Northampton Express members Rob White, Dominic Graham and Richard Lemon all suffered first-round exits in the men’s National Championships at Worthing.
White and Graham went down 23-17 to Boscombe Cliff BC’s Chris Daniels and Michael Hutley in the Pairs.
Clubmate Lemon lost in the Four Wood Singles to Felixstowe & Suffolk BC’s John Rednall.
The Pairs contest was a quality match and although the county players were playing very well throughout, they were up against a Hampshire pair who were on top of their form, especially skip Hutley.
The winners went on to become losing semi-finalists in the championship.
White and Graham had beaten last year’s finalists in their preliminary round tie.
Lemon reached the first round thanks to a 21-10 success over Wiltshire bowler Graham Hatherall in the preliminary round.
It was always going to be tough against Rednall, who has been one of the top international leads for many years.
Lemon produced another good performance and gave Rednall a bit of a scare before going down 21-16.
Earls Barton’s Neil Gould suffered an agonising exit in the first round of the Two-Wood Singles.
He was up against junior England international Mark Nullmeyers (Elm Park) but Gould was not fazed by it and the match was closely fought all the way through.
It was all square at 12-12 after 19 ends and the 20th saw Gould take the maximum two shots to bring the winning post within sight.
However, his opponent claimed two on the 21st to send the match into an extra end.
Gould put his first bowl within inches of the jack and when Nullmeyers failed with his, it looked like being a win for the County man.
But the Essex man’s final bowl saw him claim a thrilling 15-14 victory by the margin of about half an inch.
Wigfield selected for England senior trial
County star Rebecca Wigfield has been selected for an England senior trial.
Bowls England have now confirmed details of the event, which will be held at Victoria Park in Leamington on Saturday, September 21 from 10.30am.
It will be Wigfield’s first Senior Trial following on from her Junior Trial and selection for the England Development Team for the recent British Isles Series.
In addition to those selected for the trial, 15 of the successful team, which won the British Isles International Series in Scotland earlier this summer,have been informed they will form part of the team to play in the Senior International Series to be held in Jersey in June next year.
Players invited include a number of current or former England internationals, plus those aspiring to make the England squad, including Wigfield, who, at the recent Women’s Championships, performed so magnificently in winning a National title.
Big win for County VPs
The County Vice Presidents were also in friendly action against their Huntingdon counterparts at Brampton Institute and returned with a big 156-95 success.
RINK SCORES (Huntingdonshire skips only) Rink one: Graham Cashmore/Brian Robbins/Graham Dartnell/Tony Essam 25 Jim Daniel 22. Rink two: Tony Hancock/Dave Williamson/Dick Howell/Jack Brown 37 Pat King 10. Rink three: Len Marshall/Charles Longstaff/Tony Buckmaster/Roy Cave 21 Alan Parish 23. Rink four: Ollie Pearson/Derek Essam/Brian Jones/Dave Stewart 26 Mick Carpenter 9. Rink five: Stuart Lowe/Barry Basford/Ken Legan/Bob Tingle 18 Tom Grantham 18. Rink six: Albert Julyan/Mike McKeown/Peter Byworth/Dave Betts 29 Bert Horsted 13.
Ladies lose out to Lincolnshire
Northants ladies travelled to Spalding to face Lincolnshire in a friendly and suffered a 123-113 defeat.
RINK SCORES (Lincolnshire skips only) Rink one: Rachel Pedley/Margaret Tyler/Ann Davey/Pam Lewis 18 D Mackie 18. Rink two: Alison Dring/Val Scott/Sandy Hayter/Sue Graham-Hole 12 L Mountain 21. Rink three: Debbie Cox/Doreen Bedford/Heather Lack/Barbara Haseldine21 J Balding 23. Rink four: Elaine Munton/Elsie Hatton/Pat Bodily/Anita Petrucci 23 G Turner 18. Rink five: Elaine Urquhart/Joan Bryan/Chris Cross/Jan Bradley 20 T Bratley 21. Rink six: Brenda Lawrence/Janet Riome/Shirley Ongley/Val Betts 19 C Smith 22.
Daventry roll over Stony
Daventry Mixed enjoyed an 82-59 win at Stony Stratford.
Captain-on-the-day, Mike Robins, presented Duggie Mitchell’s rink with the highest win award.
Rink scores: J Muirhead, Adge Smith and Duggie Mitchell 24 A Grant 7. Martin Coyles, Keith Bishop and Mike Robins 21 N Marley 18
Alan Leslie, Stuart Coyles and David Bellis 22 A Gasson 19. Margaret Irvine, Danny Garrett and Alan Davies 15 J Thurling 15
Daventry mixed team too good for Cold Ashby
Daventry’s mixed team had another excellent win on Thursday seeing off Cold Ashby 64-51.
Captain, John Sach, presented the Dougie Mitchell rink with the highest win award.
Rink scores: Linda Rutherford, Mike Robins and Dougie Mitchell 21 Richard 11. Danny Garrett, Alan Davies and John Sach 17 Roger 9. Ivy Cooke, Keith Bishop and John Hodgekinson 13 Eric Preece 13. Margaret Carty, David Cooke and John Bradley 13 Steve Dick 18
Daventry are on the right Roade
Daventry men enjoyed a 98-71 win at Roade on Saturday.
Captain John Sach presented the Alan Davies rink with the highest win award.