RESULTS & REPORTS
NATIONAL INDOOR TRIPLES 2024
Our triples this year were held at Nottingham IBC for the first time. This was hardly a difficult decision to make. We were given the usual warm welcome, and support. Besides this someone had generously ensured that our food and drinks would, once again, be free.
We had six teams. Therefore, all played all. Competition was fairly tight throughout. Indeed, all three games on Sunday morning could not have been closer. At the close on Saturday four teams had been in very close contention. However, the last round of matches came, and there were only two teams in the running. Naturally, they played against each other. These were MVPs (Taylor Vasey, Chris Price and Jonathan Mears) against Metro B (Betty Baker, David Mears and Wilbert Williams). The Metro B skip, Wilbert, played so very well that the opposition had no chance. As a consequence Three Counties (Scott Vallance, Ron Greaves and Gareth Harwood) jumped into second place.
We are ever so grateful to Alistair, Dave and the whole team at Nottingham IBC. Thanks must also go to Mal (umpire) and the scoreboard operators.
Of course, Doreen, Moira, Adrian and Jonathan worked hard to ensure all went smoothly.
Report by David Mears.
VIBE NATIONAL INDOOR PAIRS
2024
40 VIBE members assembled at Nottingham IBC to play in this year’s indoor pairs . Some brought experienced directors with them to provide invaluable assistance.
The teams were to play in two groups. The winners of each group would play each other in the main final. The runners-up contesting the plate. There were some hard fought matches. For example, the eventual winners were beaten, early on, lost to the Chairman.
The support provided by by the entire team at Nottingham IBC is tremendous. This includes all those helping on the green. We could not do it without the generous sponsorship from Judi and Paul Fowler. Where would we be without the hard work of some VIBE committee members?
Back to it. There was the odd surprise. Curtis Vasey and Jonathann Mears were to reach the main final. Whilst they did not win, Curtis gained the trophy as best B1 bowler. The winners, Ron Homer and Mo Perry, had done it all before. Those contesting the plate were also old hands. Sarah Marshall and Gareth Harwood beating Dave Wood and Phil Dutton after an extra end.
Best B1 Player - Curtis Vasey
PLATE COMPETITION
Runners-Up: Phil Dutton & Dave Wood
Winners: Sarah Marshall & Gareth
Harwood
MAIN COMPETITION
Runners-Up: Curtis Vasey & Jonathon
Mears
WINNERS: Ron Homer & Mo Perry
National Outdoor Triples 2023
Four teams travelled to Worthing for this year’s outdoor triples.
They were ably supported by Doreen Metcalf, who carried the equipment, helped to set up each day and undertook all of the administration. This was after Adrian Mears had made many of the advance arrangements.
After 3 of 6 games many would have thought it was all over. Hastings had not lost a game. Metro ‘B’ had not won one.
How wrong we were. Hastings did not win another game, whilst Metro ‘B’ won their last two.
Three Counties and Metro ‘A’ battled hard throughout. As a result of Metro ‘A’ beating Three Counties in their last game, they were crowned champions. Overall, a closely fought contest.
Result:
4th - Metro ‘B’ with 4 pts (Sue Henning, Tony Phillips and Junette Taylor).
3rd - Three Counties with 6 pts (Adrian Mears, Elsie Wilcox and Paul Davis).
2nd - Hastings also with 6 pts ) Daniel Ellman-Brown , Nicola Murphy and Ron Homer).
1st - Metro ‘A’ with 8 pts (Margorie Convey, Wilbert Williams and David Mears).
Naturally, we could not have done it all without the help, each day, of Worthing Lions. Yet again, they also made a generous donation to VIBE.
Then we had the wonderful support of a number of umpires. They included in their number a shifty looking honorary member.
Photographs
(courtesy of Michelle Cooperman)
available at this link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/mazupjr4vqqkj9dsocbiw/h?rlkey=jimrwfsxiew9a1jpxq4h107vh&dl=0
National Outdoor Pairs & Singles
2023
VISUALLY IMPAIRED BOWLS ENGLAND
OUTDOOR PAIRS & SINGLES RESULTS 2023
Once again, the Championships (and the results) were complicated by the lack of entries in certain genders and categories - resulting in 'Mixed' competitions.
