Spalding Indoor Bowls Club’s Dominic McVittie has qualified for the WBT World Indoor Bowls Championships open singles at Potters Resort in Hopton-On-Sea for the first time in his bowls career.
A gruelling day saw McVittie start his six-game streak against Aaron Prowle to win in straight sets (10-5, 6-1) to face Daniel Richardson and again succeed in two sets (7-1, 6-2).
The third round saw him play against Jack Larter and win a tight game (4-4, 6-3) before a quarter final clash against home club player Ollie Sloan with McVittie winning once more over two sets (7-4, 8-1).
The semi final against Michael Bowley saw another straight sets victory (7-2, 8-3) and put him into the final versus Lloyd Sabatini.
After a comfortable first set success by eight shots to two, Sabatini came storming back to take the second (and for McVittie to lose his first set of the day) 10-2 and so the game moved into a three end tie break.
McVittie won 2-1 and qualified for a place at Potters in January.
He also took part in the summer national men’s singles final stages held at Melton & District IBC and after quarter final wins against David Young (Angel IBC) 21-2 and semi final success against Ryan Boots (Bristol IBC) 21-10, he faced Alex Walton (Riverain IBC) in the final. McVittie was in control of the match at 17-9 up; however Walton fought back to take the title 21-18.
qThe Spalding Lightning men’s county league team started their season with a home tie versus Grantham IBC in the newly reformed south division. They won 94 shots to 64, getting 12 points from 14 available.
The team won on three of the four rinks with the top winning rink skipped by Brian Martin, with Ben Sharp, Gavin Staite and new club member Jonny Pearce who won 23-9.
Scores: Ben Sharp, Gavin Staite, Jonny Pearce and Brian Martin won 23-9; Tony Westland, Mike Taylor, Ian Harwood and Kevin Ekins won 30-19; Paul Turner, Graham Hicks, Anthony Cronin and David Nunney won 25-19;
Mick Dolton, Robin Roffe, James Teesdale and Dan Mills lost 16-17.
- After a disappointing season last year, the Spalding Lightning men’s over 60s team (under new captaincy through Tony Westland) were looking to start well against a strong Lincoln IBC A side.
They saw a 96 shots to 59 success, gaining ten points from 14 available.
The team won on two rinks and lost on two rinks with the top winning rink skipped by Anthony Cronin, with Tony Westland, Roger Billingsley and Rob West who won 30-7.
Scores: Tony Westland, Roger Billingsley, Rob West and Anthony Cronin won 30-7; Mike Taylor, Dave Murray, Ian Harwood and David Nunney won 33-16; Eric Wakefield, Gavin Staite, Malcolm Easy and Paul Turner lost 15-16; Mick Dolton, Martyn Stanley, Derek Chamberlain and Ian Stafford lost 18-20.
- The Spalding Lightning mixed county league team started their season with a trip to Stamford IBC and suffered defeat on a quick surface by 65 shots to 74 and only gained one rink and two points from the 14 available.
The winning rink was skipped by Anthony Cronin, with Christine Williamson, June Taylor and Rob West who won 20-13.
Scores: Christine Williamson, June Taylor, Rob West and Anthony Cronin won 20-13; Ann Newbury, Cliff Lattimer, Maggie Wheatley and Graham Wright lost 19-20; George Deaton, Betty Deaton, Carole Nunney and David Nunney lost 13-19; Jenny Wakefield, Ben Sharp, Maisie Belding and James Teesdale lost 13-22.
- The club hosted a bowls taster session on behalf of the Spalding Round Table community group on September 28, with a Challenge Match held between them and the Spalding 41 Club.
With two winning rinks each, a bowls spider decided the victors and following this, the 41 Club was closest and took home the prestigious Kettle Trophy.
- There is a new bowls ‘drive’ league starting in October at the Long Sutton club on Tuesdays 1pm-3pm, and in need of players of all abilities to take part.
Anyone who’s interested should contact the club on 07517 189149.
