The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Stamford ace in four national finals
Stamford’s Helen Holroyd faces a hectic schedule at the English Bowling Federation national indoor finals at Newark next week when she competes in no fewer than four championships.
The 23-year-old, who won the women’s outdoor junior singles title last year, competes in both the open and junior singles; teams up with another youngster in Louise Harris in the pairs and joins her mother and father, Moira and John, in the mixed rinks.
She will be hoping to end a long barren spell for the Northants women at these national finals as their last title success came back in 2001 when Pat Reynolds won the singles.
Chasing title doubles are Louise Harris, who partners brother Stephen in the mixed pairs; Martyn Dolby who competes in the senior singles and the rinks with Adam Warrington and John Earl, while county women’s president Chris Ford goes for glory in the senior singles and the rinks with Jan Want and June Brennan.
The individual section of the championships get under way next Wednesday, the curtain raiser the day before being the women’s inter-county Harry Carver competition for county officers and past presidents.
Here the Northants women will be hoping to fare a little better than their male counterparts whose attempt for a third Eversley Trophy success in a row ended with a sixth place finish on Sunday, their only overall victory in four matches coming against Humberside.
The Northants rinks were Les Sharp, Graham Agger and Cliff Watson; Malcolm Squires, Richard Montgomery and county president Dick Noble.
The women, who face North Cambs, Derbys, Cleveland and Suffolk, will be represented by county president Chris Ford, deputy Viv Hempsell, Terri Handley, Doris Flowers, Joan Robinson and Glenys Edwards.
NORTHANTS’ PLAYERS TIMETABLE MEN
Under 25 singles – Helen Holroyd v Hunts or Lincs (2nd round) – Friday, 7.30pm.
Singles – Paul Dalliday v Suffolk (1st round) – Thursday, 6.30pm.
Senior singles – Martyn Dolby v Humberside (1st round) – Friday, 5.00pm.
Pairs – James Harford & Simon Law v Humberside (1st round) – Friday, 9.30am.
Rinks – Adam Warrington, John Earl, Martyn Dolby v Northumberland (1st round) – Wednesday, 9.30am.
Mixed pairs – Louise & Stephen Harris v Norfolk (1st round) – Thursday, 6.30pm.
Mixed rinks – Moira, Helen & John Holroyd v Northumberland (1st round) – Wednesday, 12.30pm.
WOMEN
Singles – Helen Holroyd v Humberside (2nd round) – provisionally Thursday, 3.30pm.
Senior singles – Chris Ford v Hunts (1st round) – Thursday, 9.30am.
Pairs – Louise Harris & Helen Holroyd v Suffolk (1st round) – Friday, 12.00 noon.
Rinks – June Brennan, Jan Want, Chris Ford v Norfolk (1st round) – Wednesday, 12.30pm.
ENGLISH PAIRS
There was no joy in the round of the last 16 for local senior pairings in the English Indoor Bowling Association competition finals at Nottingham.
Peterborough’s Liz Hext and Sheila Craig were beaten 24-3 by Newark, while Stamford’s Malcolm Smith and Martyn Dolby lost 18-14 to York.
INTERNATIONAL TRIAL
Local bowler Chloe Brett (Parkway) has been included in the women’s junior international trial being held at Leamington on Monday, May 27.
Spalding’s Ruby Hill has also been named in the trial, while Hunts players Ed Elmore and Harry Ward are included in the men’s equivalent the same day.