Sunday 8th March saw 25 teams in the Triples at Barton with 5 groups of 5 and only the 5 group winners and 3 best runners up to qualify.

Group A
The triple of J Greaves from Maulden went through unbeaten on 8 pts leaving A Hatton (Turvey) to wait and see if 6 pts and +28 shots would be enough to qualify.

Group B
With 3 wins and a draw H Ball (Colmworth) topped the group on 7 pts but the drawn game with D Walker (Clophill) meant that they would need to beat S Macdonald (Cotton End) to finish as runner up they did with an 11-7 victory giving them 5 pts and +7 shots.

Group C
The Turvey team of M Rogers were flying with 4 wins and scoring 47 shots in 4 games leaving W Redding (Cotton End), P Lovell (Clphill) and R Pearson (Silsoe) all on 4 pts, Silsoe ewere runners-up by having a -6 shot difference.

Group D
A Denton (Toddington) was topping the group on 7 pts, G Buttrum (Cotton End) could take the group with a win and good score but a 6-9 defeat left them on 5 pts and 0 shot difference.

Group E
N Rixon (Barton) was on 7 pts. A win in the final game saw A Speake (Clophill) finish on 5 pts and +6 to finish as runner-up.

The top 3 runners up were A Hatton (Turvey), D Walker (Clophill) and A Speake (Clophill).

Quarter Finals
J Greaves (Maulden) v N Rixon (Barton)
Barton were 5-1 up after 3 ends then 6 more unanswered shots saw Barton 11-1 up and taking a final 11-3 win.

H Ball (Colmworth) v A Hatton (Turvey)
This game was close as after 4 ends it was 3-3 but a 2 to Turvey and then a single to Colmworth made it 4 -5. Turvey then took 2 more shots to win 4 -7.

A Denton (Toddington) v A Speake (Clophill)
Toddington had a 6-0 lead by 4 ends and despite losing 3 singles in the last 3 ends Clophill could get back into it Toddington won 6-3.

M Rogers (Turvey) v D Walker (Clophill)
This game was tit for tat as they shared shots leaving the score level on 5-5 after 7 ends. Despite a great effort to ease the Turvey shot wood away, the jack left the mat giving Turvey a 7-5 win.

Semi-Finals
N Rixon (Barton) v A Hatton (Turvey)
After 3 ends Barton were 3-1 up, then 5-2 after 5 but 4 shots on the final 2 ends saw Barton into the final.

M Rogers (Turvey) v A Denton(Toddington)
This semi was much closer as after 5 ends it was 4-4. Who would break the deadlock? Answer, no one, as a single each meant an extra end was needed. Turvey nick a single on that end to progress to the final.

Final
Barrie & Lesley Nunn, Neil Rixon (Barton) v Dorothy Chambers, Mike Walker & Mick Rogers (Turvey)
End 1 - Barton settle quickly and Neil draws his last wood in to take 5 shots to lead 5-0
End 2 - Turvey lead Dorothy finds the jack but Lesley moves the jack away from 1. However Mike draws a 2nd which is not moved to give Turvey 2, 5-2.
End 3 - Skips to play, and Turvey hold 2 but Neil draws close with his final wood to cut it to 1 leaving the score 5-3.
End 4 - Mike makes it 2 shots to Turvey which they hold to level the game at 5-5.
End 5 - Lesley manages to edge the Turvey shot wood out but its very close for shot neither skip can alter the head and Barton take the measure 6-5.
End 6 - Turvey hold a 1 but Mick is short leaving Neil a shot to ease the bowls away he nudges it. but not enough. Single to Turvey 6-6.
End 7 - Lesley moves the jack back away from the shot bowl, Mike draws to the shot wood, it's very close both sides calling a measure. Mick and Neil both draw close to the two woods in the head Neil rocks his own shot, will it be enough? After the closest measure Turvey take a single by 1/16th to win 6-7.

Well done both teams another superb final played in the best way.

Congratulations to Turvey and to Dorothy on her first ever county title.

Thanks to our great caterers, raffle team and to Keith Cockings on running the day so smoothly

Sunday 12th January saw 40 pairs take part in the event at Barton le Clay, there were 8 groups of 5 with group winners progressing to the knockout stages.

Group A was dominated by A Denton (Toddington) who, with a narrow win over H Ball (Colmworth), had 6pts. A draw in final game saw them win the group with 7pts.

Group B: D Walker(Clophill) was on 6pts after 3 games but lost their final game to D Mitchell (Barton) both topping the group on 6pts but the Clophill pair had a better shot difference.

Group C: G Savage (Clophill) had 6 pts but lost their final game giving J Greaves (Toddington) a chance, but superior shot difference saw Clophill through.

Group D: G Buttrum (Cotton End) took 4 wins to ease through easily in this group.

Group E was a close affair. R Davidson (Silsoe) had 6pts but N Rixon (Barton) had a game to play and needed to win to progress which they did to win group on 7pts.

Group F: after 3 games each T Taylorson (SlipEnd) and A Hatton (Turvey) had 4 pts each so a win for either would be enough. The Slip End pair lost but Turvey won to progress on 6pts.

Group G: S Hall (Clophill) and P Baynes (Cople) had 6pts each but a 6-1 win for Clophill wasn’t quite enough as Cople slipped through by 3 shots.

