THE 2006 CHAMPIONSHIPS

The largest number of Singles and Fours ever entered has led to a record total entry for this year's 3rd Championships

Entries were received from well over half our member clubs

Total entry = 298  :  46 Singles ;  42 Pairs ;  28 Triples ;  21 Fours; 16 Juniors

4th Junior Championships - (February 18th 2006) This year our annual Junior Championships once again attracted 16 of our 27 U18s to the Galtres Centre. Although the ages ranged from Charlotte Clark, Callum Haigh and James Barker - all 9 years old, to Joseph Newsome who at 17 was appearing in his last Junior event, no concession was made to age and the younger players often found themselves up against some of the experienced "old timers", Nevertheless all players conducted themselves well throughout the day and most impressively all kept on trying till they had bowled their last wood.  

All entrants were initially placed in four round robin groups in which everyone had 3 games of 8 ends duration. Each of these groups was won decisively with the leaders all gaining the maximum 6 points and clocking up large shot differences. These were Jacinta Townend (+21), Alexander Robinson  (+35), David Newsome (+47) and Gareth Townend (+49). Last years Champion, Richard Powell (Branton), Stephen Hughill (Crossgates) and James Clark (North Duffield) each won two of their three games.  

In the Semi-Finals, the Townend twins from North Duffield found themselves drawn to play each other (as so often seems to happen). Jacinta won the first end and then continued to draw in her bright pink woods well, limiting Gareth to single shots on the next 4 ends. However Gareth then turned on the pressure, gaining two 3's and forcing his sister to concede at 10-1. In the other Semi, Alexander (Crossgates) likewise only gained a single shot as David (North Duffield) drew steadily ahead to clinch it at 8-1 with an end to go.

The Final was all that a Final should be as Gareth set out to make amends for his recent 1-13 defeat at the hands of David in the National U18 Heats. Both players concentrated mainly on their drawing game with David going 5-3 ahead at the halfway stage. In the next end Gareth went ahead with a 3 after David tried unsuccessfully to use a little running to shift Gareths woods. On the 6th end, it looked to the spectators as if the end was drawn with two touching woods. However the Umpires feeler gauges found in favour of Gareth who was now 7-5 up with two ends remaining. Unperturbed, David drew 2 more shots to square the match at 7-7 ready for the last end. In this, David first two woods were good but Gareth had just pinched the shot with his first - the jack having moved out into the open. With a superb running wood Gareth then ditched the jack to lie shot about 1foot away. It looked lost for David but he had a toucher on the mat and went for this with weight. Another great shot...... but delivered just too heavily, it drove the toucher into the ditch straight onto the jack........ and bounced over the fender! A relieved Gareth was thus able to claim the 3 shot penalty and the match to become this year Junior Champion in dramatic fashion. 

There were also two subsidiary 4 wood Target competitions in which all competitors had a go. In the morning this was won by Joseph Newsome with 21 points over Gareth Townend and Richard Powell who each had 14 points. In the afternoon it was James Barker with 17 points over Stephen Hughill and Callum Haigh who each had 13 points.

In the absence of a Competition Secretary, this years competition was organised and run jointly by Eileen Bunting, our new Assistant Competition Secretary and the Chairman Noel Clark. Thanks go to all the helpers who contributed to the success of the day, in particular to John Bunting who ran the Target competitions and Fred Wood who was kept busy sorting out tricky measures throughout the day. 

The SINGLES - Saturday January 7th 2006. This years record entry of 46 was initially organised into a preliminary round robin consisting of 11 groups of 4. The top two in each group then joined the two lucky entrants who had a bye, for Round 1 - another round robin, this time of 8 groups of 3. Once again the top 2 in each group progressed to final 16  - the first KO round.

