress lost 7-20.
