Local teams looking to start with victories

Both our local bowls teams will be looking to make winning starts to their respective indoor Top Ten campaigns today.

Houghton have a tough trip to Darlington while South Shields make their competition debut away at Ferryhill.

Houghton line-up. Singles – P.Thomson. Pairs – J.Sutherland, J.McAdoo. Triples – G.McPheators, TW.Todd, AJ.Dunn. Fours – A.Grimes, S.Tindale, R.Mckie, D.Oram.

South Shields line-up: Singles – I.McIntosh. Pairs – M.Carr, G.Farquhar. Triples – K.Thompson, M.Baker, K.Taylor. Fours – G.Brass, T.Halcrow, S.Hubbard, P.Hartley.

The seniors inter club league gets under way this week with two tough openers. On Tuesday, Houghton Gilpin host defending playoff champions Hartlepool A (12.30) and on Thursday, Houghton Sancroft host last year’s play-off runnersup Stanley (12.30).

Gilpin team – P.Noble, K.Morris, K.Barnes, D.Gibson, R.Leonard, T.McLaren, D.Scott, R.Robson, E.Downes, D.Forth, D.Hockaday, R.Thorpe.

Sancroft team – P.Thomson, M.Smith, D.Sim, F.Froud, J.Sutherland, J.Swinney, TW.Todd, I.Whorlton, G.Brown, T.Joicey, B.Race, D.Wright. Houghton women open their inter-club season against Hartlepool on Wednesday (12.30).

Last season, Houghton finished fourth in the sixteam league and will look to progress further up the table this time around.

AtHoughton–J.Classen, H.Robson, M.Eggleston, E.Faith, J.Watt, D.Fenwick, K.Sinclair, J.Rodgerson.

At Hartlepool – M.Hall, L.Morris, A.Vout, J.Baker, E.Barkes, G.Armstrong, M.Metcalf, F.Phythian.

The Five Rivers duo of Jamie Reynolds and David Leighfield smashed the Guinness World Record for the longest singles game.

The previous record held in New Zealand was 30 hours - however, the Salisbury-based lads notched up 32 hours.

During the attempt, they were allowed a fiveminute break every hour, and Leighfield won 389382! Money raised goes towards the Salisbury District Hospital Stars Appeal.