Spartans pull out all the stops

ST ANDREWS Spartans pulled out all the stops in the Weston Over-60s Knockout Cup, defeating Clarence Blues by 30 shots in this year’s final at Burnham.

With five rink wins against the Blues’ one, as the Spartans ran out deserved winners.

Spartans gained another victory in Division 1 of the Over-60s Triples League, last week. With three rink wins each, the Saints finished as winners of the game by just 10 shots. The match against Banwell ended in defeat for the home side by 39 shots.

St Andrews Spartans 109, Victoria Saxons (Weston Over-60’s Triples League) 99:

K Parker, T Allen, G Wride 7-27; M Goddard, R Venn, G Guest 14-19; K Uglow, A Horsburgh, A Steer 16-19; G Tofte, B Reeves, B Forse 29-11; R Smith, P Villis, D Favis 19-12; R McLeod, B May, D Bailey 24-11.

St Andrews 110, Clarence Blues (Over-60’s Knockout Cup final) 80: K Uglow, A Horsburgh, A Steer 20-12; K Parker, J Warren, G Wride 19-11; M Goddard, R Venn, G Guest 18-11; R McLeod, B May, D Bailey 9-23; R Smith, P Villis, D Favis 26-8; G Tofte, B Reeves, B Forse 18-15.

St Andrews 57, Banwell 96: P Smart, A MacNab, M Blight, P Villis 13-30; C Robinson, A Cooper, E Day, B Green 9-31; R Brereton, J Steer, P Aldus, A Steer 17-20; M Simpson, C Reeves, J Ling, B May 18-15.

SOME outstanding bowls was played in this year’s Ashcombe championship finals and many had nail-biting finishes.

The ladies’ championship final between Avril Goacher and Judith Hughes went to the wire as did the men’s championship final between Graham Wilkinson and Clive Winser. Young Fraser Ham won the under 40s title.

Ashcombe defeated Clevedon, by 12 shots in the annual Fellowship Cup, instigated by the late Terry Clark who used to play at Clevedon.

The Templers won against Clarence Golds. This is the second time this season and it was a win on all rinks.

Club championships – ladies’ champion: A Goacher. Men’s: G Wilkinson. Ladies’ four-wood pairs: M Tasker and J Hughes. Men’s four-wood pairs: R Cole and M Bass. Ladies’ two-wood pairs: J McInally and D Norville.

Ladies’ handicap: J Sansam. Men’s: T Bass. Phyl Hammon: N Counsell. Under-40s: F Ham. Ladies’ two-wood: A Goacher. Men’s: J Whitton. Novices: B Jones. Ladies’ triples: J Field, J Wilkinson and M Williams. Men’s: P Sheppard, A Little and M Parry. Vi Drew: M Tucker. Cribb: J Field. Doris Payne: N Counsell. Veterans: C Hughes. Umbrella: J Hornett.

Ashcombe 60, Congresbury 96: R Lewis, G Tucker, M Southwood, E Hooper 13-21; P Robinson, G Mills, A Freke, J Price 3-33; N Coombes, M Parry, S Hedges, T Williams 28-16; M Unwin, G. Fews, M Bass, L Cox 16-26.

Ashcombe Templers 114, Clarence Golds 91: M Unwin, T Pople, T Cotrell 27-23; E Morley, M Parry, L Cox 17-15; M Field, G Sansam, N Coombes 22-11; G Pople, G Tucker, R Tasker 18-17; B Benstead, R Lewis, M Brummell 16-14; M Patterson, T Bass, M Bass 14-11.

Ashcombe 110, Clevedon 90: A Cracknell, R Tasker, M Southwood, T Williams 20-19; J Whitlow, M Patterson, J Main, T Cottrell 15-22; R Counsell, N Coombes, R Powell, G Wilkinson 16-18; R Lewis, G Fews, S Hedges, J Taylor 32-10; D Underhay, G Tucker, P Sheppard, R Simmons 17-21.

Ashcombe 88, Taunton 68: M Bass, G Kinsey, P Sheppard, M Southwood 18-22; B Noyes, G Mills, S Hedges, J Taylor 25-18; M Unwin, R Counsell, J Main, L Cox 18-16; D Underhay, R Simmons, C Hughes, T Williams 27-12.

VICTORIA finished their competitive bowling season by playing their final three matches in the Weston & District Over-60s League.

Disappointingly it was three defeats suffered, two for the Saxons and one for the Vikings.

