THE 2005 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Total entry = 267  :  35 Singles ;  43 Pairs ;  26 Triples ;  17 Fours; 16 Juniors

3rd Junior Championships - This was our 3rd Junior Championships and attracted a record entry of 16 of our U18 members. These included first timers James Barker (Crossgates) and Callum Haigh (N. Duffield) who were both 8 years old whilst Joseph Newsome, the eldest at 16 was having his 3rd attempt at the title. Three 35 minutes timed games were guaranteed for all participants as all entrants played in groups of four with the winners of each group then playing a Semi-Final. The fours group winners were Alexander Robinson and Ben Render from Crossgates, Richard Powell from Great Ouseburn and last years runner-up, Gareth Townend from North Duffield. These four players were the only ones to win all three of their round robin games.

In the first Semi,  Alexander lost the first three ends but kept his head to win the next four and  pull back to within a single shot of Ben. However, at the whistle it was Ben who had the edge at 9-7. In the other Semi, it was Richard who went 12-4 up after nine ends, only to see Gareth come back with a 1, 3, 3 to close the gap to a single shot. However, Richard kept his head to pick up another single on the final end and win 13-11. In the Final, Richard got off to a good start with a 4 on the first end and as the match progressed gradually out drew Ben and pulled ahead to 18-9 to become the 2005 Junior Champion with at his 3rd attempt. (see PhotoGallery)

In the subsidiary Target competitions the morning winner was Gareth Townend who, with a score of 27, comfortably beat Joseph Newsome and Matthew Ward who were joint second with 16. In the afternoon, Joseph was again runner-up on 26, this time to Alexander Robinson just pipped him with 27. In third place was Stephen Hughill with 25. 

This years competition was organised and run by Janet & Noel Clark due to the indisposition of the Competition Secretary and thanks go to all the helpers who contributed to the success of the day. Umpiring duties were carried out by Fred Wood.       

The SINGLES - Saturday January 8th 2005. The stormy conditions across the county only caused two of the 35 entrants to drop out and  the competition commenced at 9.10am with a Preliminary Round comprising three groups of three. In this, all players had two games and the group winners and runners up then went on into Round 1 with the field now reduced to 32.  This was organised into eight groups of four and again, group winners and runners then progressed to Round 2 - the first knockout round. By 3.25 pm the field had been reduced to eight Quarter Finalists.

In these, Mick Ridge (Barn)  went down 13-4 to his wife Anne Ridge; Fred Wood (Easingwold) despatched North Duffields Janet Clark 12-7; Audrey Wood (Easingwold) squeezed out Flixton's Graham Sherburn 9-6 and Richard Lund took a four off the last end to beat BSA club colleague Matt Fenwick by a single shot 9-8. In the Semi-Finals Fred overcame wife Audrey by 10-4 whilst Anne with her last wood, took the shot from Richard who was lying with 3 shots on for a tie, thus winning 9-5. Anne then continue to play well in the Final but found herself against a very much in-form Fred who outplayed her to win convincingly 10-1 with an end to spare, thus becoming the Counties second Singles Champion. (see PhotoGallery)

All games were of 10 ends duration and the day finished about 30 minutes later than scheduled at 5.15pm. The Umpire was Derek Williams. The raffle raised £70. The four semi-finalists will now go on to the NESMBA Finals on Saturday March 19th at Barnard Castle.       

The PAIRS - Saturday January 22nd 2005 On a cold and frosty morning, 33 of the 43 entrants had a 9am start in the Preliminary Round  which was organised in 11 groups of 3 (on 11 mats). Winners and runners up then joined the remaining players for Round 1. This was held in two halves each consisting of 16 players in 4 groups of 4 playing their games end-on-end (using 8 mats). Once again both winners and runners up in each group were able to progress into the first of the KO rounds after which the eight winners found themselves in the Quarter Finals.

In these, Janet and Noel Clark overcame North Duffield club colleagues Colin Raper and Jill Newsome by 6-3; Bill and Judy Carter (Barn) just missed out 7-8 to Roger Green (Great Ouseburn) who was teamed up with Paul Williamson from Boroughbridge; Anne and Mick Ridge (Barn) sailed home against Fred and Audrey Wood by 10-2 whilst last years Champions Richard Clark (Tollerton) and Dennis Jarvis (Raskelf) ended the challenge of Danny Brown and Derek Williams (Hambleton). In the Semis, Janet and Noel had their hopes of a double (they won the County Triples two weeks ago) dashed at the hands of Roger and Paul (9-3) whilst Richard and Dennis had their eyes on a repeat of last years result when they put out the Ridges by 7-4. The Final was a well balanced game with both sides taking the lead at times and going into the last end at 6-6. With one wood remaining, Roger had to decide whether to bowl or settle for a close measure. He chose the former but was not able to find the dead weight required to settle the end beyond question.  It was therefore left up to the Umpire who finally adjudicated in his and Pauls favour. A valiant effort from last years Champions to make it two in a row and congratulation to the 2005 Champions Roger and Paul. (see PhotoGallery)     

The first two rounds were of 9 ends duration but this was curtailed to 8 ends for the knockouts when it looked as if time may run out.  In the event, the day finished about 25 minutes earlier than scheduled at 4.20pm. Arthur Rathmell performed the Umpires duties for the whole day. The raffle raised £97. The four semi-finalists will now go on to the NESMBA Finals on Sunday March 20th at Barnard Castle.

