Cumberland News
By David Taylor
Last updated at 12:55, Thursday, 31 March 2011
Cumbria Indoor Bowls club made the 370-mile trip to Torquay on Friday but the drama began before the coach had left Carlisle. Cumbria's lady singles player Cindy Edmondson was not fit to travel and her stand in Muriel Johnston was forced to call off just 20 minutes before departure time when husband Dennis took ill. With the prospect of a hard quarter final tie against the much vaunted City of Ely side on Saturday morning it could have been a rather sombre trip to Torquay, but it was not, the players remained optimistic. Even when Jim Morris reported unwell but fit to play on Saturday morning and then David Taylor was afflicted by sciatica forcing another withdrawal, the team continued in upbeat mood.
Jean Morris transferred from the ranks of spectator to player and Raymond Morris made the same move. Jean had come prepared but Raymond played in borrowed shoes, socks, shirt and trousers and with borrowed bowls. John Crozier was switched to skip the fours, Eleanor Gass moved to play the singles and Raymond Morris played the men's singles.
City of Ely did not have all their top stars on view but eight of their 11-strong side have featured in the national ranking lists so what followed over the next three-and-a-half hours on Saturday can only be described as an amazing. Eleanor Gass did not play up to her best but still managed to secure a vital point when drawing her game. Raymond Morris not surprisingly found the going tough and as expected was well beaten but his presence did at least mean that Cumbria was able to play. The other three games however were something of a revelation as Cumbria not only matched their opponents but never really looked to be in danger of defeat. Jackie Wilson, Jean Morris, Jim Morris and John Crozier led all the way against Ian Brown, survived a shaky patch around the fifteen end mark and scored an excellent 22-16 win. In the triples Jackie Bewley, Alan Carruthers and Anthony Little made a rather slower start to their game but came back well to win 21-19 while in the mixed pairs Karen Edmondson and David McManus led virtually throughout but had to hang on to force the draw and give Cumbria an amazing 11-5 victory.
On to Sunday and hopes were high that a similar performance could earn Cumbria a place in the final. Gass apart, the players did not perhaps scale the same heights but for almost all of the game were at least the equal of their opponents. Gass was in super form in the singles and demoralised her younger opponent in winning 22-7, though Nottingham matched that score when Raymond Morris lost his singles. In the mixed pairs Edmondson and McManus set off well and were cruising for much of the game until inexplicably losing their way and ultimately the game 19-13.
The story of the triples and the fours games centred on just three of the 39 ends. John Crozier's four were there with every chance until a last wood takeout saw the Midlands side pick up a count of seven. It proved to be the decisive end, Cumbria going down 26-17. In the triples it was a similar story. Anthony Little's trio bounced back from the loss of a six just after halfway but the loss of another six later in the game was also to prove decisive, Nottingham winning that one 27-25 to leave them with a flattering 14-2 win overall.
And of course as so often happens in national events the team which accounts for Cumbria goes on to win the championship. Nottingham beat Watford 14-2.
Despite the ultimate defeat these were two excellent team performances and everyone taking part can be proud of their achievements. I have for some time claimed that Cumbria Indoor Bowls Club is the number one club in England, and events at Torquay last weekend did nothing to change my mind.
National Championships: The Men's National Championships start tomorrow at Nottingham and in the fours Cumbria Indoor Bowls Club will be represented by Paul Barlow, Martyn Rice, Trevor Taylor and Stuart Airey.
In the first round, at 9.30am, they play a North Walsham four skipped by Phil Barr.
On Sunday at 6.30pm Kevin Harrison, John Bell and Andrew Baxter take to the green in the triples and on Wednesday Paul Barlow and Stephen Farish will be playing the pairs.
Outdoor Bowls
April approaches and with it the outdoor season. Cyril Atkinson has asked me to remind players that there are still a handful of entries left in the May Day American Fours tournament for the Roland Starkie Trophy. Entries have declined of late and one reason put forward was that five fillings of nine ends each was possibly too much.
The County Association has therefore decided that this year the fillings will be reduced to seven ends making the day's play ten ends less overall. Incidentally while mentioning this tournament it is good to hear the provider of the trophy, Roland Starkie, has returned home following a short spell in hospital and the county's bowlers wish him well.
First published at 11:28, Thursday, 31 March 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk