Four of Spalding Indoor Bowls Club’s players have been selected to represent England in their respective International Series squads following successful trials in recent weeks.
In the under-25s, Chelsea Tomlin has regained her place in the team and will play number three, with captain Zoe Eagles from York as the skip and Wellingborough’s Chloe Wordingham and Emma Felce from St Neots.
The series is being held at Erewash IBC on February 7 and 8.
Tomlin has also qualified for the national under-25 singles after a day’s play at the Ely club and will travel to the White Oak Bowls Club on January 24 and 25.
Annie Dunham has been selected for the ladies’ senior team and will travel to the Stanley IBC for the series between March 6-8. She will play number three, with Lauren Copeland, Stephanie Branfield and skip Ellen Faulkner.
Also selected are Graham Smith and Matt Whyers, who will play at the Stanley club between March 12-14 and have been selected as lead and number two in the same rink, with Perry Martin and Robert Paxton. Smith has retained his place, while this will be Whyers’ first series.
- Spalding IBC are through to the last 16 of the Denny Cup national Inter-club knockout competition after a hard fought victory over Barwell.
The match was played on a two rinks at home and two away basis, with Barwell proving a difficult challenge.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Spalding were a player short at Barwell, so one rink lost 25 per cent of their shots.
Spalding started slowly and found themselves four shots down after five ends.
It was then that the Spalding side started to show their quality – and they moved 11 up at the halfway stage, stretching the lead to 22 after 15 ends. From there, Spalding closed out the match comfortably to win 87.25-73 and book their place in the last 16, where they face Cumbria on January 17.
Rink scores: Home – David Staples, Maurice Elding, Ben Wilson & Graham Smith 25-10 versus Pete Hobbs; Bob Davis, Kevin Ekins, Ash Caress & Paul Simpson 25-15 versus Joe Dawson.
Away – Jordan Philpott, Martin Simpson & Martin Spencer 20.25-25 versus Martin Allinson; Matt Dawson, John Needham, Andy Dawson & Matt Whyers 17-23 versus Stuart Thomas.
- Graham Smith and Rebecca Simpson have both qualified for the final stages of their respective national Champion of Champion singles finals.
They’ll be held at Warners Leisure resort in Hampshire on the weekend of January 30.
