In another very busy week of national area qualifying finals played at both Horncastle IBC and Sleaford IBC, Spalding Lightning were represented in four matches.
Firstly, the men’s pairs area qualifier on Tuesday, February 24 saw Jordan Philpott and Dominic McVittie play against Jake Johnson and Kevin Rands (Lincoln) which ended being a comprehensive win, by 21 shots to four.
This sees them through to the national finals at Nottingham IBC (from the last 16 stage onwards) to be played on Sunday and Monday, April 12 and 13.
Secondly, the ladies’ pairs area qualifier last Wednesday night featured Ruby Philpott and Chelsea Spencer versus Amanda Forty and Olive Wells (Horncastle) and again it saw a very comfortable win by 15 shots to four.
This sees the 2017-18 national champions through to this season’s national finals and another attempt to regain the crown from eight years ago.
Thirdly, the men’s singles area qualifier played last Friday night was between McVittie and James Staples (Lincoln).
Again, the 2023/24 national champion was in fine form and won 21-7 which sees him through to the national finals on Wednesday and Thursday, April 1 and 2 to try and win this title again.
Lastly, the ladies’ triples area qualifier last Friday night featured Philpott and Spencer once more, this time with Annie Dunham participating against Jayne Taplin, Forty and Wells (Horncastle).
In the end, another victory was secured by 23 shots to 11 and the two-time national champions (from the 2019-20 and 2023-24 seasons) go through to the national finals on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 7 and 8 to aim for a third success in this competition.
- After losing their last fixture away, the Spalding Lightning men’s county league team were looking to get back to a winning formula and still compete at the top of the table in their division one match at home versus Boston IBC A last Saturday.
Subsequently, the victory was obtained by 91 shots to 70 and they gained 12 points from the maximum 14 available.
The team won on three out of the four rinks with the top winning rink skipped by Brian Martin.
This leaves the team just one point behind Lincoln in the league table, but they do have a game in hand with only two matches to go.
Their next match is away against the same opposition, on Sunday, March 15.
Rink scores: Ben Sharp, Ian Stafford, Graham Hicks and Brian Martin won 25-16; Tony Westland, Gavin Staite, Anthony Cronin and Martin Simpson won 21-13; Nathan Puttrell, Robin Roffe, Ian Harwood and James Teesdale won 26-21; Eric Wakefield, Max Butters, Aidan Brickles and Calvin Leuty lost 19-20.
*The Spalding Lightning men’s over 60s team were still fighting for every point and wanting to stave off relegation this season after only one win in eight previous matches, and last Thursday saw a home match against top of the table Lincoln IBC A to contend with.
However, in their best performance of the campaign, they managed to win by 76 shots to 50 and gained 12 points from the maximum 14 available.
The team won on three out of the four rinks with two of the winning rinks succeeding by 12 shots each skipped by Terry Windsor (23-11) and Gavin Staite (22-10).
Their next match is away against Stamford IBC on Wednesday, March 11.
Rink scores: Eric Wakefield, Mel Easy, Paul Turner and Terry Windsor won 23-11; Mike Taylor, David Amess, Robin Roffe and Gavin Staite won 22-10; Ian Stafford, Martin Holmes, Cliff Lattimer and Graham Hicks won 19-12; Mick Dolton, Chris Judd, Rob West and Ian Harwood lost 12-17.
- The Spalding Lightning friendly team went back on the road last Sunday afternoon with a small trip to Boston IBC, enjoying a game of six rinks of 18 end triples and although the match was fought in good spirits, the home team secured the overall victory by 98 shots to 84.
The team won on two rinks and lost on four rinks played with the top winning rink skipped by Cliff Lattimer, ably assisted by his grandson Elliott Lattimer and Dave Green who won 26-13.
The next friendly is against Terrington St Clements BC on Sunday (March 8).
- Congratulations to the national under 18 inter-county Lincolnshire Bears team last Saturday who got a final win of their campaign beating Nottinghamshire overall by 44 shots to 26.
Leading in one rink at Boston IBC, Spalding’s Jessica Butters was successful with Charlie Nichols and Jack Hoyles (both from Boston IBC) who won 25-7, and the other rink playing away at Erewash IBC of Jess Hall (from Lincoln IBC), Freddie Hoyles and Freddie Knapp (both from Boston IBC) drew 19-19.
The Bears have finished second in their area league table only behind Lincolnshire Tigers who had already qualified to the national semi finals taking place at Nottingham IBC on Sunday, March 29.
- Congratulations to the Lincolnshire men’s county Liberty Trophy team, winning their national quarter final by 20 shots (115-95) versus Cumbria CIBA played at Hartlepool IBC last Saturday.
The players representing Lincolnshire from Spalding were Kevin Ekins, Stephen Harris, McVittie, Dan Mills, Mathew Orrey, Philpott, Martin Spencer and the captain/manager Graham Smith.
The next match will be in the national semi final versus Northamptonshire CIBA being held at a neutral venue on Saturday, March 21.
Congratulations also to the Lincolnshire ladies’ county Atherley Trophy team, winning their national quarter final by 37 shots (129-92) versus Yorkshire WIBA played at Selby IBC last Saturday.
The players representing Lincolnshire from Spalding were Dunham, Louise Harris, Karen Martin, Philpott and Spencer.
The next match will be in the national semi final versus Norfolk WIBA being held at a neutral venue on Saturday March, 21.
- Commiserations to the Lincolnshire open under 25 inter-county double rink team, losing their national quarter final by 21 shots (29-50) versus Suffolk CIBA with both rinks being played at Huntingdon IBC last Sunday.
The players representing Lincolnshire from Spalding were Owen Aspinall, Aidan Brickles, Max Butters, Nathan Puttrell and Danielle Wild.
- The Lincolnshire IBA men’s and mixed county semi finals take place next Sunday at Lincoln IBC, and feature the following Spalding Lightning representation in these matches:
Men’s singles – Harris and McVittie
Men’s pairs – Philpott and McVittie
Men’s triples – Smith, Simon Lilley and Philpott and Spencer, Orrey and McVittie
Men’s fours – Smith, Ekins, Lilley and Philpott and Harris, Spencer, Orrey and McVittie
Open set singles – Philpott
Mixed pairs – Julie Hicks and McVittie
Open under 15 singles – Jessica Butters
Open under 18 triples – Jessica Butters and Brickles (with Knapp) and Oscar Butters (with Kelsie Fox & Charlie Nicholls)
The winners of these, alongside other competitions, will go forward to the county finals (with the Lincolnshire ladies’ IBA finalists) being played on Sunday, April 26 at Sleaford IBC.
- Commiserations to the Lincolnshire CIBA over 55s seniors’ Midland Counties team, losing out in their fourth and final match of the season 130-78 and not gaining any match points versus Northamptonshire CIBA at Northampton IBC last Thursday.
The players representing Lincolnshire from Spalding were three players making up one of the six rinks being Tony Westland, David Nunney and Martin Simpson alongside Cliff Collin from Boston IBC (who unfortunately lost 24-13 on their rink).
This concludes their matches in this competition.
- Finally, the club at Long Sutton is hosting a ‘race afternoon’ for all members and non-members on Saturday March 28, from 2pm with adult ticket prices £3 in advance (under 18s free) available from the club bar.
There will be food during the course of the afternoon in addition to cash prizes for the winners of each race.
Horses can be bought for £5 each.
For more information contact the club on 07517 189149 or via the Facebook page.