In these - Paul Williamson (Boroughbridge) made a 3 on the last end to  beat Jill Newsome (N. Duffield) 7-5; Graham Sherburn (Flixton) overcame Mick Ridge (Barn) 8-7 after an extra end; Clive Scholefield (Crossgates) also needed an extra end to put out Arthur Jackson (St. Cuthberts) 9-8; Len Bradley (Helmsley) won the last 3 ends but it was too little, too late, allowing Simon Holtby (Boroughbridge) through 11-4; Alex Robinson, one of Crossgates promising Juniors, had his fine run ended by 4-10 at the hands of David Loraine (Barn); with a 2 on the last end, Janet Clark (N Duffield) just pipped Philip Elgie (Branton) 7-6; Richard Clark finished strongly to overcome Colin Raper (N Duffield) 13-8 whilst Geoff Whitehead (T&L) had a convincing 18-4 win over Matt Fenwick (BSA).  

In the Q Finals, Graham just got the better of Richard 9-8 whilst Janet struggled against Paul who won 12-2; Clive could not get back from 1-6 down allowing David through by 7-4 whilst Simon won the last 6 ends to come back from 1-5 down and overcome Geoff by 8-5.

In the Semi Finals, Pauls drawing game was foiled by Davids weight and he went out 6-8 whilst Graham had no answer to Simons consistent accurate drawing which gave him a 7-2 win. In the Final Davids running woods were not accurate enough to get the better of Simons accuracy. After a total of 81 ends and 324 woods, this years Singles Champion is therefore Simon Holtby (see PhotoGallery)

All games were of 9 ends duration and the day finally finished at 5.15. The Umpire was Derek Williams who was kept very busy all day. The raffle raised £77. With both David and Graham declining the opportunity they earned by reaching the Semis, our Singles team (of 5) for the NESMBA Finals at Barnard Castle in March will therefore be Simon Holtby, Paul Williamson, Richard Clark, Clive Scholefield and Geoff Whitehead.

The PAIRS - Saturday January 21st 2006. 30 of the 42 entries had an early start at 0900 for a Preliminary Round (arranged as 10 round robin groups of 3). The top 2 in each group then went through to join the remaining 12 entries in Round 1 - another round robin but this time 8 groups of 4 with the top 2 in each group qualifying again. By 2pm the field was thus reduced to the final 16 for the first KO round after which the last 8 contested a Quarter Final.

In these, Anne & Mick Ridge (Barn) put out Eric Richardson/Simon Holtby (Boroughbridge) 12-8; Ken Calvert (Boroughbridge) playing with Rose Haynes (Gt. Ouseburn) just pipped Philip Egie/Allan Meek (Branton) 8-7; North Duffield brothers David & Joseph Newsome ended Hambletons' John Bunting and Ivy Fox's hopes by 8-6. Finally, Richard Clark (Tollerton), paired once again with Dennis Jarvis (Raskelf), having reached this stage with a last end 7-6 win over last years Champions, Roger Green/Paul Williamson, beat Barry Simmonite/Margaret Mellors (Hambleton) 11-3. Anne & Mick then reached the Final with a 11-4 defeat of the Newsomes to meet Richard & Dennis who overcame Ken & Rose by 10-4.

The Final was a very closely contested affair with all 4 players showing superb drawing skills with little need for weight. On the final end, the Ridges were relieved when Richard, bowling into a very tight head moved the jack a fraction to give the end away and tie the scores at 7-7. In the extra end that followed, Anne was unable to draw in close enough to steal the shot with her last wood giving Richard & Dennis victory by one shot. These two have now proved themselves to be the best pairing in the county having reached all 3 County Pairs Finals and securing this, their second title. (see PhotoGallery)   

All games were of 9 ends duration and the day finally finished at 4.50pm. No Umpire was available for the whole day so duties were shared. The raffle raised £97. All Semi-Finalists accepted the offer to go to the NESMBA Finals in March so  our Pairs team (of 4) at Barnard Castle will therefore be Dennis Jarvis & Richard Clark, Anne & Mick Ridge, Ken Calvert/Rose Haynes and the Newsome boys. 

