Darlington serve up Plate success in 2015 Nationals
This week’s report returns to April 2015 as Melton Mowbray hosted the indoor National Championships.
It was a disappointing week for the local qualifiers, Stanley’s international David Bolt saw his hopes of adding an indoor singles national title to his impressive CV dashed at the last 16 stage.
A hard fought 21-17 win over Angel’s Duncan Hanmore set up a last 16 tie against ex-World Champion Andy Thomson, despite a late Bolt charge Thomson ran out a 21-18 winner.
In the pairs Stanley's Gary Smith was unable to play due to a foot injury so Billy Ferry came in as lead for Bolt, sadly it was a first round loss 23-10 against Glen Williams and Tony Webb.
Hartlepool's Colin Boston and Paul Mosley did progress to the second round before losing 20-13 to the eventual winners.
In the triples Darlington's Mark Jones, John Fielding and Andrew Kirtland were beaten 20-6 by Spalding's Graham Smith.
The region's two hopes in the fours both made first round exits, The Parks Chris Yeoman was edged out 18-17 by Barking's Jamie Holmes while Hartlepool's Glen Skipp went down 21-13 to Westlecott's Neil Smith.
Cumbria were crowned the new Denny Cup champions after a 75-63 win over Torquay in the final played at Darlington, in the semifinal Cumbria beat City of Ely by 10 shots despite only having one rink up.
The Ladies Yetton Trophy title went to Egham, who beat Desborough 82-71.
The region however did enjoy some national success as Darlington lifted the Denny Plate title, in the final Darlington faced Essex County and despite only having one rink up they ran out 85-72 winners.
This was Darlington’s third Denny Plate title having won in 2003 and 2009.
Scores (Darlington skips first) - J.Fielding 1820 D.Dar, T.Macey 24-25
N.Jackson, A.Kirtland 2810 J.Stewart, M.Jones 15-17 E.Morris
The finals of the Durham County champions of champions saw some cracking finishes.
In the singles final former Sunderland star and now playing out of Stanley Phillip Dixon lost a thrilling singles final 21-20 to Hartlepool’s Paul Hartley.
There was more disappointment for Dixon in the pairs final playing alongside Gary Farquhar they went down by 12 shots to Hartley and Carl Higgins.
In the triples final Stanley’s Brett Arkley won a thriller against Hartlepool’s Ian Jackson 21-20.
The fours title went to South Shields quartet Derek Robson, Dave Paterson, Alan Lawton and Ian Riches.
As the domestic indoor season at Houghton drew to a close the club competition finals were played.
In the men’s singles final Peter Thomson proved too strong for Tony Grimes, the early exchanges were all Thomson as he raced into a 13-1 lead and at 17-3 the writing was on the wall for Grimes, it finished 21-9.
The pairs final saw Billy Roberts and Frankie Froud tackle Billy Storey and Stevie Tindale, the early exchanges
were evenly fought and after 13 ends Froud led 12-8, a count of four for Froud on the next end set the tone for the remaining eight ends as the RobertsFroud combination went on to record a 24-10 win.
In the triples final played George Noble, Bill Laidler and Billy Holmes took on Michael Wright, Terry Todd and Ray Robinson, it was the Holmes trio that were quickest out of the blocks as they raced into a 10-1 lead after seven ends.
A five on the 12th end raised Robinson’s hopes of a comeback but then dropped a three on the next end made it 17-8 which allowed Holmes to ease home over the remaining five ends 2011.
The fours final saw Michael Wright, Peter Brickle, Freddie Fletcher and Ray Robinson defeat Karl Armstrong, Fred Sanderson, Billy Davis and Jeff Wilson 20-10.
In the senior singles final Billy Roberts faced Richie Jobling, having already securing the pairs Roberts went on to complete a double, leading 8-7 Roberts stepped up a gear and raced into a 19-11 lead before sealing a 21-12 win.
The senior pairs final Jimmy Swinney and Foster Johnson faced Bill Laidler and Billy Holmes, the first half belonged to the Johnson combination, by the 10th end they led 16-9 and appeared to be coasting to victory however the second half belonged to Laidler and Holmes.
By the 14th end the scores were back level 1717 and with momentum in their favour Holmes and Laidler powered to a 162 second half return to seal a 25-18 win.
The senior triples title went to Billy Roberts, Frankie Froud and Richie Jobling while Michael Wright, Mal Baker, Fred Fletcher and Ray Robinson took the senior fours title.
The ladies singles final saw Joan Watt defeat Norma Stephenson while the pairs title went to P.Charleton and Ethel Pattinson.
The triples final saw Maureen Hall, Mary Middleton and Norma Stephenson defeat Margaret Eggleston's trio.
The final of the Doshi Pairs saw Houghton’s Gary Embleton and Bryan Henderson take on South Shields’ Emily Maher and Jo sh Halcrow.
The first half of the final saw Henderson race into a 13-5 lead however the Shields pair fought back to within a couple of shots, any thoughts of a comeback were dashed as Embleton and Henderson ran out 2116 winners.