Eagle swoops to land himself a place in two national finals

He’s through in the mixed pairs with Sarah Newson following a 24-15 victory in the area final at Coventry against Three Spires’ Martin Hammond and partner which followed an excellent 20-17 semi-final success over England pair Jamie Walker and Katie Smith.

Then he defeated Whittlesey Manor’s Tony Reed 21-15 in the Hunts county final of the over 55 singles which starts a day after the mixed pairs at Leamington on August 27.

Also through to Leamington from county finals are Sheila Craig (Conservative) in the over 55 singles and Parkway’s Val Newson and Pat Reynolds in the over 55 pairs.

However, the Parkway rink of Sarah Newson, Catherine Popple, Tristan Morton and Stuart Popple lost out 16-19 in the area semi-final of the national mixed fours to a quartet skipped by England star Jamie Walker, from the Northampton West End club.

It was also the end of the road for the City of Peterborough double rink in the area final of the Tony Allcock Trophy, the national inter-club senior mixed double rink competition, as they were beaten 30-36 at Northampton club Kingsthorpe.

The rink of Fiona Richardson, Jessica Phillips, Malcolm Squires and Geoff Hedges won 18-17, but Roger Strong’s rink of Linda Darani, Norma Squires and Peter Eddings were beaten 12-19.

TOP CLUB

Parkway ladies have qualified for the national Top Club play-offs after beating Conservative 4-0 in the Hunts final – they were the only entries from the county.

The city side now face Bedfordshire winners Ampthill on a neutral green for a place in the last 16.

ADAMS TROPHY

Northants men will know this weekend whether they have done enough to reach the final of the English Bowling Federation’s Adams Trophy inter-county championship which they won for the first time last year.

They currently top the southern table, but Suffolk require just 17 points from the 22 on offer from their rearranged clash with bottom of the table North Cambs at Tilney St Lawrence on Saturday to overhaul the champions and qualify for Skegness next month.

COUNTY FINALS

The finals of the Hunts county competitions are being staged on Sunday at Yaxley, home club of county president Freda Thomas.

The finalists in the mainstream events are already guaranteed their places in the national finals at Leamington next month.

Parkway brothers Ean and Tristan Morton, along with Warboys’ Ed Elmore, are all looking for title hat-tricks on the day, with young Elmore having already lost to Joe Randall (Parkway) in the under 25 singles decider.

Catherine Popple (Parkway) has already claimed the four-bowl singles title with a final defeat of Parkway’s Sabrina Parnell, and could add two more this weekend.

Warboys and Parkway will clash in the final of the Stuart & Co Shield, the inter-club double rink event, following semi-final victories over Whittlesey Manor and Buckden respectively.

PETERBOROUGH LEAGUE

Yaxley Kites will face CoP Molins A in the final of the Peterborough League’s Munday Shield at Whittlesey Town, home club of League president Jean Redhead, on Thursday, August 18.

In the semi-finals, Yaxley Kites defeated West Ward A 56-25, while CoP Molins A edged home 41-37 against East Community.

In the Mick Lewin Trophy final, CoP Belvedere will meet West Ward Tigers at the same venue on Friday, August 12 following semi-final victories over Peterborough & District (72-39) and Langtoft Pearl Blue (60-44) respectively.