The TRIPLES - Sunday January 8th 2006. (The day began on time at 09.30 after some minor re-adjustments due to one triple breaking down less than a mile from the venue.) With 28 entries, there was no need for a preliminary round as everyone was organised into 7 round robin groups of 4. The winners and runners up + the next best two then made up the final 16 for the first KO session after which just 8 triples remained for the Q Finals. In these, David Newsomes North Duffield trio only allowed Doreen Addymans  triple from Darley to score 3 singles on his way to a convincing 16-3 win (which included a 5 and two 4's); Philip Elgie (Branton), who had put out Kirbymispertons John Myers (5-3) in a game in which neither had scored more than a single on any end, then went down 4-8 to Flixtons Barry Crossland; Richard Lunds triple coped with a fast mat better than  Rose Haynes team to win 10-3 and Barry Simmonite pipped Hambleton club colleague Alan Banthorpe 5-3 (another game in which no side score more than a single).     

In the first Semi Final, David, playing with mum Jill Newsome and brother Joseph Newsome, overcame the experience of Barry who was playing with wife Joan Crossland and Graham Sherburn by 8-4. In the other, Richard and BSA club colleagues Matt Fenwick and John Coffey ended Barrys challenge, playing with John Bunting and Margaret Mellors by 11-5.

The Final therefore saw the Newsome family face up to the experienced BSA team watched by a good crowd of around 30 spectators. Davids three immediately had Richard under pressure with a 4 on the first end building to a 6-1 lead at the half way mark. Richard rallied to have a chance going into the final end just 2 shots adrift. At one point it looked as if he would pick up a 3 or 4 to pinch victory but David kept his head and drew in with his last wood to clinch the shot and an 8-5 victory to become this year County Triples Champions.  

All games were of 8 ends duration and the day finally finished as scheduled at 4.50. The Umpire was Derek Williams who was again kept very busy all day. The raffle raised £110. With both Richard and Barrys triples declining the opportunity they earned by reaching the Semis, our Triples team (of 4) for the NESMBA Finals at Barnard Castle in March will therefore be the triples of David Newsome, Barry Simmonite, Alan Banthorpe,  and Philip Elgie. (Note that an additional place was subsequently offered to us by the NESMBA and this will be taken up by Rose Haynes). 

The FOURS - Saturday February 4th 2006. With 21 entrants, no Preliminary Round was required and the day commenced at 10am with everyone playing in one of 7 groups of 3. From these the winners/runners up  (along with the next best two)  progressed to the final 16 and the first KO Round after which the winners were drawn to play in the Quarter Finals.

In these Flixtons Barry Crossland squeezed out Tate & Lyles Geoff Whitehead 6-4; Martons Brian Higgs ended a good run by David Newsomes "multi-coloured" U18 rink from North Duffield 7-3; Alan Banthorpe suffered a 2-9 defeat at the hands of Len Bradley from Helmsley and Chris Addy overcame Tollerton club colleague Richard Clark by 11-8; The Semis then saw Chris with club colleagues Monica Addy, William Knapton and Derek Walker from Escrick go out to a 2-8 defeat by Barry who was playing with wife Joan Crossland and Graham/Linda Sherburn. The other Semi saw Brian with Brian Flinton and Harwood/Mary Bonas despatch Len, wife Pam Bradley, John Leckenby and Hilda Thomas by 10-6.

In the Final, Barrys team made up a deficit of 5 shots to enter the last end at 7-7 but it was the Marton team who just took the shot to clinch this years County Fours title. Hard luck to Barry whose team was also runner up in 2004. (see PhotoGallery)   

All games were of 8 ends duration and the day finally finished 15 minutes behind schedule at 5.15. The Umpire was Derek Williams (although he was also playing as substitute for a last minute drop out). The raffle raised £97. With Brian, Len and Barrys triples declining the opportunity they earned, our Fours team (of 4) for the NESMBA Finals at Barnard Castle in March will therefore be the rinks of Chris Addy, Geoff Whitehead,  Richard Clark and D Beardsley. (Gareth Townends team were offered a place but sensibly decided to refuse as they have to be in Hampshire the next day for the U18 England Trials game).