Under such circumstances, there will be an 'Overall' winner and runner-up declared - but the gender-specific placings (pertinent to IBBA World Championships Selection Qualification Criteria) mean that in mixed-category Singles competitions, the qualifying status of men and women is determined by gender-specific games - i.e. only results in games against same-gender opponents will be considered.
After applying these criteria, the 2023 results are as follows:
PAIRS COMPETITIONS
B1 Pairs Winners: Keith Brenton & Richard Carey
B1 Pairs Runners-up: Margaret Cusker & Amit Amin
B2 Pairs Winners: Daniel Ellman-Brown & Kevin Betteridge
B2 Pairs Runners-up: Eric Gallacher & Sheila Brennan
B3 Pairs Winners: Paul Davis & John Hollowell
B3 Pairs Runners-up: Marjorie Convey & Steven Simmons
B4 Pairs Winners: Peter Waller & Steven Gill
B4 Pairs Runners-up: Ron Homer & Mo Perry
SINGLES COMPETITIONS
B1 Men's Singles: Champion: Keith Brenton.
Runner-up: Eric Gallacher
B1 Ladies' Singles: No competition. Only B1 Lady entered (and therefore going through to Qualification for IBBA World Championships): Margaret Cusker
B2 Mixed Competition: Winner: Phil Dutton.
Runner-up: Ron Homer
B2 Ladies' Champion: Nicola Murphy.
Runner-up: Margaret Cusker
B2 Men's Champion: Phil Dutton.
Runner-up: Ron Homer
B3 Mixed Competition: Winner: John Hollowell.
Runner-up: Jonathon Mears
B3 Ladies' Champion: Marjorie Convey.
Runner-up: Betty Baker
B3 Men's Champion: John Hollowell.
Runner-up: Jonathon Mears
B4 Men's Singles Champion: Gareth Harwood.
Runner-up: Mo Perry
B4 Ladies' Singles: No Entrants.
I.B.B.A. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023
Left: The England Players, Directors and Management
TEAM MANAGER'S REPORT
These World Championships were beset by difficulties from the outset. The initial date of 2021 had to be pushed back to 2022 and then 2023 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. There were then health and other issues which impacted on the initially-selected team.
Thankfully, I had the fantastic support of our Assistant Team Manager, Kelvin Horriben, who looked after all the numerous and worrying to-ing and fro-ing regarding sight classifications and also collected all the necessary information regarding health conditions, dietary needs, etc., etc. Without Kelvin’s support, I fear I would have buckled under the strain. Kelvin again proved his worth during the trip with his medical knowledge and background – which meant that people were treated quickly and appropriately – or referred on to others as appropriate. THANK YOU, KELVIN!
There were several issues which led to the enforced re-allocation of Directors, with Doreen Metcalf working with Keith Brenton, Nigel Morgan with Margaret Cusker, Kelvin with Paul Davis and Ron Homer having to put up with me on the green with him! Mention must also made of the devastating news of Heather's, passing (Ron's partner) on 10th March, which put all the other team problems into perspective. I must commend everyone in the team for rallying round to support Ron - in effect trying to be the family he really should have been with back home. Ron, being the 'trooper' he is was adamant that he wanted to soldier on and get a medal - which he did admirably!
As far as individual and team performance was concerned, I can honestly say that, although there were individuals disappointed with their results at times, I never once saw a head go down or anyone giving up in a game. There were so very many ‘nearly’ games where, despite valiant efforts, we lost out by the odd shot or two. Had we been able to convert those games into wins, England would have finished in third place overall (pipped to third place by New Zealand – and by just three points). As a Team, everyone ‘mucked in’ and, when Moira’s circulation problems in her legs finally got the better of her, I was only too happy to go on with Ron for the conclusion of his tournament. Kelvin was also on the green with Paul due to the enforced changes of Directors elsewhere.
