…and a sisterly update from the last edition…
Helen Wood, York IBC, made it to the EIBA final stages in the triples along with team-mates Zoe Eagles and Helen Walker. Sadly for them they were edged out by just one shot 14-15 to Hounslow in their first round match against Hounslow IBC.
Also in the EIBA finals, Surrey’s Pauline Shanley played for her county against Lincolnshire in the Atherley Final. According to Pauline, her opponents were ‘very good’ and so it would seem from the score of 133-85 in favour of the ladies from Lincoln who took the title.
…and a little more news from this year’s EIBA Finals…
Richard Jennings, North Wilts IBC, made it to the final stages for the first time – and in two competitions. Along with team-mates Bobby George and Mel Curtis he played in the triples against Kingsthorpe IBC but lost out 13-26 in the first round.
Jennings made it to Melton Mowbray in the men’s over 60s pairs too. He partnered club-mate John Lucas through to the quarter-finals before the North Wilts duo lost to Cumbria, 23-17.
“We really didn’t think we would get this far,” admitted Jennings. “We felt good when we won our first two games against Cotswold and Cambridge Chesterton, and the whole thing has been a great experience.”
Jennings and Lucas opened with an 18-13 win over Cotswold’s Tim Webb and John Tombs, then defeated Chesterton duo Roy Smith and Mick Langley, 24-17, but were denied a place in the semi finals by Cumbrians Ron McGie and Rick Gallagher.
Jennings, who was involved in a road accident ten years ago, bowls from a standing stance, but lacks the stamina to walk the length of the green end after end in a match that might well last four hours.
“The local club appreciated the problem, and lent me a specially designed wheelchair,” said Jennings. “And the Umpire Vernon Findell was kind enough to push me up and down the rink.”