The Saxons home game against St Andrews finished three rink wins each with an excellent 20 shot rink win by Derek Jones, Graham Hodge and Club Captain Mike Manning, but Victoria still lost the match by nine shots.

The Saxons travelled to play Clarence Blues and although they won three rinks skipped by captain Mike Manning, John Newman and Derek Hurst and a drawn rink skipped by Mike Stocker enabling Victoria to earn seven points, Clarence Blues won the match by 19 shots and gained 13 points.

Further disappointment was to follow when Victoria found that they forfeited six points for playing a player from the Vikings at skip. With the Saxons finishing in the bottom half of the table an anxious wait is ahead until the other clubs finish their games to see if the Saxons retain their place in the Division 1.

The Vikings travelled to Yatton to complete their fixtures and although they suffered a comprehensive defeat by 30 shots, they collected four points for their two rink wins with Derek Jones, leading his triple of Stan Thynne and Graham Thorne to a fine win by nine shots.

Whilst the competitive games are finished for the season Victoria still have some friendly games to play together with the 16 club competitions to be played on finals weekend on September 15/16.

Victoria Saxons 99, St Andrews 108 (Over-60s League): H Whyte, J Kerr, M Taylor 11-24; L Kelly, T Uccellini, M Stocker 12-19; M Campbell, K Curtis, D Hurst 19-16; G Richards, A Barnes, K Harvey 19-14; J Mingo-West, T Bray, J Newman 11-28; D Jones, G Hodge, M Manning 27-7.

Victoria Saxons 103, Clarence Blues 122 (Over-60s League): M Campbell, K Curtis, D Hurst 22-19; J Mingo-West, T Bray, J Newman 25-18; T Gatehouse, A Barnes, M Manning 19-12; H Whyte, L Kelly, M Taylor 6-36; G Richards, T Uccellini, M Stocker 15-15; B Johnson, K Holland, D Jones 16-22.

Victoria Vikings 94, Yatton 124 (Over-60s League): T Gilbert, C York, D Avery 8-29; R Jacobs, A Waygood, G Frost 9-20; S Thynne, G Thorne, D Jones 24-15; J Turton, P Newport, J Smart 23-16; B Nicholls, R Sparkes, A Shattock 19-21; F Aldridge, J Griffiths, E Sage 11-23.

THE Friends of Bowls England visit Clarence on Saturday for a six-rink match which is part of Clarence’s prize for having finished runners-up in Bowls England’s Club of the Year in 2011.

For this special match, Clarence have selected a team representing all age-groups and sections in the club, including six players from the Clarence Ladies and Wessex Ladies clubs, who share the three greens at Clarence Park.

A hotshot nine on the penultimate end by Trevor Ward, Pete Williams and skip Brian Ballinger was the highlight of Clarence Blues’ 19-shot home victory over Victoria Saxons in Division 1 of the Weston & District Over 60s League.

Their Saxons’ opponents had six tries at trying to get into the head, but missed each time. Overall, Clarence won only two of the six rinks, with one halved, but Paul Tubb’s 30-shot victory ensure that they took the lion’s share of the points.

Clarence Blues 122 (13), Victoria Saxons 103 (7): T Ward, P Williams, B Ballinger 18-25; R Flicker, J Burgess, M Adams 12-19; A Bishop, J Keay, R Burrough 19-22; T Hooper, J Rogers, P Tubb 36-6; L Lakey, M Clay, R Crawford 22-16; M Edlin, T Mannion, G Barlow 15-15.

The Blues’ attempt to win the Over-60s Knockout Cup ended in disappointment at Burnham when a depleted team lost by 30 shots to St Andrews Spartans in the final.

The early stages of the match were close, but St Andrews pulled away gradually and finished up on five of the six rinks for a deserved victory. Once again, Tony Hooper, John Rogers and Paul Tubb were the stars for Clarence, winning by 14 shots.

Clarence Blues 80, St Andrews Spartans 110: A Bishop, J Keay, R Burrough 12-20; C Read, T Mannion, M Edlin 11-19; T Ward, B Duffy, M Adams 11-18; T Hooper, J Rogers, P Tubb 23-9; R Flicker, J Loveridge, P Palmer 8-26; L Lakey, B Ballinger, R Crawford 15-18.

Clarence Golds finished their season in Division 2 of the Over-60s League with a 23-shot away defeat by Ashcombe Templars.