The stand-out performance has to be that of Sarah Marshall. Having become World Champion as a B1 in 2017, there were many (myself, her husband and Director’s husband included) who doubted the wisdom of her decision to compete in the B2 category. How wrong we were! Despite her total blindness and in a category where her opponents had at least some vision, she won all but one of her games to become, as far as I’m aware, the first person ever to win a B1 World Title and then the B2 title – whilst still having no sight.
Keith Brenton battled away to claim Bronze in the B1 Men’s Singles, Margaret Cusker won Bronze in the B1 Ladies’ Singles and the pair won Bronze in the B1 Mixed Pairs. Ron’s tenacity and sheer determination got him through to the B2 Mixed Pairs Bronze Medal with partner Sarah Marshall.
Everyone in the team won at least one of their matches.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all the Committee Members who have served during the nearly 10 years of my tenure of the Team Manager's post. Thanks also to all the players with whom I have been honoured to work - and to their Directors and all those who have supported the England Team. I am going to enjoy a summer 'off' before returning in the Autumn as National Development Officer.
My very best wishes to Kelvin in his new role as Team Manager.
David Stott
The full results can be accessed via the IBBA Website:
Past Events (internationalblindbowls.org)
The official photographs can be accessed using the following link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GOi5uWMeai1jHk1rjYtu36zfF-ceoIk-?usp=share_link
VIBE INDOOR PAIRS 2023
With grateful thanks to Judi & Paul Fowler for sponsoring the event and to Alistair, his staff and the Volunteers from Nottingham Indoor Bowling Centre for their help and support.
13 Pairs – along with their helpers / Directors and management from VIBE - from afar afield as Gateshead and Plymouth, descended upon Nottingham IBC for their annual National Indoor Pairs Championships, played over the weekend of 18th / 19th February. Pairs played ‘Round Robin’ matches, in two Groups, with the Winners of each group playing in the Main Final and the Runners-Up of each group playing off for the ‘Plate’ competition.
Group A turned out to be a very ‘tight’ Group and, going into the last session, four of the six pairs were still in contention for the top two places. Taunton’s Dave Wood and Phil Dutton had not lost a game, although a drawn match left them with 7 points - with the pairing of B1 Richard Carey (Swindon) and John Hollowell (Bridgman BC, Bedfordshire) just one point behind. After 6 ends in their game, Wood and Dutton trailed David Mears and Maureen Ryan (Metro) by just one - and Carey & Hollowell were two up on Wilbert Williams (Metro) & Steve Chamberlain (Hastings). Elsewhere, Peter Waller & Betty Baker were tying with Josie Wood & Alan Turnbull.
In Group B, Stockport’s Gareth Harwood, paired with Devonian Steve Hartley (Plymouth Life Centre) set off ‘like the proverbial train’, winning their first game 15 – 1 – and they marched on relentlessly, securing their place in the Main Final before playing their last game, with 10 points and a massive +65 shot difference. Chasing them, and in competition with each other for the runners-up spot, were Gateshead’s B1 Keith Brenton, playing with club-mate Sheila Brennan; Alan Lyne (Lowestoft) and Paul Hawkes (Enfield) – and Adrian Mears (Littlehampton), playing with Nicola Murphy (Hastings). Lyne and Hawkes were playing Harwood and Hartley in the last session and, while a win for Lyne & Hawkes would have secured the Runners-up position, they found themselves 9 – 1 down after 5 ends. Elsewhere, Mears and Murphy were 3 up against Brenton and Brennan at the same point in the timed session.
At the conclusion of the end following the final whistle, Group A Winners were Dave Wood & Phil Dutton, with Richard Carey & John Hollowell Runners-Up.
Group B Winners were Steve Hartley & Gareth Harwood and Adrian Mears & Nicola Murphy finished as Runners-Up.
