Latest News from Cornwall County Short Mat Bowling Association
Sunday 9th March 2025
Cornwall claim National Over 55’s Pairs title
On Sunday Newlyn Trinity’s Mike Dyer and Nigel Nicholls claimed the ESMBA National Over 55’s Pairs title at Melton Mowbray Indoor Bowling Club. The pair made light work of the group stages comfortably winning all three games with a +29 shot difference, defeating Dave Coultas & Graham Stubbs (Humberside) 14-4, Alan Spicer & Brian McGivem (Hertfordshire) 16-3 and Monica Enticknap & Dave Luxford (West Sussex 11-5.
In the the knockout stages wins came against Shirley Cox & Brian Watkins (Herefordshire) 14-8, Bob Cousins & Derek Adams (Suffolk) 13-0, Dave Goddard & Janice Gould (Hampshire) 16-1 and Jill Newsome & Anna Noughton (North Yorkshire) 15-6 to reach the final against Lorraine and Andrew Shorney (Hampshire).
The Hampshire pairing quickly opened up a 5-0 lead in the final before Nigel & Mike responded with a score of 3 on the fifth end. Hampshire responded with a single shot on the sixth end to re-establish a three shot lead. Two consecutive scores of 2 on the seventh and eighth ends took Cornwall into the lead for the first time in the final and the lead was extended with another score of one to Cornwall on the ninth end to lead 8-6 with and end to play. Hampshire levelled the score on the final end to force a tie break where with his last bowl Nigel trailed the jack into the ditch to secure the title 9-8.
The full final can be watched at https://fb.watch/ydJ3Ge8qpj/
John Worton (St Newlyn East & Steve Smith (Holmans) also topped their group and progressed to the knockout stages. In Group 8 they won 14-9 against Shannon & Terry Mead (Essex) and 9-5 against Paula & Julian Scales (Kent), and lost 7-9 to Lawrence & Chantel Ireland (North Yorkshire). In the first round of the knockouts they lost 4-11 to Jeff Vanns & Alan Stroud (Kent).
Paula & Rob D’Agostino (Kensey Vale), drawn in Group 3 didn’t reach the knockout stages winning one of their three group games against Thelma & David Hacker (East Sussex) and losing to finalists Lorraine & Andrew Shorney (Hampshire) 7-9 and Steve Stanton & Richard Nicoll (Dorset) 6-11.
Martin Boraston & Jon Read (Duloe) lost all three games in Group 11, 6-12 to Ray Niblick & Peter Hopkins (Kent), 3-7 to Denise George & Mark Clark (West Sussex) and 4-13 to Shirley Cox & Brian Watkins (Herefordshire).
On Saturday Cornwall was represented by two teams in the National Mixed Fours at the same venue.
Mark Williams, Eileen Williams, Zoe Barnard-Rowland & Lee Rowland (Camelford) were drawn in Group Four where they won two matches against Diane Shepherd, Gill Cawrse, George Main & Elliot James (Devon) 7-6 and Dawn Cox, Shirley Cox, Brian Watkins & Tony Vitale (Herefordshire) 6-5. A 3-11 loss to Lisa Miles, Andrew Miles, Margaret Hare & Alan Hare (Hertfordshire) left them in second place in the group. In the first round of the knockout they lost 3-8 to Lisa Williams, Marilyn Davies, Les Woodward & Chris Hasker (Oxfordshire).
Chris Page, Caroline Trubshaw, Charlotte Rollings & Alan Trubshaw (Duloe) were unbeaten in Group 11 with wins against Audrey Fowler, Sue Knight, Malcolm Warwick & Brian Fowler (Hertfordshire) 8-7, Dave Watts Diane Marshall, Lynn Orlando & Santo Orlando (Oxfordshire) 13-7 and Shirley Parnell, Sue Crilley, Bill Crilley & John Parnell (Devon) 14-4. The first round of the knockouts saw them drawn against Dave Lamb, Donna Lamb, Leanne Mills & Ryan Fox (Norfolk) losing 3-9.
Inter Area League
Locally the Inter Area League draws to a conclusion on Sunday at Carnmoggas with the third of three match days.
After the first two match days East area lead with 36 points, North area 2nd with 25 points, West area 3rd with 18 points and Central area 4th with 17 points.
Play gets underway at around 1000.
Short Mat Players Tour - Champion of Champions
Fresh from winning the National Over 55’s Pairs Nigel Nicholls (Newlyn Trinity) will take part in the Short Mat Players Tour’s new Champion of Champions event at Etherow Indoor Bowling Centre in the Peak District featuring 28 of the most decorated players on the tour.
Nigel has previously won one tournament on the tour, the 2018 British Open and won the Order of Merit title in the same year. Nigel won silver medal at the 2024 Norwegian Open and bronzes at the 2018 English Masters and 2019 UK Open.
Nigel is drawn in Group C where he will face
Alastair McCrea (ENG) - 2 x UK Open Champion
Marcus Almen (SWE) - 2016 Swedish Master Champion
Cecil Dillon (IRE) - Former English Masters & Swedish Masters Champion
Peter Roberts (ENG) - 2 x Norwegian Open Champion
Lawrence Moffat (SCO) - 2016 UK Open Champion
Andrew Leckey (IRE) - 2013 Irish Open Champion
Nigel’s match against Peter Roberts is scheduled for the Show Mat and Live Stream on Youtube at around 1100 on Saturday.
The event follows the usual format of group games predominantly on Saturday and knockout on Sunday with a substantial prize fund on offer.
Area Leagues
In the Central Area Luxulyan Golds overhauled leaders Withiel Oaks last week taking maximum points for matches away to Lostwithiel and home to Withiel. The title race concluded this week with Luxulyan Golds hosting St Newlyn East on Wednesday and second placed Withiel Oaks hosting Luxulyan Maroons on Thursday. Six points for Luxulyan Golds on Wednesday will secure them the title, anything less will open the door for Withiel Oaks.
County Finals
The weekend of 22nd and 23rd March will see the County Finals played at Carnmoggas. The qualifiers for the finals can be found on the CCSMBA website.
Published by Cornwall County Short Mat Bowling Association
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9 March 2025
Well done gents!