Mckie, Lambert and Smith trio toast success on a national level
Thirty years ago saw only the second National Indoor title to return to Wearside as the Sunderland trio of Richie Mckie, Jimmy Lambert and Gary Smith secured the National Triples title at Melton Mowbray.
A 23-17 final win over the reigning British Isles Triples, skipped by the legend Tony Allcock, was at the time the greatest result achieved by a Sunderland side since the late Jack Barnes and Ted Hanger’s Pairs success in 1981.
It is worth noting the trio only joined forces in that 1990 season, yet they may not have even got past the very first round in the area as they had to rely on an extra end win at Park View against three veterans, but in sport you need a bit of lady luck.
As the competition progressed they managed to qualify for the latter stages of the National Championships at Melton, a 22-15 quarter-final win over Exonia’s Tim Haywood set up a semi-final appearance against Bodmin’s Steve Lane.
In a dramatic three hours and with three ends to play, the Wearsider’s led 13-9, but proceeded to drop a big five and a single over the next two ends to go into the final end 15-13 down.
Needing two to force an extra end, Smith produced an inch perfect final bowl to wrestle out Bod min’ ssecondb owl much to the delight of the Sunderland supporters, to leave the Sunderland lads holding a match-winning three.
Smith’s bowl had barely settled and within the blink of an eye, the Bodmin skip fired with his final bowl, but was well wide to leave Smith a 16-15 winner and a place in the National final.
In the final, the Sunderland Triple were the big under dogs, it was a true David and Goliath moment as they faced the might of Bent ham’ s Paul N elm es, Mike Jordan and one of the game’s biggest names England international Tony Allcock.
The Bentham triple had already won this title in 1986 and 1988, plus they were the current British Isles champions, while in comparison, this wa sM ckie’ s first appearance at the National Championships, while Lambert was looking to replicate his 1985 Triples win when playing out of Stanley, and this was Smith’s first big test since moving up the order to skip.
From start to finish the final took a pain staking 4½ hours, with the first two ends taking an unbelievable 55 minutes to be played after being killed twice.
There was nothing between the two teams, 7-7, 11-11 and then with only three ends to play, they still couldn’t be split at 15-15.
Allcock secured a double to lead 17-15, with two ends to play, but the big moment came on the 17th end, when second man Lambert played a massive bowl trailed the jack and then added another. Allcock ran with two of his bowls, disturbing the head with his second and springing the jack into the open, but Smith still held a couple and he added a third, and when All cock surprisingly missed to get within six foot to save on the draw with his final bowl, Smith stepped in adding a fourth shot to go 19-17 up.
The final end was not surprisingly killed twice and on the third occasion when a Jordan runner removed both Bentham bowls, the chances of snatching a three to win were gone. As Allcock failed with his first two, he was left with a desperate running final bowl which never changed the head, leaving the Sunderland lads holding another four, sealing a 23-15 win and celebrating with club members who had made the trip for the final.