The Main Final, contested between Wood & Dutton and Hartley & Harwood saw the Somerset pair on the wrong end of a 7-nil scoreline after 3 ends and things only got worse for them as Harwood drove the jack into the ditch to score a 5 on end 4 – and then another 5 put the game out of Wood & Dutton’s reach. Final score: Dave Wood & Phil Dutton (Taunton Deane) 0 : Steve Hartley (Plymouth Life Centre) & Gareth Harwood (Stockport) 27
In the ‘Plate’ Final, which was a much more closely contested match, totally blind Richard Carey (Swindon), partnered by John Hollowell (Bridgman BC, Bedfordshire) overcame Adrian Mears (Littlehampton) and Nicola Murphy (Hastings) by just one shot to take the accolades.
The special award for the ‘Best B1’ (totally blind), in memory of the late Mick Worden was awarded by Mick's wife, Gay, to Gateshead’s Keith Brenton.
David Stott
VIBE Team Manager
19/2/23
UK VIB Indoor Singles 2022
The Championships were organised by England (with the support of Chris Morrow of Scotland) but, due to greens availablity at mutually agreeable dates, were hosted by West of Scotland Indoor Bowling Club.
As ever, the Championships were a keenly contested affair and, although the overall Team Winners were Scotland, the England Team can be rightly proud of its achievements. There were several 'new caps' for England and they all performed very well in their debut appearances with Bronze Medals for 'newbies' Mariza Jurgens (B1L); Taylor Vasey (B1M) and Jeannette Maisey (B2L), with a Silver for Betty Baker (B3 but playing as a B4 Lady).
'Older hand' medals were Bronzes for Marjorie Convery (B2L) and Mo Perry (B4M) and a much-deserved Gold for B1 Man, Keith Brenton. Gareth Harwood (B4M) became the first-ever to win the Gold Medal in his category at three successive championships. Well done, that man!! Thanks, as ever, go to all the Directors and Management Team - not forgetting all those who support our players, either financially or 'in spirit'.
CAT: BRONZE SILVER GOLD
B4 Ladies Irene McLure (S) Betty Baker (E) Lynn Barr (S) B4 Men Mo Perry (E) Jon Cox (W) Gareth Harwood (E)
B3L Marjorie Convey (E) Sandra Waters (S) Sylvia Johnston (S) B3M Gordon Harries (W) Matthew Thorne (W) Robert Barr (S) B2L Jeannette Maisey (E) Mary Stevenson (S) Melanie Innes (S) B2M John Fox (S) Ian Graham (S) Allan Jones (W) B1L Mariza Jurgens (E) Eleanor Clark (S) Lisa Royle (NI) B1M Taylor Vasey (E) Jack Lloyd (W) Keith Brenton (E)
The Team Trophy (The Friendship Cup): SCOTLAND
V.I.B.E. National Outdoor Pairs & Singles
2022
The 2022 Nationals were played on the three greens at Clarence Bowling Club, Weston-super-Mare from 19th - 24th June.
The tournament was opened by the renowned bowls commentator and journalist - and former Pairs Partner of the legendary David Bryant - David Rhys-Jones.
In glorious weather, the competitors battled it out in various competitions: Classification Pairs and Singles sections: B1 Men, B1/2 Combined Ladies', B2 Men, Mixed B3 and Mixed B4.
While some results 'went to form', there were some notable performances. Alison Yearling (selected to play in the VI mixed Pairs at the Commonwealth Games in July), came out on top of her group of otherwise all men. Several 'Newcomers' featured in the medal table, with Richard Carey winning the B1 Pairs (with 'old hand' Keith Brenton), Stephen Hartley & Jeannette Maisey were runners-up in the B2 Pairs, and Sally-Ann Lewis-Wall Won the B4 Pairs with another 'veteran' (in terms of time bowling with VIBE), Alan Lyne.
In the Singles competitions, there were more exceptional debuts for John Hollowell (winner of the B3 Men's Silver Medal); Steve Gill (Silver medal in the Men's B2 section) and Tony Phillips, Gold Medal, Men's B2).
Trophies and medals were presented by Somerset Men's President, Mr Barrie Dando. President Clive Robinson awarded the President's Cup, for the second time, to Team Manager David Stott in recognition of his on-going hard work on behalf of VIBE at all levels.
