Bowls By David Taylor

Last updated 11:40, Thursday, 26 June 2008

THE 44th Annual Race Week Tournament commenced at Courtfield on Monday but it was a disappointing entry in terms of numbers for the opening event, the fours.

Fours winners: Lewis Parker, pictured, Paul Wallace, Harry Parker and Peck Orchard proved too strong for Trevor Taylor

In the final Lewis Parker, Paul Wallace, Harry Parker and an in-form Peck Orchard proved too strong for Trevor Taylor.

In the triples, on Tuesday, there was a more competitive field but it proved to be another triumph for Silloth.

Harry Parker’s trio reached the semi-final before going out as did Carl Neen's Cleator team and it was left to Lewis Parker, Paul Wallace and Peck Orchard to face Michael Downie, Phil Sampson and Ian Gallagher in the final.

In deteriorating weather conditions it proved to be a hard fought affair with the Silloth trio coming out on top but only after an extra end was required.

The pairs tournament was taking place yesterday and the singles commenced today.

The mixed triples will take place tomorrow followed by the semi-finals of the singles at 5.30 followed by the final at about 7pm.

The presentation of all the prizes will be made at the conclusion of the singles final.

ARMSTRONG TROPHY

Cumbria played its first Armstrong game of the season at Ponteland on Saturday but it proved to be a disappointing start to the campaign.

Most of the Cumbria team is fairly young and inexperienced particularly in the weather conditions in which they had to play, only 15 ends could be completed, but the side did have the benefit of three skips with Middleton Cup experience and almost certainly better was expected.

David Baxter went down by 14 shots against P Hudspeth while brother Andrew was also beaten 16-11 by R Topping.

Vic Emmerson went down by three shots against D Bolton and the only ray of hope came from Robin Phillips who did his best to nullify the other three defeats when beating R Liddle 20-7.

There were only nine shots between the sides but Northumberland took the lion’s share of the points which gives them third place in the league with Cumbria in fifth.

Work to do but there is a chance to do it on Saturday when the side travels to Darlington on Saturday for the game against league leaders Durham.

Nothing less than a win will do if Cumbria is to hold any chance of success this year but if conditions are better then there must be every chance of seeing improvement.

Team manager Brian Warren relies on virtually the same side as last week and hopefully that show of confidence will be rewarded by a much improved performance.

COUNTY COMPETITIONS

The first players to reach the county semi-finals are the singles competitors. Ben Sherwen came from behind to beat Robin Phillips 21-18 after a slow start, David Forster beat last years singles finalist Neil Karge 21-8.

Danny May came from an almost impossible position, he trailed 20-8, to beat Alan Walker 21-20 and Bob Dent did well to beat Craig Docherty 21-10. The semi-finals will be played on Friday July 11 at venues to be decided.

The last eight in the pairs meet next Friday night at Courtfield and Edenside.

At Courtfield David Forster after beating Will Strong will play Gordon Rome who scored a great win over Stuart Airey in the last round while Richard Chandler meets Craig Docherty.

At Edenside Grant Allan meets Rick Gallagher and Mark Nanson will play Mike Watson.

As a result of the last round of the triples being rain affected the complete results are not yet available but the last sixteen will play off next Wednesday at Wigton Park, Courtfield, Dalston and Wigton.

The last sixteen in the fours play off on Monday evening.

At Wigton Park Peter Angood meets Michael Downie and Stephen Walker plays John Bell. At Whitehaven Dave McManus plays Paul Bannister while Grant Allan plays J Woodman.

On to Wigton where Alan Prince meets national champions Richard Chandler and Anthony Little plays Donald Holme. At Appleby M Kirkby meets Fred Whiting and George Brewer plays Scott Beattie.

UNDER-18 SINGLES

Despite disappointing weather the Under-18 Singles was played down to the final at Dalston on Sunday. Silloth’s Adam Hocking defeated his club colleague Lewis Parker and went on to account for David Pattinson in the second round.

He made his way through to the final with a smooth victory over Adam Newstead who had earlier done well to beat Jon Barbour 21-17.

Mark Hodgson beat brother Matthew by the minimum margin but had no answer to Ryan Baird in the semi final.

The date for the final has yet to be decided because of prior holiday arrangements.

PRESIDENTS DAY

County President Anthony Little will be pleased to see all bowlers at Edenside on Sunday when he hopes to raise as much as possible for County Funds.

At a time when sponsorship continues to be difficult to come by especially at national level it is vital that funds are raised so that those who are selected to represent the County Association at national level are not overly burdened by the continuing escalation in travel expenses.

Do try to pay a visit, send a prize or a donation, every little helps.

NATIONAL COMPETITIONS

Latest results in the nationals are as follows. In the Champion of Champions Stephen Farish beat Paul Bannister 21-18 and now meets Jason Taylor of Durham to reach the area qualifier.

In the Senior Singles David Stanton beat David McManus 21-20. In the Senior Pairs David Cannon beat Bob Dent 18-17 in the all Appleby game and now plays Workington’s Barry O’Hare.

In the Top Club Silloth beat Yorkshire ‘s Springhead Park 3-2 and will now play another Yorkshire club Nafferton. In the Two Fours Silloth will play Aspatria.

And in the Mixed Pairs Kath Baxter meets Paul Bannister while in the Mixed Fours Karen Edmondson had a 26-2 win against Stockton’s Alan Taylor.

TEAMS

Durham v Cumbria Armstrong Trophy Saturday June 28 at Darlington

R Baxter, M Bowman, J Fieldhouse, D Baxter; L Baxter, G Allan, L Parker, A Baxter; Mk Hodgson, G Shepherd, B Warren, V Emmerson; Mt Hodgson, A Hocking, J Barbour, R Phillips; Reserves A Newstead, J Park.