Ashcombe Templars 114 (20), Clarence Golds 91 (0): John Hayes, M Peters, D Jackman 14-16; L Smith, M Scoins, M Skyrme 15-17; B Difford, B Underwood, B Duffy 17-18; J Larvin, H Dunn, J Edwards 23-27; C Tippett, J Keay, M Phillips 11-22; AN Other, A Taylor, M Clay 11-14.

Clarence member Bob Rossiter was again selected for England in the Visually Impaired UK Singles International Championships played at Llandindrod Wells.

In a keenly contested Category B4 group, Bob won the bronze trophy and helped secure England’s overall victory over the other home countries.

His international career will take another step forward next year when he will represent England in the pairs event at the World Blind Bowls Championships at Worthing in July.

THE finals weekend of the three bowling clubs based at Clarence Park was blessed with lovely weather and featured a whole string of nail-biting matches.

Individual star of the weekend was Mick Edlin, who won three titles: the two-wood pairs with Martyn Adams; the fours, partnered by octagenarians Tony Hooper, Trevor Ward and John Edwards; and the first-time singles, in which he beat his fellow competitions committee member Barrie Underwood by one shot after a close measure.

Not far behind Edlin were Wessex Ladies’ Elizabeth Williams, winner of two of the five club finals in which she competed over the weekend. Clarence Ladies’ Sheila Ellis and Jo Mannion also picked up two titles and Clarence men’s never-say-die battler Paul Tubb was another dual winner.

Tubb inflicted club captain Roger Burrough’s fourth successive defeat in the Over-70s singles final when, having come from 11-2 behind and with Burrough holding at least three shots, Tubb prevailed with his final wood to win by one. On the following day, he had a comfortable victory over 2011 club champion Don Towie in the handicap singles.

The three club championships were won by Elizabeth Williams (Wessex), David Stott (Clarence men) and Pam Barnbrook (Clarence Ladies), who avenged a morning defeat by Rebecca McMillan in the handicap singles by beating her 21-12 in the afternoon.

There was a whole series of brilliant shots. Wessex’s Ann Ward drew her final wood perfectly to win the triples by two shots with Verlie Edwards and Mary Davis.

After a 33-end marathon, Pete Palmer moved the jack with his last bowl to take two shots and beat Clarence president Reg Flicker by one in the two-wood singles.

After David Stott had fought back from 14-20 down to draw level with Trevor Pritchard in the Under-70 singles, the latter won by two shots with another outstanding final wood.

Two matches had to be held over - the Wessex fours because of scheduling problems, and the Clarence men’s pairs because one of the players was unwell.

To complete an outstanding weekend, Wessex Ladies’ Ann Fewings, Jan Binding and Elizabeth Williams dashed off to Portishead and won the Somerset Benevolent Triples, beating a team from Williton.

WINSCOMBE men had narrow losses in all three fixtures last week.

The friendly against Bridgwater BCL was the last fixture between these two clubs as BCL Bowling Club is closing at the end of this season. It was a very close game with two rinks drawing and one rink on each side losing heavily. BCL gained two more shots than Winscombe.

At Burnham in the Weston Over-60s League, the deficit was nine shots. A friendly triples at Clevedon Prom saw the home side win by just two shots again.

Winscombe 111, Bridgwater BCL 113 (mixed friendly): D Beaverstock, P Hopes, L Whatling, W Ainsworth 17-17; M Sprouting, D Owen, R Wootten, A Ainsworth 5-37; G Hill, J Swift, R Keane, K Whatling 20-20; C Hopes, P Fredersdorff, J Sprouting, G Coombe 37-7.

Winscombe 91, Burnham 110 (Weston Over-60s League): G Lloyd, C Westlake, L Collier 10-19; R Weller, J Sprouting, M Adams 11-15; D Beaverstock, K Whatling, M Nash 15-20; R Wootten, G Hill, A Dudley 26-16; B Paul, M Hunter, A Watts 19-21; R Knight, M Hunt, T Ellis 9-19.

Winscombe 88, Clevedon Prom 90 (friendly): D Owen, R Fisher, R Lowman 17-10; J Sprouting, G Hill, M Adams 26-13; R Weller, B Paul, A Dudley 17-23; J Vincent, M Hunt, M Nash 14-27; G Coombe, M Hunter, L Collier 14-17.

CONGRESBURY Ladies 60, Victoria 55 (Mendip League): C Wilcock, W Manning, A Jones 32-13; A Mew, E Stenner, B Huggett 11-23; D Davis, M Hill, C Andrews 17-19.

