Sunday 30th March saw 15 rinks playing at Barton Le Clay for the County Fours title. With entries up on last year and some very strong looking rinks it should be a good climax to the seasons closed competitions.

The group stages were strongly contested, Group A was won on the last match by a mixed four skipped by Mike Walker. Group B was also close with two teams on six points but the Colmworth Four of Harold Ball went through on shot difference. Group C was a little more straightforward as George Savage's Clophill team went through unbeaten.

The best runner up was close as group A and C had teams on six points so shot difference would decide with a margin of 4 shots the Clophill Rink of Ann Speake sneaked in ahead of Carol Still from Barton.

The Semi Finals were done on an open draw and somewhat predictably saw both Clophill teams come up against each other, with the mixed rink of Mike Walker playing Colmworth. The results were as follows

The Final
Clophill were represented by Sue Meredith, Susan Savage, Tony Meredith and George Savage and they were up against a Mmxed four of Trevor Tumber (Haynes), Di Rogers(Turvey), Neil Tuckey (Lilley) and Mike Walker (Colmworth).

End 1 - The mixed four were off to a flyer here and George is 5 down, but with his first wood he pulls a front touching draw out to pick up a single and take Clophill 1 -0 up.
End 2 - This end is much closer as Tony unfortunately taps a brown in to hold only hold a single but Mike's attempt to claim a shot results in pushing a Clophill wood back in to give them another 2, Clophill 3 -0 up.
End 3 - The ‘Mixers’ are holding two after a good shot from Di but George removes them to hold a single, only to see a wide bowl from Mike ping a wood into the head to pinch a single, Clophill 3 –1 up.
End 4 - This one is close as Neil splits the two blacks to hold 2, only to see George draw his last in for a single to take Clophill 4 -1 up.
End 5 - Again it’s a wild start as Tony plays an 'Ohh Dear' bowl !!!!!. Neil then pushes a Clophill bowl in and with the jack off centre George pushes a short bowl in for three. Mike misses the target so it's 3 to Clophill. Is this the Big End?? Clophill now lead 7-1 and the ends are running out.
End 6 sees Mike manage to cut 3 shots to down 2, but Clophill are now 9-1 up.
End 7 - The Mixers need a shot count here and the two Sues are a bit wide on this swinging Mat, Neil open draws a single, then a second. The head looks promising as a slight move on the jack means that there’s a six on???? Mike draws in but fails to tickle the jack and takes can only take a 3, Clophill 9- 4 up.
End 8 - The mixers need to get close but Trevor's 2nd wood hears a cry of ohh no not there!!! as he inadvertently plays a perfect blocker. Neil tries to plant that wood into the head but fails and Clophill take another single to lead 10- 4.
End 9 - Sue starts perfectly for Clophill with a front toucher. A count now looks unlikely and didn’t come, although Mike draws in for 2 to make final score 10-6 to Clophill.

Well done on another super final and to Clophill who were unbeaten on the day.

Finally huge thanks from the County committee for all the support throughout the season at all our competitions, we enjoyed them all and hope you have too.

Sunday March 2nd saw 18 triples take to the carpet for this competition. In 3 groups of 6 with only the winners and best runner-up going through, this was going to be a day where consistency would be needed to qualify.

After the Group matches only the Barton Triple of Neil Rixon had 10 pts, the other groups were won by the Triples of Colmworth and Turvey skipped by Harrold Ball and Keith Cockings. Also into Semi Finals was the Clophill Triple of Anne Speake, making it through by just a few shots.

Final
The final was between Turvey and Clophill and it was nice to see a Clophill team reach a final as they support our competitions in such numbers. They were represented by Peter Lovell, Doreen Painter and Anne Speake while Turvey had a strong triple in Mick Rogers, Paul Hurren and Keith Cockings.

End 1 was wayward with Turvey picking up a pair to go 2-0 up.

End 2 saw Turvey again settle quicker and take another 2 shots, 4-0 up.

End 3 Clophill are on the mark this time, but the Turvey triple are playing the shots needed and take 2 more to go 6-0 up .

