Day Seven Drama, Semi-Final Pride, and Gear Shifting for Tomorrow!
By the Green-side Insider
Tuesday at Leamington Spa brought an absolute whirlwind of emotion for Northumberland, featuring stunning singles surges, a heart-stopping double-header, a fiercely contested battle for “The Bear”, and wonderful representation on the national finals stage!
Day Seven Round-Up
Men’s Junior Singles Championship (Morning Session – Rink B5):
P. Shilton (Ashington) got his singles campaign off to a phenomenal flyer against Lincolnshire’s O. Aspinall (Blackstones). Coming storming out of the blocks with a massive 9–0 start, Shilton kept his foot down through a gripping progression at 9–7, 12–7, and 13–9. Though Aspinall fought back bravely to narrow the gap at 19–18, Shilton held his nerve over the closing ends to seal a brilliant 21–18 victory and advance!
Para Pairs Semi-Final (Morning Session – Rink A1):
Our own G. Robinson—known to everyone simply as “The Bear”—teamed up with C. Bowler (New Delaval Knights / Wellingborough) for a monumental semi-final clash against Yorkshire’s C. Bell and D. Houghton. In a tense battle where every single wood mattered, Robinson and Bowler held a tight scoreline at 7–10 after 13 ends. Despite a valiant effort and roaring all the way to the wire, the Yorkshire pair managed to edge the verdict at 10–7. “The Bear” and Bowler can hold their heads exceptionally high after a fantastic run to the national final four!
Men’s Junior Singles Championship (Afternoon Session – Rink C4):
Back on the green for a quick turnaround, P. Shilton faced Buckinghamshire’s T. Jaycock (Broadway) in a nail-biter that kept spectators on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Following an early exchange at 4–6 and 7–6, Shilton built a solid advantage at 12–8, 13–10, and 14–11. However, bowls can be a cruel game; Shilton unfortunately got stuck on 14 for five scoreless ends, allowing Jaycock to surge ahead to 17–14. Showing incredible grit, Shilton dug deep to level things up at 17–17 and 19–19, before snatching a single to lead 20–19. In a heart-breaking finish, Jaycock managed to claim the final two shots, sealing an agonizing 21–20 win on a deciding measure. A stellar day of singles from Paul, who gave it absolutely everything!
Special Spotlight: C. McGready and the Vital Role of a VI Director
While our county players battled on the rinks, Northumberland was brilliantly represented on the national stage in another crucial capacity. C. McGready has been shining brightly as a Vision Impaired (VI) Director for Disability Bowls England, guiding player Rhys Lewis.
The role of a VI Director is essential and deeply demanding: acting as the eyes of the player on the green, describing the lie of the bowl, relaying the distance to the jack, and helping coordinate strategy with absolute precision and trust. McGready performed this role to perfection on Tuesday, helping steer Lewis and their partnership through a magnificent semi-final victory!
Chris will now continue his vital work in the Para Pairs Final today at 12:45 pm. Northumberland is bursting with pride for Chris and the incredible support, skill, and sportsmanship he brings to the sport on a national platform. Good luck in the final, Chris!
Looking Ahead to Day 8 (Wednesday 19th August): Blue Riband Battles Start Tomorrow!
Tomorrow marks the official start of our blue riband events, with our women’s fours stepping onto the national stage for their opening championship battles:
09:00 (Rink D4) – Women’s Fours Championship: M. Green, H. Lashley, S. Stothard, and G. Chapman (Newbiggin) kick off their campaign against Middlesex’s E. Putnam, J. Tsamplakos, V. Smith, and L. Wolstenholme (Ashford).
12:45 (Rink B3) – Women’s Fours Championship: K. Sultman, G. Garbutt, A. Murray, and A. Dunton (Forest Hall) take to the green to face Buckinghamshire’s J. Squires, N. Moffat, D. Brookes, and J. Murphy (Bletchley Town).
Let’s get right behind our rinks tomorrow!