Congresbury 96, Ashcombe 60 (friendly): G Wilcock, D Folds, D Manning, R Archer 16-28; D Byett, R Tasker, C Edwards, R Becker 21-13; P Reay, A Edwards, D Gosling, L Beck 33-3; J Churchward, C Everett, J Freemantle, D Rivers 26-16.

Congresbury 94, Henleaze 90 (friendly): P Reay, N Jarvis, I Morton, L Beck 23-18 K Cole, C Everett, J Freemantle, J Stone 22-18; D Byett, A Edwards, M Huggett, G Stenner 14-23; S Pook, R Joseph, D Rivers, M Wear 16-12; P Dawes, D Manning, R Archer, R Becker 19-19.

Congresbury 96, Clevedon Prom 110 (C&D Over-60s KO Cup final) P Reay, T Yearsley, L Beck 16-18; D Manning, C Blagden, G Stenner 14-20; J Freemantle, M Huggett, M Wear 17-24; D Byett, D Gosling, R Becker 16-16; R Archer, D Rivers, B Herbison 12-19; S Pook, R Stewart, R Kirkham 21-13.

Congresbury 94, Portishead 95 (Over-60s League): M Kimmings, M Huggett, T Yearsley 19-12; D Folds, S Pook, J Stone 20-18; J Freemantle, D Gosling, D Rivers 15-17; R Jones, G Wilcock, R Kirkham 14- 15; K Cole, C Blagden, L Beck 17-12; A Edwards, J Churchward, D Manning 9-21.

ISLE of Wedmore men enjoyed a quieter week as the end of the outdoor season approaches, but the ladies were as busy as ever.

The ladies enjoyed a decisive win at home against BCL in a Victoria League match, winning all three rinks and gaining the maximum 10 points.

Wedmore Ladies 57, BCL 33: D Gallop, S Moss, M Hordle 19-9; M Green, R Aston, M Barron 21-12; B Clark, L Hamblin, P Cottrell 17-12.

In a second clean sweep victory in the Victoria League, the ladies played at home against Victoria Park with Maureen Hordle’s team winning by 31-9 and Pauline Cottrell’s team scoring a 26-7 win.

Wedmore Ladies 75, Victoria Park 25: C Pettit, M Perry, P Cottrell 26-7; B Disbrey, P Beard, M Ronald 18-9; J Collins, S Moss, M Hordle 31-9.

The ladies achieved another excellent win when Wessex visited for a Wessex League match, winning all three rinks. In a high-scoring match, Pauline Cottrell’s team topped the list with a 40-10 victory.

Wedmore Ladies 88, Wessex 42: B Disbrey, M Barron, P Beard, P Cottrell 40-10; T Newell, M Fisher, L Hamblin, M Hordle 26-19; D Gallop, C Pettit, M Trow, J Masters 22-13.

Things did not go so well in a re-arranged match at Nailsea in the Mendip League, when the ladies lost all three rinks. This was the final match in this league and the first time that Wedmore came away without points.

Wedmore Ladies 37, Nailsea 65: D Gallop, J Hunt, M Hordle 10-26; B Clark, M Stansfield, S Moss 13-18; B Disbrey, L Hamblin, J Masters 14-21.

The men played a friendly match at Victoria Park winning 84-70. A friendly triples match was played at Street and the men lost 52-74.

The ladies entertained St Andrews and lost by the narrow margin of eight shots. The Norfolk ladies tour visited Wedmore and enjoyed perfect weather in a friendly match with Wedmore ladies winning 79-42.

Why not lose the winter gloom by joining Wedmore for indoor bowling. The club have two free taster days on September 22/23 with shoes and bowls provided. Contact Brendon on 01934 743271 for further details.

ASHCOMBE ladies have won the North Somerset Triples League Trophy with 11 wins and just three defeats.

Ashcombe Ladies 73 (10), Long Ashton 39 (0): B Cullen, M Tucker, S Weaden 22-14; M Main, B MacGregor, S Ford 30-10; A Fews, J McInally, M Williams 21-13.

Ashcombe Ladies 51 (2), Clarence 65 (8): A Fews, S Hopkins, C Hedges 8-27; S Noyes, N Counsell, B MacGregor 15-27; M Main, M Tasker, S Ford 28-11. Friendly rink: A Cox. S Appleby, J Field, B Groves 12-15.

Ashcombe Ladies 61 (2), Wessex 62 (8) (Wessex League): M Tucker, M Sell, J Hughes, M Williams 18-19; N Counsell, D Norville, S Hopkins, S Weaden 16-21; J Field, J Beat, J Wilkinson, A Goacher 27-22.

