Sunday the 19th October saw many of Hertfordshire’s best bowlers come to Stevenage for the National Qualifiers/County Over 55’s competition. We had sixteen pairs enter so they were split into four groups of four. The morning saw all eight mats in use as each of our pairs had three ten end games to sort out the positions in each group. With the top two pairs of each group going through we had our Quarter finalists ready to start play after lunch.
Quarter Finals
We had Martin Nash and Neil Rixon playing Penny and Colin Jones, in a close match over ten ends on mat seven Martin and Neil took the win at 9 – 7. Jeff Branch and Dennis Mack played Andrew Miles and Alan Hare on mat two. In another close game Alan and Andrew held a three on the last end to win 11 – 10. Darren Stanford and Paul Bruce were on mat six playing Brian and Audrey Fowler. Going into the last end at seven all Darren and Paul held on for the win with a single on the last end. Brian McGivern and Alan Spicer played Sue Knight and Malcolm Warwick on mat five. Brian and Alan had the win at 12 – 4.
Semi-Finals
So we now had our Semi-Finalists. Martin and Neil played Brian and Alan on mat one. After six ends it was five all. After ten ends it was eight all. An extra end had to be played which Brian and Alan won and saw them through to the final. Alan and Andrew played Darren and Paul on mat three. Alan and Andrew held a hotshot four on end three for a 6 – 3 lead. Darren and Paul pulled back and were 8 – 6 up after seven ends. Alan and Andrew took a single on each of the next two ends making it eight all with one to play. The last end saw Alan and Andrew hold a single to become the second finalist.
Third/Fourth Play-off
The third/fourth play-off between Martin and Neil and Darren and Paul was played on mat four. After four ends, all going for singles Darren and Paul were 3 – 1 up. Martin and Neil held a single followed by a double for the lead. End seven and Darren and Paul levelled the score at four all. Taking the following two ends for singles Martin and Neil had a two-shot lead going into the last end. Darren and Paul fought back and managed to hold a single but with a one-shot lead Martin and Neil had taken third place.
Final
The final between Brian and Alan and Andrew and Alan was played on mat two. Brian and Alan started with two singles and followed on with two doubles. Andrew and Alan held a single on end five but Brian and Alan came straight back and held their third double of the final for an 8 – 1 lead. Andrew and Alan came back and held a second single on end seven. End eight and Brian and Alan took the only triple of the final. With an 11 – 2 lead there was no way back for Andrew and Alan. Brian McGivern and Alan Spicer had become our County over 55’s pairs winners and will also take position one for Hertfordshire at the Nationals.
Well what a great day of bowling we all had, with thirty two pairs games played over the day, a large majority of games being decided on the last end, in many cases by only one shot.
Our 2025 Over 55’s County Champions
Brian McGivern and Alan Spicer
Runners up: Andrew Miles and Alan Hare
3rd Place: Martin Nash and Neil Rixon
4th Place Darren Stanford and Paul Bruce
How many places we get allocated for the nationals will not be known until January. We will definitely get two places but could easily get three or four. We will just have to wait and see.
We only have to wait a fortnight before we will all be at Stevenage again for the County/ National Qualifiers Pairs competition when all those youngsters will be joining in, see you all then.