End 4 sees Doreen play a huge swinging bowl towards the jack which runs into the back corner of the mat only to have to watch it topple off just as it is about to come to rest, leaving Turvey with 2 more and now 8-0 ahead. Can Clophill recover from this?

End 5 Clophill take a single so it is now 8-1 to Turvey.

End 6 Turvey are a little wayward and Clophill gain 2 more shots so it is now 8-3. Is the comeback on?

End 7 Clophill pick up 2 more despite Turvey's best efforts to stop them, 8-5.

End 8 Turvey gain a vital single to go 9-5 up with one to go.

End 9 With Turvey guarding against a large count by playing covering bowls Clophill are only allowed to take another 2 to leave the final score Turvey 9 Clophill 7.

It was an excellent Final with both sides playing some big bowls but was Turvey's day, congratulations to the for taking the title for the the third year.

On Sunday January 12th 30 pairs took part in the competition at Barton Le Clay.

There was a high standard of bowling on the day in the group stages with all groups closely fought with only two of the six groups having teams achieving a maximum 8 points. The six group winners and two best runners-up went through to the Quarter Finals:

Final
The final saw Lesley Nunn & Neil Rixon from Barton playing Paul Hurren & Keith Cockings from Turvey, two strong pairs who should put on a good final.

The first bowl on the first end was to cause havoc as Paul pushed the jack back to an inch from the end of the mat, Lesley bettered Paul's bowl with her third, only 6 inches away, then with his first wood Keith looked to have nailed it but as his bowl fell, off went the jack, 2-0 to Barton.

The second end the Turvey pair were holding 4, but Neil playing his consistent draws managed to cut it to a single, Barton 2 -1.

The third end was very tight Barton securing another single to go 3-1 up.

End four saw Keith in lots of trouble, but he played a magnificent bowl to pick up the jack but he was still left 2 shots down. 5-1 to Barton .

End five and all three of Paul's bowls were in the count but Neil found the line and length to play an excellent shot to pick up another single to extend the lead to 6-1.

End six and Lesley nails the jack with her first which was added to by Neil for another pair, 8-1.

End seven, the Barton pair are in charge and all looks to be going their way, the Turvey pair pile shots in all around the jack only to see them beaten with every successive Barton wood who edge another single to take their lead out to 9-1.

End 8, theTurvey pair are trying to build a big count, they hold a single but need more, Keith tries to remove two Barton woods for a count of four but only gets one and picks up a pair to narrow the gap to 9-3.

End 9 and it is Mission Impossible as Turvey try to pick up six, but it was never on and the best they can do is to as they pick up another pair.

Final score 9 – 5 to Barton.

Well done to Lesley and Neil who were the most consistent pair on the day.

Final
The Final between Club team mates Sharon Hatton and Neil Tuckey from Lilley was the climax to a day which had seen some excellent bowls played by all who took part.

The final saw some wayward opening woods, unfortunately Sharon moved the jack with her last bowl and Neil took a 3-0 lead.

End 2 was closer but Neil had a back toucher which was never beaten, 4-0.

End 3 saw three close woods from Neil, his consistency showing, Sharon managed to cut it down to 2 but was now 5-0 down.

End 4. Strange start!!! (Marker slow placing jack ? no names Mike !!!!), Sharon plays two excellent bowls to pick up a pair and now trails 2-5.

End 5 saw 3 close bowls from Neil who was holding a count yet again this time, though a little running bowl wiggles through the head and cuts it to a single, Neil leads 6-2.

End 6 saw another strange one, when Neil's 2nd wood falls as Sharons bowl comes in stopping it for shot. He promply draws onto the jack to hold a single only for Sharon to find the gap with her last wood, 7-2.

End 7 was again a tale of the jack moving. Sharon unfortunately moves it into Neil's bowls at the back to go 3 down. She manages to cut it back to 2, but Neil now leads 9-2 with 2 only ends left.

End 8. Both over bowl their opening woods but Sharon is 2 down with her third to play. She rolls in a good draw for a single but cannot pick up the three she needs to continue into the last end so they shake hands with Neil winning 9-3.