WINSCOMBE ladies played the second leg of the Iris Owen Memorial Trophy.

This trophy presented by Iris’s husband David is played for over two legs at home and away. Unfortunately Winscombe lost heavily at St Andrews earlier in the year, so had an uphill battle at home. This was a much closer game with St Andrews winning two rinks to one and by just eight shots.

Winscombe Ladies 48, St Andrews 56 (Iris Owen Memorial Trophy): M Sprouting, R Keane, A Ainsworth 10-19; C Hopes, L Whatling, L Fredersdorff 15-24; T Miles, S Lowman, E Watts 23-13.

CLARENCE Ladies 55, Portishead 47 (NSL): S Scoins, J Mannion, C Edlin 23-7; V Jones, P Hawkins, V Collicott 18-19; M Woods, C Cromey, M Baker 14-21.

ST ANDREWS ladies gained only two points in their Doreen Ralph Trophy match which resulted in a heavy defeat at Yatton.

However, the ladies retained the Irish Owen Cup by defeating Winscombe, the inter-club trophy is played over two legs and the second leg completed a 52 shot victory.

St Andrews Ladies 45, Yatton Ladies 84 (Doreen Ralph Trophy): J Forse, D Johnston, B Goddard, M Pattenden 12-34; P Uglow, M Wride, J Smith, A Campbell 9-37; E Reeves, A Greenwood, I Tofte, J Ware 24-13.

St Andrews Ladies 53, Isle of Wedmore 45: J Forse, J Bean, M Wride, P Uglow 15-20; E Reeves, E Yard, B Goddard, J Ware 20-8; C Venn, A Greenwood, I Tofte 18-17.

St Andrews Ladies 56, Winscombe (Iris Owen Cup) 48: P Uglow, J Pitman, A Campbell 19-10; J Forse, B Goddard, S Priory 13-23; W Allen, E Blight, M Favis 24-15.

CONGRATULATIONS go to the Wessex ladies trio of Ann Fewings, Jan Binding and Elizabeth Williams on winning the County Benevolent Triples.

Wessex Ladies 62 (8) Ashcombe 61 (2) (Wessex League): P Tillson, C Walker, C Peart, E Williams 22-27; S Bishop, P Hanson, J Binding, J Davis 21-16; J Allard, A Fewings, J Duffy, A Ward 19-18.

Wessex Ladies 42 (0), Isle of Wedmore 88 (10) (Wessex League): S Bishop, S Davies, P Hanson, A Ward 10-40; E Stott, I Hicks, J Allard, E Deane 19-26; P Tillson, A Crawford, P Taylor, C Peart 13-22.

Wessex Ladies 46, Norfolk County tourists 76: D Stenning, I Hicks, A Ward, J Davis 15-10; N Peters, J Allard, P Dunn, E Williams 11-21; S Bishop, M Hawkins, M Davis, D Forsyth 13-19; E Stott, P Hanson, B Jones, J Binding 7-26.

Wessex Ladies 56, West Backwell 50: E Stott, R Hinde, J Allard, D Forsyth 18-17; L Woodrow, P Hanson, M Hawkins, J Davis 17-21; V Edwards, I Hicks, B Jones, E Deane 21-12.

Wessex Ladies club fours final: E Stott, B Jones, M McMillan, E Williams 19, V Edwards, P Dunn, M Davis, C Peart 14.

VICTORIA Ladies 45, Portishead RBL 73 (friendly): S Lawrence, C Webb, S Newman, M Chudley 9-30; S Milliner, J Donald, C Willetts, M Hillman 20-14; J Mills, A Dancer, R Cleeves, E Newport 16-29.

Victoria Ladies 55 (4), Congresbury 60 (6) (Mendip League): C Sage, S Newman, A Holland 23-11; R Cleeves, J Donald, M Hillman 13-32; C Willetts, E Newport, S Cooper 19-17.

Victoria Ladies 73 (10), Clevedon Prom 42 (0) (Weston Triples League): D Owen, A Holland, M Hillman 28-9; J Donald, S Newman, S Cooper 22-16; C Sage, R Cleeves, M Chudley 23-17.

St Andrews Bowls Club won the Weston Over-60s League Knockout Cup, defeating local rivals Clarence Park on the neutral green at Burnham.

Wilf Ainsley presenting the trophy to captain Richard Venn on his own and also with a group of St Andrews members.