As everyone is getting ready for Christmas and greetings cards are being distributed amongst us all the machine that is the County/National qualifiers goes on. Sunday the 21st saw all those bowlers bidding to become fours champion met at Stevenage as tempting as it was they all stayed in the bowling hall and tried to avoid the pantomime ( this year it was ‘Where is the Urn’) that was being performed around them. So thirty six bowlers in nine teams were ready for the start at 09.00. We had two groups, one of four and one of five and the morning round robin stage began. Once the round robin was completed the top two teams from each group progressed to the Semi-Finals.
Semi-Finals.
Mat one had Alan Spicer, Bev Stevenson, Martin Nash and Brian McGivern playing Wendy Hunt, Jan Rogers, Mark Spalding and Darren Brown. Alan, Bev, Martin and Brian started with a single. Wendy, Jan, Mark and Darren matched that and continued with a double for a 3 – 1 lead after three ends. Alan, Bev, Martin and Brian regained the lead with a triple and reinforced their position with a single on end five. Wendy, Jan, Mark and Darren pulled back with a single but Alan, Bev, Martin and Brian held a triple and went into the last end with a four-shot lead at 8 – 4. The last end saw Wendy, Jan, Mark and Darren hold a four and it was all square at eight all so an extra end had to be played. Wendy, Jan, Mark and Darren held onto the extra end for a single and the first place in the final.
Mat four and our second semi-final was between the team of Doreen Andre, Margaret Hare, Andrew Miles and Alan Hare and the team of Audrey Fowler, Sue Knight, Mike Haslam and Brian Fowler. Audrey, Sue, Mike and Brian started with a single. Doreen, Margaret, Andrew and Alan took the lead with a triple on end two. Audrey, Sue, Mike and Brian pulled back with a single but Doreen, Margaret, Andrew and Alan increased their lead with a single on end four. With the following two ends going for a single apiece Doreen, Margaret, Andrew and Alan were maintaining their two-shot lead, they then took their third single of the game to increase their lead to 6 – 3 with one end to play. The last end saw Audrey, Sue, Mike and Brian take their fourth end for a fourth single but Dorren, Margaret, Andrew and Alan had the win and their place in the final.
03rd/04th Playoff
Alan Spicer, Bev Stevenson, Martin Nash and Brian McGivern started this game with a double. Audrey Fowler, Sue Knight, Mike Haslam and Brian Fowler matched this on end two. Alan, Bev, Martin and Brian Mc then held a four for a 6 – 2 lead. Audrey, Sue, Mike and Brian F held a single but Alan, Bev, Martin and Brian Mc took end five for a triple and a 9 – 3 lead and the writing was on the wall. Audrey, Sue, Mike and Brian F came back for a single and a double but Alan, Bev, Martin and Brian Mc held the last end for a second triple and took third place with a 12 – 6 win.
The Final
The final was played on mat two. Wendy Hunt, Jan Rogers, Mark Spalding and Darren Brown started well with a triple. Doreen Andre, Margaret Hare, Andrew Miles and Alan Hare came back for a single on end two. Wendy, Jan, Mark and Darren then extended their lead on end three with a double taking the score to 5 – 1. Doreen, Margaret, Andrew and Alan reduced their deficit with a double on end four but Wendy, Jan, Mark and Darren held a single for a 6 – 3 lead after five ends. End six saw the game turn around when Doreen, Margaret, Andrew and Alan took the lead with a massive five. With the penultimate end being declared tied, Doreen, Margaret, Andrew and Alan made sure of the win with a final single to take the trophy with at 9 – 6.
Our 2025 Fours County Champions
Doreen Andre, Margaret Hare, Andrew Miles, and Alan Hare
Runners up: Wendy Hunt, Jan Rogers, Mark Spalding and Darren Brown
3rd Place: Alan Spicer, Bev Stevenson, Martin Nash and Brian McGivern
4th Place Audrey Fowler, Sue Knight, Mike Haslam and Brian Fowler
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.
Can we please all say thank you to Darren Stanford our Competition Organiser and to Rebbeca Nightingale. They both worked tirelessly throughout the day making sure that this event run smoothly.