Busy time for Lightning players

Spalding Lightning are through to the next round of the national u30 open
inter-club double rink after a 45-12 shot victory against Boston.
The home rink of Dan Mills, Owen Aspinall and Jordan Philpott at Long Sutton controlled their match from the outset and won 20-8, with the away rink of Danielle Wild, Ruby Philpott and Stephen Harris hit back from 4-3 down to win 25-4.
The next round is against South Shields Vipers on Saturday, December 12.
Spalding’s men’s county league team were beaten at home by reigning champions Boston A 73-54, gaining one drawn rink and one point from the 14 available, courtesy of David Nunney, with Tony Westland, Cliff Lattimer and Mark Partridge.
Lightning’s National Mixed Top Club team were at Dunholme and romped to a 16-0 second round success to book a tie at Boston on Sunday, December 6.
Rink scores – singles: Chelsea Spencer won 21-14, Graham Smith won 21-4. Pairs: Jean Patterson and Jordan Philpott won 20-18. Triples: Ruby Philpott, Martin Spencer and Mathew Orrey won 28-10. Fours: Danielle Wild, Julie Hicks, Andy Dunham and Stephen Harris won 18-14.
Lightning’s friendly side took on Grantham over 18 ends of fours, with the opposition winning a close match 68-64.
The team won on two rinks and lost on two rinks with the top winning rink skipped by Graham Fairbanks, assisted by John Rawding, junior member Danny Griggs and Sue Slayven who won 17-13. The next scheduled friendly is at Melton on Sunday, November 22.
Spalding ladies’ Trudy Bates team beat Grantham 88-40 to gain 13 points from the 14 available.
The team won on three rinks and drew on the other, with the top winning rink skipped by Betty Deaton, with Ann Newbury, Michelle Billingsley and Carole Nunney, who won 30-5.
Rink scores: Ann Newbury, Michelle Billingsley, Carole Nunney, Betty Deaton won 30-5; Jean Patterson, Jenny Wakefield, Mandy Parkins, Julie Hicks won 28-7; Sheila Chamberlain, Gill Haydon, June Taylor, Maisie Belding won 15-13; Judy Jackson, Sue Slayven, Trish Stafford, Maggie Wheatley drew 15-15.
After a bronze medal in the pairs event last year, Dominic McVittie is participating for the second successive year in the prestigious Hong Kong International Classic tournament over the next couple of weeks.
He is representing Bowls England in both the men’s singles and men’s pairs, alongside Ed Morris, with Emily Kernick and another player from last season in Sophie Tolchard in the ladies’ competitions.
They started on Saturday with the Classic Singles but McVittie, Kernick and Tolchard lost in the early stages but Morris won an individual bronze medal.
The Classic Pairs runs from Monday to Sunday in a round robin format for the early stages
Spalding’s Brian Martin, Martin Simpson and Nick Wilkie were in the Lincolnshire men’s over 60s inter county team that went down 121-120 on an extra end to Northamptonshire.
England international trials take place at Northampton at the end of the month with seven Spalding players in contention – senior men: Stephen Harris, Dominic McVittie and Jordan Philpott.
Senior ladies: Ruby Philpott and Chelsea Spencer (Annie Dunham is unavailable but will be considered for selection).
Under-25s – men: Owen Aspinall; ladies: Danielle Wild.