Spalding Lightning’s mixed top club team commenced their campaign to win another indoor national team title last Sunday, by collecting 14 of the 16 points available from the first round match at Stamford IBC.
The singles matches saw Karen Martin and Graham Smith representing Lightning and although things did not go in Karen’s favour in a 21-9 loss, Graham recovered from 15-6 down to win 21-20 with both teams sharing the four points on offer.
In the pairs and triples games, Spalding were never in trouble and they were convincing victors and the fours tie won on the last end by Jordan Philpott bowling two superb deliveries to get the match tally well past the winning lin.
It marked a strong start in the team’s bid for a fourth national win in this competition after emerging victorious in 2015, 2020 and 2024. The second round match is again away, this time at Dunholme IBC on Sunday, November 8.
Rink Scores: Ladies Singles – Karen Martin lost 9-21; Mens Singles – Graham Smith won 21-20; Pairs – Jean Patterson & Dominic McVittie won 34-8; Triples – Ruby Philpott, Martin Spencer & Mathew Orrey won 28-9; Fours – Danielle Wild, Julie Hicks, Stephen Harris & Jordan Philpott won 18-16.
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After winning their opening fixture last weekend, the Spalding Lightning friendly side played in their second match , another home tie on this occasion against the Lincs VPs last Sunday afternoon.
The game was played over 18 ends of triples, with the halfway score at nine ends seeing a seven shot lead for Lightning; however the opposition turned this around in the second half and emerged the overall victors by four shots (65-61) at the finish.
The team won on two rinks and lost on two with the top winning rink skipped by Paul Turner, assisted by junior member Danny Griggs & Sue Slayven who won 19-8. The next scheduled friendly should again be at home versus Grantham IBC on Sunday, November 8.
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The Spalding Lightning mens county league team played their second game of their southern league season with a home tie against Boston IBC ‘B’ last Saturday and after success in their opening fixture last month, they were hopeful to maintain the winning momentum. However, the side lost out in a close match by 74 shots to 78 and only gained four points from the maximum 14 available.
The team won on two rinks and lost on two with the two victorious rinks both succeeding by seven shots. Ben Sharp, Robin Roffe, James Teesdale and Anthony Cronin won 27-20 while Eric Wakefield, new club member Neil Parnell, Ian Harwood and Calvin Leuty won 19-12. Their next scheduled match and chance to bounce back should be home to Boston IBC A on Saturday, November 7.
Rink Scores: Ben Sharp, Robin Roffe, James Teesdale & Anthony Cronin won 27-20; Eric Wakefield, Neil Parnell, Ian Harwood & Calvin Leuty won 19-12; Max Butters, Mark Partridge, Jonny Pearce & Brian Martin lost 13-22; Paul Turner, Cliff Lattimer, Graham Hicks & David Nunney lost 15-24.
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With one win and one defeat from their first two home league matches, Spalding Lightning mens over 60s team travelled away for the first time this season to Grantham IBC last Tuesday.
The green at this particular club can be a tricky surface to master due to it being very fast and although the team put up a great fight, the side lost by 68 shots to 83 and only gained four points from the maximum 14 available.
The team won two and lost two with the top winning rink skipped by Martin Simpson backed by new club member Mark Partridge, Martyn Stanley and Ian Stafford who won 28-16. Their next scheduled match should be again away against Stamford IBC on Wednesday, November 25.
Rink Scores: Mark Partridge, Martyn Stanley, Ian Stafford & Martin Simpson won 28-16; Tony Westland, Roger Billingsley, Cliff Lattimer & Anthony Cronin won 16-9; Mick Dolton, Derek Chamberlain, John Teesdale & David Nunney lost 16-27; Pete Bendell, Mike Taylor, David Murray & Robin Roffe lost 8-31.
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Congratulations to the Lincolnshire mens county Liberty Trophy team, winning the first round by 58 shots (114-56) versus Yorkshire CIBA at Grantham IBC last Saturday. The players representing Lincolnshire from Spalding were Owen Aspinall, Andy Dunham, Kevin Ekins, Stephen Harris, Dominic McVittie, Dan Mills, Jordan Philpott and Martin Spencer, with the non-playing captain of the side being Graham Smith. The next round is against Durham CIBA on Saturday, January 9, 2027 at a venue yet to be decided.
