Last weekend, Spalding Lightning won the national mixed top club title for the third time in its history at the national championships at Nottingham IBC.
In the semi-final on Saturday, Lightning played Hartlepool in a match that was always destined to go down to the wire.
Lightning started the stronger of the two teams as they won both singles meaning they needed one win from the pairs, triples and fours plus the overall aggregate to win the match.
With Hartlepool up in the pairs and triples and Lightning up in the fours, the match had an exciting finish with the overall aggregate score as close a two shots towards the end.
With the pairs going to Hartlepool and the triples and fours playing their last end, Lightning were five shots ahead.
Lightning consolidated well by picking up a three in the triples and dropping a two in the fours to win the aggregate by six shots (84-78) and booked their place in the final where they would play a strong Swale team.
The final was another high quality match with Lightning fast out of the blocks with wins in both singles.
Although the ladies’ singles was close, which gave Swale a glimmer of hope, when Chelsea Spencer held her nerve to win 21-18, there was only ever likely to be one winner as when the singles were finished, Spalding Lightning were dominant in the fours, ahead in a close pairs match and narrowly behind in the triples.
Lightning ended up winning the final 14-2 on match points, winning on all disciplines apart from the triples.
Rink scores v Hartlepool
Ladies’ singles – Chelsea Spencer won 21-12; Men’s singles – Stephen Harris won 21-10; Pairs – Annie Dunham and Dominic McVittie lost 12-22; Triples – Jean Patterson, Graham Smith and Jordan Philpott lost 11-23; Fours – Ruby Hill, Louise Harris, Martin Spencer and Mathew Orrey won 19-11.
Rink scores v Swale
Ladies’ singles – Chelsea Spencer won 21-18; Men’s singles – Stephen Harris won 21-8; Pairs – Annie Dunham and Dominic McVittie won 16-12; Triples – Jean Patterson, Graham Smith and Jordan Philpott drew 15-15; Fours – Ruby Hill, Louise Harris, Martin Spencer and Mathew Orrey won 27-11
qOn March 24, Spalding’s Jack Wells and Ollie Jeapes were part of a successful Lincolnshire team who won the national under 18 double triples event, also held at the national championships at Nottingham IBC.
A strong start in the final saw Lincolnshire take control as they won comfortably 41- 24.
Wells and Jeapes were part of a rink who had a good win, 20-10.
qOn Sunday, Spalding Indoor Bowls Club enjoyed a friendly fixture against Grantham, who played well and beat Spalding 95-127.
This is the first time Spalding have lost a friendly match since November 2023.
Spalding’s top winning rink was skipped by Maisie Belding, with Jan Sinclair and Grace Schorah.
