The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
National titles for Ketton pair and a brother and sister team
Northants bowlers claimed two national titles at the English Bowling Federation championships held at Skegness.
Ketton pair Shirley Suffling and Chris Ford swept to success in the senior pairs, with victories over North Essex (2713), Notts (24-11) and Northumberland 19-10 in the final.
Blackstones’ brother and sister pairing Stephen and Louise Harris lifted the under 25 open pairs trophy following victories against North Cambs (22-8), Humberside (20-15) and Suffolk 20-8 in the final.
It was a fitting climax to Stephen’s final season in this age group as he claimed the title for the second time, having won it with Darren Middleton in 2016. Louise also reached the semi-finals of the under 25 singles.
Northants narrowly missed out on a third title when Jane Needham and Martyn Dolby (Blackstones) were beaten 19-14 in the final of the mixed pairs by Derbyshire, having defeated Northum
berland (19-10), Norfolk (2014) and Lincs (17-8) en route to the decider.
Yaxley duo Robert Heath and Tony Belson were pipped 19-18 by North Essex in the semi-finals of the senior pairs and the Parkway trio of Paul Dalliday, Michelle Coleman and James Harford also missed out on a final spot after losing 18-14 to Durham in the semi-finals.
Only five other representatives from the county made it through their opening round matches – Roger
Stevens (Whittlesey Manor) in the two-bowl singles; Martyn Dolby, John Earl and Adam Warrington (Blackstones) in the two-bowl triples; Linda Starbuck, Moira and Helen Holroyd (Stamford) in the three-bowl triples; Sophie Morton and Merisha McKernan (Parkway) in the pairs and Wendy Stevens (Whittlesey Manor) in the senior singles.
ENGLAND NATIONALS
Hunts youngsters Rebecca Moorbey and Chloe Brett have won the Bowls England junior
women’s pairs title at Leamington. The Parkway pair defeated a Devon duo 18-14 in the final, having beaten Surrey (30-3), Somerset (17-15) and Northants (20-9).
Hunts narrowly missed out on reaching two other finals during the opening 11 days of the championships.
The Parkway rink of Rebecca Moorbey, Brett, Jean Baker and Catherine Popple were beaten 14-7 by Hertfordshire in the semi-finals of the fours.
Brett also reached the quarter-finals of the junior singles and the second round of the Open singles.
Parkway’s Brett, Baker and Popple lost their opening round match in the triples.
In the men’s events Tristan Morton (Parkway) lost in the opening round of the singles, while E an Morton, Simon Law, Stuart Popple and Tristan Morton (Parkway) went out in the opening round of the fours.
Toby Furzeland and Matt Nickerson (Sawtry) lost in the opening round of the junior pairs.