Spalding Indoor Bowls Club’s mixed top club team made a winning start to their campaign away at Charnwood IBC in Loughborough.
The competition is played in a format of men’s singles, ladies’ singles, mixed pairs, mixed triples and mixed fours, with two points available for singles and four points available for every other discipline – meaning that there was a total of 16 points up for grabs.
Spalding are looking to win the national competition for the second time after claiming the title back in 2015.
The first points on the board were scored by Spalding’s Stephen Harris, who won in the men’s singles 21-17.
However, the scores were soon level as Charnwood secured the ladies’ singles against Chelsea Tomlin 21-16.
With Spalding’s Ruby Hill and Matt Whyers always in control in the mixed pairs, eventually winning 26-9, Spalding needed only a draw out of the mixed triples or mixed fours.
Unfortunately, Lauren Finbow, Danielle Wild, Kevin Ekins and captain Graham Smith, went down 17-13 in the mixed fours meaning that the tie went down to the wire and the focus on the mixed triples.
There, Spalding’s Andy Dunham, Annie Dunham and Martin Spencer went into the final end 16-14 ahead and held their nerve to collect two shots, win the discipline 18-14 and the clinch the overall match 10-6.
The fixture saw Spalding play in their new shorts and trousers, which are sponsored by Bridgestone Tyres and provided by Henselite Bowls.
They are currently the only club in the country to have their own shorts and trousers design.
p Spalding IBCs mixed county league team had a great start to the season, beating Lincoln A at home on all rinks.
Spalding were in control throughout, mainly due to their top winning rink which was skipped by Maurice Elding, with Maggie Wheatley, Freda Huggins and Anthony Cronin, who won 27-10.
- Spalding IBC were beaten in their first game in the county over-60s league away at Boston.
From the start, Boston gained the initiative and after seven ends, were already 40 shots ahead.
Spalding did fight back slightly but had to accept they were second best on the day.
The visitors did have one winning rink, which was skipped by Graham Wright, with Derek Overton, Alan Browne and Pete Bendell, but the points went in Boston’s favour (16-2).
Spalding’s captain for the day was Ken Challans.
- Spalding IBC’s friendly team launched an impressive comeback to win 99-88 at Sleaford in their third game of the season.
Spalding looked to have little chance of coming away with a win after the first five ends as the home team surged ahead.
However, they gradually reduced the deficit and, by the 15th end, managed to gain the advantage by a narrow margin and closed out an 11-shot win.
The top winning rink was skipped by Pete Ridley, with Edna Perkins, Hazel Tokley and Ab Belding, who won 18-9. The captains for the day were Maisie Belding and Jan Sinclair.
