HARPENDEN IN THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

 

Harpenden's County Fours team of father and son Nick Muir and 14 year old Tom with Kevin Brazier and Woodie Donoghue has won through to the National Championships at Worthing.  Tom Muir is also the Junior Singles County Champion and Sue Catchpole is the Ladies Over 55 County Singles Champion and both will represent Hertfordshire in the National Championships at Worthing and Leamington Spa respectively.

 

In the County Fours semi-final Harpenden had an extremely tight match with Garston.  They were off to a good start, scoring five on the first end, but Garston levelled, then won the next five ends to lead 14-7.  Harpenden won the next five ends to level at 14-14 and the match was still all square at 15-15 after 18 ends.  On the 19th end Harpenden scored four shots and on the 20th Garston picked up two.  On the last end Tom Muir, Harpenden's lead, put his first wood right on the jack, but Garston rested it out for shot wood, but they needed two shots to force an extra end.  The Garston skip, Martin Coles, needed to trail the jack to their back woods but narrowly missed with both of his last two bowls, so Harpenden won 19-18 and they will play Royston in the County final on 1st August and will represent Hertfordshire in the National Championships on 16th August.

 

Tom Muir's Junior Singles final against Scott Lepley (Sawbridgeworth) was a very see-saw match.  Muir was 8-0 up after four ends but lost the next five to be 8-11 down, won the next four to lead 15-11 and lost the next three to be 15-18 down.  On the 17th end Muir was holding three shots but Lepley killed the end, but on the replay and on the 18th end Muir scored two shots to lead 19-18.  On the 19th end Lepley was holding three shots for a match lie, but with his last bowl, a real pressure shot, Muir drew shot and scored one shot on the next end to win 21-18.  He will represent Hertfordshire in the National Championships on 14th August.

 

Sue Catchpole (Harpenden) beat Tricia Martin (Hoddesdon & Rosehill) 21-8 in the Regional final of the Ladies Over 55 Singles and will represent Hertfordshire in the Ladies National Championships at Leamington Spa on 5th August.

 

Nick Muir and Jennie Redford (Harpenden) won their National Mixed Pairs area final 23-10 against Cassiobury and will play either Sandy or Baldock for a place in the National Championships at Worthing.

 

Harpenden men lost to Welwyn Garden City in the County Ten, losing three disciplines, the singles, pairs and fours, although winning the triples, and Harpenden ladies lost narrowly in the Double Rink by one shot overall, also to Welwyn Garden City.  However, Harpenden men beat Welwyn Garden City in the quarter-final of the Jones Cup.  Although losing at home by 5 shots, they won away by 9 shots.

 

In friendly matches Harpenden ladies beat Hemel Hempstead 68-46, Harpenden also winning the two rink league match, scoring 33 points to Hemel's 24, and in a mixed match Harpenden beat Harperbury 99-86, top rink:  Peter Waller, Keith Sharp, Linda Newby, John Favell. 31-10.

In the ladies District Triples League against Welwyn & District Harpenden lost at home 14-26 but won away 21-14, both teams scoring two points.  In the men's District League away against Townsend Harpenden fielded four new bowlers, John Horne, Jack Gow, Alan Falconer and Tony Hansard, who all performed well although the match was lost 77-90, Harpenden's top rink:  Steve Pariser, Steve Tilcock, George Tutt and Simon Burgess, 30-13. 

 

RESULTS (men)

 

County Officers Singles, semi-final

D Brooks (Harpenden) 21;  S Kilford (Roebuck)  17

 

District Pairs, quarter-final

S Burgess, A Redford (Harpenden) 18;  J Hall, J Godman (Townsend)  17 (after extra end)

 

RESULT (ladies)

 

District Pairs, round 2

D Roberts, J Holland (Harpenden)  21;  A Gunn, J Hair (Shire Park)  18

 

RESULTS (mixed)

 

Stockman-Winser, quarter-finals

L Thomson, J Redford, N Muir, A Redford (Harpenden)  21;  D Roberts, P Pentecost, E Roberts, E Pentecost (Harpenden)  14

V Nash, D Smith, J Tierney, B Smith (Hemel Hempstead)  12;  J Reid, L Newby, R Newby, S Burgess (Harpenden)  21

 

R. Newby 26th July 2010

 

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