Spalding Indoor Bowls Club star Chelsea Tomlin finished as runner-up at the World Indoor Bowls Council under-25 Championships in Glasgow last week.
Tomlin qualified for the Glasgow event – which consisted of singles and mixed pairs – as last season’s national under-25 singles runner-up.
In the mixed pairs, Tomlin partnered with last season’s men’s national under-25 singles champion Jamie Barker (St Neots).
However, their mixed pairs campaign ended with disappointment as they lost on a tie break to eventual champions Yau Adrian Tze-Fung and Leung Seen Wah Chilli (Hong Kong) 1-6, 9-1, 0-1 at the quarter-final stage.
However, Tomlin fared much better in the singles, which started in the group stages.
In her first group game, Tomlin won through a close game with Chiara Palmer (Wales) 7-6, 8-7.
The Spalding ace followed that with two comfortable straight sets wins against Catherine Snell (Guernsey) 9-2, 8-2 and Tsoi Cheuk Yi Cherry (Hong Kong) 11-1, 10-3.
This put Tomlin in an extremely strong position, knowing that as long as she kept the score close against Carla Banks from Scotland, she would be through to the semi-finals.
Tomlin didn’t settle for playing it safe, however, and beat Banks on a tie break, 4-5, 9-1, 1-0, and with four wins from four, topped the group ahead of Palmer.
The semi-final saw Tomlin face Scotland’s Emma McIntyre. In control and on top form throughout, she secured a comfortable straight sets victory (11-6, 10-5) to set-up a mouth-watering all-England final with national two-bowl singles champion Nicole Rogers (Devon).
Tomlin found herself in control of both sets in the final, but Rogers fought back well on each occasion to win 9-8, 8-6.
Far from being downbeat, Tomlin said: “I am extremely proud of my achievements this week and will cherish the memories made.”
- Spalding IBC’s over-60s women continued their Mason campaign with a comfortable 46-30 win against Stamford B.
The home rink, skipped by Gloria Haney, with Ann Newberry, Judy Jackson and Sylvia Wade, won comfortably 25-12. The away rink, skipped by Julie Hicks, with Freda Lyon, Maisie Belding and Betty Deaton, won 21-18.
- Spalding IBC’s over-60s team were edged out in their fifth game of the season at home to Louth.
Spalding started slowly and after five ends, although winning on three of the five rinks, were four shots adrift.
They battled back to go nine shots up at the halfway stage, but in the second half two of Spalding’s winning rinks each dropped six shots on one end. That proved to be the turning point as Louth went on to win by just nine shots, despite only winning on two rinks.
The final result was 12-6 in Louth’s favour and 98-89 on aggregate. Captain for the day was David Lunn, assisted by Chris Stagles.
The top winning rink was skipped by David Lunn, with Peter Lane, Mike Taylor and Derek Overton.
- Six of Spalding IBC’s junior bowlers played in the Potters Leisure Resort under-17 triples tournament.
Although neither of the sets got through to the semi-final stage, they all did themselves proud.
To cap off the experience, they got to meet England international and world number one Greg Harlow.
- Saturday saw Spalding IBC’s men and women play in the fourth round of the Denny Cup and Yetton Trophy respectively.
The men played Skegness in a game where they were always going to be favourites, and the score proved that to be the case as they ran out winners by 27 shots (96-69) to reach the last 16 of the national competition.
The damage was done by the two home sets, especially the rink skipped by Graham Smith, with Stephen Harris, Steve Hill and Calvin Leuty, who won 35-15.
Spalding’s women, on the other hand, found it tough going against a strong side from Barwell, who were in control throughout.
In the end, Barwell won a top quality and close match 72-67 to reach the last 16.