The TRIPLES - Sunday January 9th 2005 The Preliminary round involved 20 of the 26 entries (although due to the recent death of David Moore, two of the Hambleton entries were withdrawn). This commenced at 09.25am and saw everyone playing in five groups of four. The top two from each group then progressed to Round 1 although unexpectedly perhaps, the two finalists from yesterdays Singles Championship (Fred Wood and Anne Ridge) and last years Champions (Graham/Linda Sherburn and Alan Barningham) were amongst the early casualties. Once the final 16 had then played in another round robin of four groups of four, the Quarter Finals got under way. 

In these, Richard Lund, Sue Watson and John Coffey (BSA), missed out to  Geoff/Ann Whitehead and Geoff Dye (Tate & Lyle) 7-10; Jane,David and Gordon Simpson (Riccall) were just beaten by Alan Banthorpe, Danny Brown and Derek Williams (Hambleton) 7-5; Barry/Joan Crossland and Gwen Barningham (Flixton) beat David/Sheila Loraine and Jean Crowther (Barn) 9-5. In the remaining QF its was Colin Raper, Janet/Noel Clark (North Duffield) who grabbed victory by a single shot from Rose Haynes, Roger Green and Simon Holtby (Great Ouseburn/Boroughbridge) after a superb final weighted shot from Colin turned one down into three up.  In the first Semi, a four on the final end was not enough for Barrys trio to catch Alans three who reached the Final 10-7. In the other, Colin Raper continued to use weight effectively to force out Geoff & Co 8-6. In the Final, Colin's team found themselves 2-7 down after 4 ends but kept their heads, picking up 3, 2, 2 to go into the last end with a 2 shot lead. In this Janet played what proved to be the decisive shot when she trailed the jack to "bury" it close to the ditch line. Alan tried with both his woods to promote his touchers but to no avail and he had to settle for 2nd place by 7-10. Colin, Janet and Noel thus become  Counties second Triples Champions. (see PhotoGallery)

All games were of 8 ends duration and the day finished about 1 hour later than scheduled at 4.20pm. There was no Umpire appointed for the whole day but Roger Green fulfilled this function when not bowling. The raffle raised £81. The four semi-finalists will now go on to the NESMBA Finals on Sunday March 20th at Barnard Castle. (After Barry Crosslands triple declined the invitation to attend, his place then passed to Rose Haynes triple, who by virtue of defeat in the QF by just one shot, were in 5th place)    

The FOURS - Saturday February 5th 2005. With an entry of 17, a preliminary round was necessary, involving just three teams with the top two going on into  Round 1 which then consisted of four round robin groups of four teams. From each group the top two again progressed, this time into the knockout rounds - first the Quarter Finals then the Semis. In the former, Janet/George Crosby with Trevor Hanlon and Arthur Stubbs from Crossgates  beat Hilda Thomas' four from Helmsley 7-4; David Lorraines Barn team went down 3-6 to North Duffields Colin Raper, Jill Newsome and Nobby/Janet Clark; Hambletons Alan/Fred Banthorpe with Danny Brown and Derek Williams  overcame the Marton team led by Brian Flinton 12-4 and  North Duffields David/Joseph Newsome playing with Marlene Jackson and Dot Midgeley put out Richard Lunds team from BSA 6-4. Davids four then went on in the first Semi to knockout the Hambleton four by a decisive 12-4 whilst in the other Semi it was left to Colin to play the winning shot with his last wood to eliminate the Crossgates four by 7-5. (see PhotoGallery)

The Final was thus an all North Duffield contest. The two teams had already met in Round 1 in which Davids four had come back from the dead with a 3 and a 6 on the last two ends to win 12-10! However Colin was not to allow a repeat of this escape act and his team slowly eased ahead to clinch the 2005 title with an 8-2 win. Colin, Janet and Nobby thus add this title to their Triples Championship win last month. 

All games were of 7 ends duration and the day finished just ahead of schedule at 4.15pm. The raffle raised £67. The four semi-finalists will now go on to the NESMBA Finals on Saturday March 19th at Barnard Castle.