The highs and lows from the local bowls scene over last 12 months
It is that time of year again to have a look back at some of the highlights that the local bowls scene has enjoyed over the last 12 months.
Sadly the start of 2021 saw no indoor bowls around the area continue due to covid, in fact there was to be no indoor bowls locally. On a national stage, January saw the World Open Singles take place albeit behind closed door sat the Potters title went to England’ s Mark Dawes.
Dawes then teamed up with Jamie Chestney to land the Open Pairs title.
By the time March arrived thoughts turned to whether the outdoor season would go ahead after seeing several high profile competitions cancelled.
Sunderland & District lost a couple of clubs as Grindon Mill and Wearmouth both resigned from the leagues but it was not all doom and gloom as it was confirmed the 2021 outdoor season would start albeit the leagues would be delayed a few weeks.
May saw Bowls England hold it’s ‘Big Weekend’ offering clubs the opportunity to promote the sport and attract new members. After just under 600 days since the last outdoor league game took place, there was a sigh of relief as the Sunderland & District vets Harold Howey leagues got the season underway.
There was also a bit of history as the Wrong bias live streamed a Bowls Durham County Singles tie where Usworth’s Brian Poulter beat and Silksworth Pumas’ Jaxon McKenna.
June saw disappointment for the Durham County men’s B al combe Double Fours squad as they crashed out in the first round at the hands of Yorkshire.
David Bolt steered his quartet from a 12-4 deficit to beat Gary Bunce 24-15, however, Darlington’s Barry Hopkins found Yorkshire’s talisman Mark Walton too hot to handle as Walton romped to a 26-8 win. 90-year-old George Brown has been a rock solid member of the Silksworth club and one of the clubs longest current serving members. The club showed its appreciation of Brown’s long serving devotion to the club by making him a life member.
In the battle of the Storey Bowl top two, it was Seaham Town who came out on top beating Hetton Workmen’s 6-1 and there was some good news for the region as Darlington South Park won the Bowls England story of the year award.
A first women’s County Singles title for Dairy Lane’s Susan Forster still proved to be elusive. In the semi-finals at Ashbrooke, Forster went down 21-10 to the former two time County champion, Consett Park’s Teresa Pearson.
The Durham County Middleton Cup tie against Lancashire at York RI also fell foul to Covid which resulted in the Lancastrians having to concede the tie.
The County Women’ s Walker Cup hopes were dashed at the regional finals day, following a semi-final three-sho twin over Lancashire the Durham squad were over powered in the final by a strong Lincolnshire outfit.
Dairy Lane’s Joan Rodgerson was well beaten 29-7 by England star Amy Gowshall while club-mate Norma Stephenson managed a narrow two-shot win against another England star Annie Dunham.
The SWBA held the latter stages of the annual Marjorie Marshall triples at Barnes Park.
A packed gallery watched on as Whitburn’s Joan Wilson, Maureen Smith and Vicky Hap per defeated the Silks worth trio of Maureen Hall, Karen Sinclair and Norma Stephenson.
July saw Sunderland & District title saw holders Silksworth Pumas retain their 3-2-1 Knockout Triples with an eight-shot win over Sea ham Town at Roker Park.
In the women’ s County finals, the Dairy Lane trio ofSusan Forster, G lyn is Morgan and Joan Rodgers on were beaten in the final 13-12 by Durham City’s Joyce Woodward, while Sunderland’s Sue Almond landed the Senior Four title, beating Dairy Lane’s Norma Stephenson 15-5.
In the men’s County finals, the Pumas’ David Bolt landed his fifth career County Singles title beating Dipton’s Michael English 21-6, this made up for a defeat in the F ours final for Bolt against Jar row West End’ s Alan Jobling 14-10.
A second County title went to the Pumas as Josh Halcrow secured the Under-25s singles title, Halcrow beat Spennymoor’s Matthew Gleeson 21-8, meanwhile the rampant Jar row West End club landed four county titles over the weekend.
August saw Hylton Colliery Welfare land the Grindon League Tommy Thompson Double Fours beating South Hylton 35-24 in the final.
The Sunderland Women’s League title went to Silks worth and Barnes Parks’ Brenda For rest, Irene Whitfield and Val Bambrough landed the popular 3-2-1 Ann Hall triples.
Houghton Dairy Lane secured the Swan Cup and then completed a double by landing the Earl Cup as well, Seaham Town were invincible and retained the Storey Bowl.
The Pumas Scott Baker, Paul Baker and Gary Farquhar won the Burkett Shield beating North Bid dick’ s Billy Pig gott1811 in the final, the Baker s then completed a double as they landed the Silver Jacks.
The delayed Bowls England National Championships took place at Leamington Spa and it was a good two weeks for the region.
In the Men’ s Singles, the Pu mas’ David Bolt produced some stunning bowls to reach the final only to miss out against Devon’s Sam Tolchard 21-10, Tolchard went on to land the Two Bowl title as well.
The Dunston quartet of Brett Arkley, Tony Humphries, Alex Bryden and Alan Theobald landed the National Senior Four s title beating Notts in the final.
As the season entered September, the last league title – the Harold Howey – went to holders Barnes Park for a third consecutive season and there was heartache for Usworth in the Grindon League title race as Dairy Lane pipped them to the title on shots difference.
The remaining Champion of Champions titles went to Us w or th’ s David Simpson and the Viper’s Billy Ferry.
October saw a welcome return to indoor bowls as the long awaitedEIBA2019-20National Championships were held at Nottingham.
There was plenty of national success, in the Under25s Double Four, the Durham young guns beat Somerset 4424 in the final to seal only a second title for the county.
Hopes of a 12 Liberty Trophy success were dashed as Durham lost 128-122 to Devon.
In the Women’s Singles, Hartlepool’s Lauren Mosley was magnificent in the final beating Desborough’s Ellen Falkner 21-13. Another nationaltitle came north this time the women’s Over-60s pairs as the Vipers Jackie Stewart Tallack and Maureen Charles came from behind to beat Dorchester’s Margaret Cullip 19-15.
The delayed Inter County Club relegation battle saw Houghton save themselves from the drop with a win over Durham, there was however disappointment for the Houghton Sancroft seniors as they were beaten in the delayed 2019/20 play off quarter finals at Hartlepool 4-1.
The delayed County Champion of Champions finals belonged to Stanley’ s Brett Ark ley, the Stanley star sealed wins in the Singles, Triples and Fours.
In the Seniors County Champion of Champions, the delayed 2019-20 Triples went to Hough ton’ s Peter Thomson, Mal Baker and Frankie Froud, the Viper s Michael Bry ne, BobbyGraham, Eb by Dent and Billy Ferry landed the Fours title.
November saw the PBA’s qualifying event take place at Stanley and again it was live streamed by the Wrongbias Podcast. The Vipers’ David Bolt put together a string of wins to secure the final golden ticket into the 2022 World Open Singles at Potters in January.
As 2021 comes to an end, the Vipers are still battling in the Denny Cup and face Hartlepool in the last 16 early January and the Shields women are still in the Yetton Plate.
Sadly, it appears the year will end like it started with the year will end with concerns over Covid once again, but hopefully there will be no break in the season.