NATIONAL DISAPPOINTMENT FOR MIDDLESEX’S PLAYERS

2011 won’t be a year Middlesex CBA or their players remember fondly when considering their results at the National Championships at Worthing.

Despite some spirited performances a series of tough draws meant that Middlesex experienced a high number of early exits from the various disciplines being competed in.

It should be remembered, however, before I get too down beat that there had been a number of tremendous results achieved by sides simply to get to Worthing so the year as a whole has seen Middlesex, their clubs and players make a positive impact on the wider bowls scene.

Worthing fortnight opened on Saturday August 13^th with the age restricted singles events! In the Junior singles Nick Edwards of Bounds Green stepped onto centre stage and promptly sent Cornwall’s Ben Cotton packing 21-8. Sadly Norfolk’s Max Harrison proved a tougher opponent in the next round downing Nick 21-14.

In the slightly more experienced singles (over 55’s!) Phil Sutcliffe of Brentham had made it through to the last 16 where he demolished Phil Soper of Uckfield, Sussex 21-4.  In the Quarter Finals Phil came up against Norman Coad of Stenalees, Cornwall, losing 21-18.  

Next up on Monday was the 4’s. Steve Stockley, Simon Jee, Larry Mulligan and John Goddard of Parsons Green drew the short straw when faced with arguably the competition favourites from Berkshire CBA. Mike and Robert Newman, Mark Bantock and Jon Stradling proved to strong as they won 26-9 before they themselves perhaps surprisingly lost at the Semi final stage to Somerset CBA.

Middlesex’s second entry faired better, Poplar’s Ray Fortune, Tom Brooks, John Stacey and Perry Cook opened up with a match against Durham CBA which they came through 25-23. As Worthing fortnight progressed this result proved to be all the more impressive as all 4 members of the Durham side played in the Darlington Railway Bowls Club double rink that would win the National 2 x 4’s title.

Tuesday morning saw the Poplar boys take on 4 from the Cheltenham Bowls Club in Gloucestershire and in a tight finish they won through 19-18. Round 3 on Tuesday afternoon sadly saw their run end as the boys from Sandwich Bowls Club in Kent triumphed 21-18. The Kent boys were then toppled by Berkshire’s second 4, the eventual winners, at the semi stage.

Also on Tuesday were the Quarter Finals of the Top Club Competition, West Ealing Bowls Club had done superbly to reach this stage beating some great clubs but Langwith Junction of Nottinghamshire CBA proved slightly too strong winning 4-1. Congratulations, though to every member of the West Ealing squad who played their part in getting to that stage.

Next up we moved onto the triples and sadly participation was short lived. First to play with a preliminary round tie were Jason Rowlands, Mick Kirby and Dave Parrott from Rosedale Park who succumbed to a Carnons Down triple from Cornwall 17-14.

The following morning in the 1^st round Parsons Greens Steve Stockley, Larry Mulligan and Simon Jee took on an Essex triple from Dunmow Bowls Club and lost 16-10.

The opening week closed with the White Rose Trophy, a two fours competition for County Under 25’s. Middlesex’s squad opened with a game against Herefordshire CBA and after a tight game they came through 37-35. Next up were the lads from Huntingdonshire CBA, sadly Middlesex lost on both rinks to go down 44-31. As a pick me up for the lads it was worth noting that Hunts went on to win the Competition.

Week 2 opened with the Balcomb Trophy, the Senior County double rink competition. Middlesex had drawn Cornwall for their Semi Final and after a poor start Middlesex never recovered and went down 41-24.

Things don’t stand still at Worthing for long and next up was the Pairs competition and my choice for the success story for Middlesex of Worthing fortnight. Andy Knott (pictured) with club mate Barry Smith of Masonian Bowls Club were making their Worthing debuts.

Middlesex’s usual allocation policy dictates that the lower entrant number becomes Middlesex “A” but due to the involvement of one half of the second Middlesex Pair in the Balcomb Trophy the Masonian Pair graciously took on the Middlesex “B” mantle as this entry had drawn one of the two 1^st round ties to be played Sunday afternoon.

Chandos Park in Buckinghamshire provided the opposition and cheered on by a good support Middlesex came through a nail biter 19-18. So with Monday morning off to support Middlesex “A” the Masonian boys arrived refreshed for their tussle with a pair from Measham Bowls Club in Leicestershire and they again prevailed by 1, 23-22. Tuesday morning dawned with Barry and Andy facing the challenge of Aspatria Bowls Club from Cumbira, this time there was no happy ending as they slid out 14-22.

Middlesex “A” in the form of Darren Gosnell and Fred Purse of Bounds Green started their campaign on Monday morning against Oxfordshire’s Nathan Lewis and Mark Charlett from Headington Bowls Club and the Middlesex boys came through impressively 26-21. This gave them a second round tie against Silksworth Bowls Club from Durham where sadly it all went wrong as they lost 9-27.

Next up were the Mixed 4’s, with Middlesex represented by the quartet of Norman Worley (Paddington), Perry Cook (Poplar) , Irene Barber and Brenda Lines (West Ealing). They were drawn against Nicky Brett’s quartet from Cambridgeshire which included Ellen Falkner who had recently won 3 titles at the Women’s national Championships at Leamington Spa. Despite a tough fight Middlesex went down 23-15. 

So the final men’s event was the Singles but Middlesex’s luck did not improve. Mick Thorn of Isleworth Bowls Club drew a preliminary tie against Ian Watson of Lindfield Bowls Club in Sussex and lost 9-21. Simon Jee, National Champion in 2006 and 4 time Middlesex singles Champion, had a 1^st round tie against Bruce Marks from Shanklin Bowls Club of the Isle of Wight. Sadly the man from overseas prevailed 17-21.

So the final event of the fortnight, containing Middlesex involvement, was the Mixed Pairs with Norman Worley and Irene Barber again our representatives. They had drawn Mark Walton of Nafferton Bowls Club in Yorkshire, himself a multiple winner of National titles and his partner. Norman and Irene put on a superb performance to win 22-19. In the afternoon things got even tougher with a tie against Amy Gowshall of Lincolnshire who had won gold at the 2010 Commonwealth games. Amy and her partner prevailed before going on to win the title by beating the defending champions in the final.

So was it a good year, a bad year or a mixed year. I guess ultimately, as always, it depends on how you did in comparison to your personal goals and aspirations for the season.

One things for certain, all things being equal come May 2012 we’ll all be out starting on the same trails with renewed hope, high levels of expectation and dreams of glory.