Jordan Philpott is targeting future glory at the world under-25 singles championship after a sensational showing at Potters Leisure Resort over the weekend.
The Spalding Indoor Bowls Club star finished as runner-up at the Norfolk event, having lost 10-5, 8-6 against Scotland’s John Orr in the final.
It was a stellar showing from the 21-year-old, who was also named World Bowls Tour Young Player of the Year in the build-up to the event.
Philpott said: “John started well and didn’t give me much of an opportunity to get into the first set.
“I played well at the beginning of the second set but again, he picked up his game and got back in front.
“I was disappointed to not take the match to a tie-break but I had a few bad ends at the wrong time when I really needed to pick up multiple shots.
“I’m only 21 so hopefully I can qualify again and replace the runner-up trophy with the winner’s one sometime in the next few years.”
Philpott qualified for the event at Bromley earlier this season and secured his place in the semi-final where he was due to play defending champion Chloe Watson, from Ireland.
He stepped on to the green in the semi-final for his first experience of the portable rink in front of the television cameras, while Watson would have hoped that her experience would count for something.
This was certainly not the case, as Philpott showed his class from the off as he claimed the first set 13-3.
Watson played much better in the second set and wasn’t going to give up her title without a fight.
However, the Spalding ace proved far too strong and won the second set 7-3 as he secured his place in the final.
In the second semi-final of the day, Orr comfortably dispatched Dean Drummond (New Zealand).
That set up a high quality final, with the Scotsman starting and taking the first set 10-5.
Philpott started the second set much the better, but Orr battled back to win 8-6 and clinch the title for the first time.
- Spalding IBC’s Lauren Finbow and Ruby Hill played in the national under-25 singles finals at City of Ely Indoor Bowls Club over the weekend, having qualified to the last 16 earlier this season.
On the first day, there were mixed emotions for the girls in the last 16 as Finbow lost against Emily Kernick from Solihull 0.5-1.5 (8-8, 3-10) while Hill beat former national and British Isles under-25 singles champion Katy Smith, from Westlecot, 2-1 (5-13, 10-2, 2-0).
Hill’s quarter final opponent was Natalie Fox (Thanet). She started well and ran out a comfortable winner in straight sets, 2-0 (13-4, 8-4).
In the semi-final on the second day, Hill faced a tough test in fellow under-25 international Devon Cooper, from Riverain, who beat reigning champion and former women’s world champion Katherine Rednall in one of the qualifying rounds.
Hill started the better in the last four clash as she took the first set, but Cooper fought back to win the second set. She took that momentum into the tie break as Hill just fell short of a place in the final, losing out 2-1 (11-6, 4-9, 0-2).
Cooper went on to beat Nicole Rogers (Exonia) in the final to become national under-25 singles champion for the first time.
- Spalding IBC’s men enjoyed an impressive victory as they hosted Boston B in Division Two of the Lincolnshire League.
In a derby game where Spalding were in control throughout, they ran out comfortable winners and won on three out of the five rinks.
A dominant display, they ended up winning 104-83 on aggregate and 14-4 on points.
The top winning set was skipped by Martin Simpson, with Jonathan Field, Harry Mycock and Stuart Callaby, who won 31-8
Rink scores: Martin Simpson – won 31-8 John Needham – won 27-11; Maurice Elding – won 24-13; Don Churchman – lost 14-28; Graham Hicks – lost 8-23.
