Spalding Indoor Bowls Club’s star quartet Ruby Hill, Chelsea Tomlin, Martin Spencer and Mathew Orrey have been crowned national mixed fours champions for the second time in three years.
The fantastic four lifted the winner’s trophy and picked up a cheque for £1,000 after seeing off a strong field at Hartlepool IBC on Friday and Saturday.
On a weekend when a number of former and current internationals were in action, the Spalding quartet faced a tough opener in the last 16 against last season’s semi-finalists from Worthing Pavilion.
Hill, Tomlin, Spencer and Orrey made a dream start to their campaign as they raced into a 17-4 lead before Worthing fought back to 17-15 after 15 ends.
Spalding finished strongly, though, to secure a 21-15 win and a place in the quarter-final against a Clarrie Dunbar side skipped by former Commonwealth Games medallist Graham Shadwell.
Despite some exceptional bowls from Shadwell, the young Spalding team showed their class and were in control throughout before they won comfortably 17-7.
The next day saw Spalding play a set from Westlecot IBC (Swindon) which was nearly a full family rink as the set was skipped by Neil Smith with his two daughters, Lucy and Katy at the front end.
Westlecot started well and were 11-7 up at ten ends as the Spalding four struggled to get a foothold into the match.
Spalding refused to lay down and soon turned the match on its head before securing a 17-13 semi-final win.
In the final, they were up against a strong rink from Blackpool Newton Hall (Sue Kearsley, Janice Gower, Ian Mayne and Dominic McVittie).
The final started with five singles in the first five ends, which saw Blackpool lead 4-1 – and there was nothing to suggest that it would be a one-sided affair.
Spalding had other ideas and the next end saw Orrey take a bowl out to make three shots to level the match at 4-4 after six ends and after that, the four Spalding bowlers never looked back.
With some exceptional leading from Hill, the Blackpool quartet were soon on the back foot, especially as Tomlin, Spencer and Orrey were also on top form.
Spalding collected four shots on the 11th end to open up a 13-6 lead, which was extended to 19-7 when Blackpool conceded after 16 ends.
- Last Thursday saw Spalding IBC’s over-60s team travel to Horncastle for their final away fixture of the season.
After Spalding secured all 18 points available on home turf, they knew it wasn’t going to be so easy on this occasion. Horncastle started strongly as Spalding struggled to adapt to the away green. However, the true Spalding spirit started to show as they soon reduced the deficit to only 12 shots by the half way stage.
This trend continued and, with five ends to play, there was ten shots in the match, albeit in Horncastle’s favour.
The match was level with two rinks left to complete their last end.
Maurice Elding played a slightly weighted shot to collect a single and put Spalding one in front and as everyone moved their way across to watch the last rink on the green, Pat Filbrook drew in with absolute precision to gain the points needed for Graham Hicks’ team to keep Spalding in the running for top spot.
Spalding’s next over-60s game will be away at Lincoln on March 19.
Captain for the day was Ken Challans, ably assisted by Tony Westland.
- Sunday saw Spalding IBC’s friendly bowlers have the pleasure of welcoming a friendly team from Newark.
Even though Spalding have only played against this team on two previous occasions, it was a bit like a meeting of old friends such were the greetings.
The game itself was played as triples over 18 ends and one could not have wished for a more friendly or closely contested event.
The home team often take an early advantage, however this was not the case on this occasion as Newark were 26-21 ahead after five ends.
Newark still had their noses in front by ten ends, albeit only by two shots (48-46). Spalding persevered and finished strongly before winning by five shots (94-89).
They won on three rinks, drew on one and lost the other two, with their top winning rink skipped by Tony Westland, with Janet Earth and Ivy Tyler.
Captain for the day was Roger Perkins, who was pleased to announce that Newark would like two games again next season.