Full results can be downloaded here
WESTON-SUPER-MARE OPEN VI SINGLES
2022
48 bowlers enjoyed four days of glorious weather, great bowling and good company at this, the 10th Anniversary Tournament, hosted by Clarence Bowling Club, with support from Lions Club members.
The Saturday night Social and Quiz raised in excess of £100 and, after more was raised in Sunday's Spider, £176 is being donated to Weston Hospicecare.
Thanks, as ever, go to Bernie Robinson for raising over £1000 from the raffles. Such raffle money not only keeps entry fees down for the players, but also allows us to pay the green fees which are so necessary in order to support Clarence and Wessex LBC members to provide such great playing surfaces.
BEST NON-MEDALLING LADY: SARAH MARSHALL (BERKHAMSTEAD)
OPEN SECTION WINNER: TOBY WARREN (SWANSEA)
RUNNER-UP: Jon Cox (Swansea)
BRONZE MEDAL: Phil Dutton (Taunton Deane)
B1 WINNER: KEITH BRENTON (GATESHEAD)
B1 RUNNER-UP: Eric Gallacher (Metro, London)
B1 BRONZE MEDAL: Margaret Cusker (Rugby)
INDOOR PAIRS 2022 REPORT
Storm Eunice, which hit the British Isles on Friday 18th February, put paid to the travel plans of many would-be competitors and supporters and resulted in 12 bowlers having to withdraw because they just couldn’t get to Nottingham. Some Pairs withdrew as teams (defending Champions Ron Homer and Mo Perry included) and other individuals, who did make it to the venue, found themselves without partners. This, coupled with the re-classification of some players just before the Tournament, resulted in some pairings having to be re-organised and a complete re-doing of the entire playing schedule. It was a long night!!
So, whilst the wind continued to ‘blow a hoolie’ outside, 13 pairs took to the carpet at the Nottingham Indoor Bowling Centre to contest the Indoor Pairs Championships on Saturday morning.
It was great to see many of our established members present and very encouraging to have several new members playing for the first time.
VIBE uses a form of ‘handicapping’ system in an attempt to level-out the players’ differing sight classification. The ‘standard’ combined classification for the Pairs is B6. Any Pair including a B1 (totally blind) player receives a 2-shot advantage in each game, a Pair including a B4+ player incurs a 2-shot penalty, as does a Pair exceeding the B6 limit.
The competition was run in two Phases. In Phase 1, Pairs were randomly allocated to one of two groups where they each played a ‘round-robin-style’ series of 5 games of one-and-a-half hours’ duration per game. Due to the available session times, and the added complication of an uneven number of Pairs, some Pairs could only actually play 4 games, so were credited with the average shot scores from their four games for their fifth. At the completion of Phase 1 on Sunday morning. The Pairs were Ranked by points scored, shot difference and ends won (in that order), with the top 4 progressing, in Phase 2, to the Trophy play-offs and the remaining 9 playing 2 further games to determine the Plate Winners and Runners-up.
The ‘Top Four’ Pairs (ranked 1 – 4) were: newcomers Richard Carey (B1) and Rhys Taylor; June Holroyd and Gareth Harwood; Keith Brenton (B1) and Sheila Brennan; Marjorie Convey and Steven Simmons. These ‘Top Four’ played a further ‘round-robin’ of three games to determine the Trophy Winners.
In the first round of Phase 2, fourth-ranked, and highly-experienced, Marjorie Convey and Steven Simmons overcame the young newcomers, Richard Carey and Rhys Taylor who had surprised many by finishing as the top-ranked Pair in Phase 1. Gateshead’s Keith Brenton and Sheila Brennan overcame June Holroyd and Gareth Harwood – regarded by many as being favourites to win the Trophy. In the Plate, Metro’s Maureen Ryan and David Mears beat Bob Booth of Pennine and Wilbert Williams of Metro – a ‘scratch’ pairing made up at the last minute because of others’ inability to attend.
In Round Two, Pennine’s June Holroyd and Gareth Harwood upset Metro’s Marjorie Convey and Steven Simmons with a five-shot victory whilst the two Pairs which included B1 players fought out a close battle, with the experienced Brenton and Brennan duo overcoming newbies Carey and Taylor by two. In the Plate there were wins for Booth and Williams, Hastings’ Lynn Bourne and Chris Price, ‘Sub’ Clive Robinson (taking over from the injured Paul Hawkes) and Lowestoft’s Alan Lyne – and Scott Vallance (North Walsham) and Jonathon Mears (Newcastle).
Going into the last session, another win for Brenton and Brennan, this time playing Convey and Simmons, would clinch victory overall and, with two losses already, Carey and Taylor’s chance had gone. However a loss by the Gateshead pair and a win by Holroyd and Harwood in the other Trophy game would mean a three-way tie on points and therefore the final result being determined on shot difference – or even the number of ends won. It was a tense time!
Brenton and Brennan looked comfortable after 2 ends but a six from Convey & Simmons on end 3 wiped out their lead and put the Metro pair ahead by two. Meanwhile, on the next rink, Carey & Taylor were well ahead, 10 – 4 after 4 ends of their game against Holroyd and Harwood.
Brenton & Brennan managed singles on the next two ends to level up at 6 – 6 after 5. ‘Next door’, Carey & Taylor had extended their lead to ten shots after 6 ends and, with only ten minutes left before the whistle for ‘no more jacks’, looked to be home and dry, with Holroyd and Harwood’s hopes sinking fast.
Just before the whistle, Steve Simmons played a great bowl to tip one of Marjorie’s bowls in for shot and, the whistle then having been blown, Steve elected not to play his final bowl after Sheila had failed in her final attempt to draw shot. 6 – 7 to Convey and Simmons - however, despite their loss, the Gateshead pair still had the better shot-difference and so claimed the Trophy.
The final results were:
TROPHY WINNERS: KEITH BRENTON & SHEILA BRENNAN (by 4 on shot-difference)
TROPHY RUNNERS-UP: MARJORIE CONVEY & STEVEN SIMMONS
Plate Winners: Maureen Ryan & David Mears
Plate Runners-Up: Clive Robinson & Alan Lyne
The Shield for the ‘Best B1’ player, donated by Gay in memory of her husband - and former B1 Champion bowler - Mike Worden, went to Richard Carey of Swindon Manor Disabled Bowls Club.
A great weekend’s bowling was enjoyed by all concerned and VIBE’s thanks go to all the Club Management, staff and Members of Nottingham IBC who have so wonderfully hosted and supported this Tournament for several years.
Massive thanks also to our Tournament Sponsors - Judi & Paul.
Next year’s dates at Nottingham are confirmed as 18th & 19th February.
Report by David Stott – VIBE Team Manager
Pictured below (L to R): Nigel Morgan (Director); Keith Brenton; Sheila Brennan; VIBE President, Clive Robinson and Scott Vallance (VIBE Vice-Chair).
V.I.B.E. 2021 Nationals Results
B1 Men's Winner: Keith Brenton. Runner-up: Amit Amin
B2 Men's Winner: Chris Turnbull. Runner-up: Ron Homer
B2 Ladies' Winner: Sarah Marshall. Runner-up: Lynne Bourne
B3 Men's Winner: Darren Moon. Runner-up: Khanmuzaffarul Gause
B3 Ladies' Winner: Alison Yearling. Runner-up: Sheila Brennan
B4 Men's Winner: Gareth Harwood. Runner-up: Alan Lyne
B1 Pairs Winners: Keith Brenton & Margaret Cusker
Runners-up: Amit Amin & Eric Gallacher
B2 Pairs Winners: Bob Booth & Chris Turnbull
Runners-up: Steve Gill & Lynne Bourne
B3 Pairs Winners: Marjorie Convey & Steve Simmons
Runners-up: Paul Davis & Jonathan Mears
B4 Pairs Winners: Kevin Page & Gareth Harwood
Runners-up: Ron Homer & Maurice (Mo) Perry