Thanks to everyone for their forbearance towards the slight alteration at the halfway point which saw a reduction in game time.

Quarter Finals
A Denton (Toddington) v N Rixon (Barton)
This game was tight after 3 ends at 2-1 to Toddington, but a 3 shot count on the 4th was decisive and Toddington won 6-1.

D Walker (Clophill) v A Hatton (Turvey)
Another very tight game which was 2-2 on the last end. Clophill hold shot as the Turvey skip has his last wood to play, a slight overdraw sees the jack trickle, handing a 4-2 win to Clophill.

G Savage (Clophill) v P Baynes (Cople)
Great start for Clophill picking up 4 on first end, Cople replied with 2 singles to be 4-2 down but a single and then 5 on the last end saw Clophill ease to a win.

G Buttrum (CottonEnd) v S Bollins (Toddington)
The Cotton end pair had a 6-2 lead after 3 ends but the game turned in the final 2 ends as Toddington took a single then a 4 to snatch a 7-6 victory.

Semi-Finals
Ann Denton (Toddington) v Dan Walker (Clophill)
After 3 ends Toddington lead 3-0 but a brace to Clophill saw it being a nail bitting last end. Shot wood was exchanged but a decisive draw onto the jack by Ann saw them take the game 4-2.

George Savage (Clophill) v Sue Bollins (Toddington)
This game was very tight with both leads playing well, but the last end saw Toddington leading 3-2. However with his last wood to play George was shot down, but he hits the jack and shoots it back hitting his own back wood to stay on for a count of 2 and the win.

Final
Susan & George Savage (Clophill) v Cherry Brock & Ann Denton (Toddington)
Both teams agreed on a 6 end final.
The Clophill duo were off to a quick start again and were 8-0 up after only 3 ends. A single extended it to 9-0 with Toddington needing a big shot count on the 5th end. All they could muster though was a single which saw the two teams shake hands on the game at 9-1.

Well done to our champions Susan & George on superb day for them and commiserations to Cherry and Ann who should also be proud of the way they played on the day.

Finally thank you to all for your support on the day, Huge thanks to Christine and Trevor in the Kitchen and the ladies on the raffle, and of course for Keith for the smooth running on the day.

Sunday 3rd November saw 50 players in the Singles at Barton Le Clay. There were 10 groups of 5 with the winners and 6 best runners-up to go through to the knockout rounds

The Group winners were as follows: Dan Walker, Tony Meredith, George Savage, Paul Hurren, Andrew Hatton, Wendy Redding, Neil Rixon, Carol Still, Cherry Brock and Keith Cockings. The 6 runners-up were Nathan Salvidge, Melvyn Baynes, Patricia Bal, Matt Hatton, Sharon Kitchener and Sue MacDonald.

First Knockout Round
Dan Walker (Clophill) v Cherry Brock (Toddington)
This game was close but with Dan leading 4-2 after 4 ends Cherry picks up 2 shots to go to an extra end, they swapped shots but Cherry nicked a single to win 5-4.

Tony Meredith (Clophill) v Keith Cockings (Turvey)
Keith raced away in this game and was over on 4th end after Tony struggled on a tricky mat Keith ran out to an 8-0 win.

George Savage (Clophill) v Nathan Salvidge (Clophill)
Both players traded shots and as might have been expected it was 3-3 after 5ends. The extra end saw Nathan draw close and take the end to win 4-3.

Paul Hurren (Turvey) v Melvyn Baynes (Cople )
Paul took 5 shots on first 2 ends. 2 on 3rd saw Mel close, but a decisive 4 saw Paul win 9-2.

Andrew Hatton (Turvey) v Patricia Ball (Colmworth)
Patricia took the opening end but the Andrew took control and 6 shots in next 3 ends saw him win 6-1.

Wendy Redding (Cotton End ) v Matt Hatton (Turvey)
Matt was 4-0 up after 2 ends but a shot to Wendy made it 4-1, but despite losing 2 shots on the final end Matt won 5-3.

Neil Rixon (Barton) v Sharon Kitchener (Slip End)
Sharon won the first end with a single but then Neil took 6 shots in the next 3 ends to win 6-1.

Carol Still (Barton) v Sue MacDonald (Cotton End)
This was close with Carol leading 3-2 after 4 ends but 2 shots to Sue saw her come back to win 4-3.

Quarter Finals
Cherry Brock (Toddington) v Matt Hatton (Turvey)
Cherry took 2 on first end but Matt takes 4 on the next. 3 shots over the next 2 ends saw him through to a 7-2 win.

Keith Cockings (Turvey) v Andrew Hatton (Turvey )
This looked like an even match up but Andrew had no luck as every nick on the jack found his opponent's woods. Keith ran out 6-1 winner.

Nathan Salvidge (Clophill) v Neil Rixon (Barton)
A 3 on first end saw Nathan lead, but a two to Neil got him back close only to loose 3 shots on the next end. Neil didn’t recover, 2 singles saw Nathan win 6-4.

Paul Hurren (Turvey) v Sue MacDonald (Cotton End)
Sue had a 4-1 lead starting the last end but with his last wood Paul played Sue's nearest bowls away to sit for 3, requiring an extra end, Paul draws close, it's not beaten ad he wins 5-4.

Semi Finals
Nathan Salvidge (Clophill) v Paul Hurren (Turvey)
Paul was away quickly in the semi he was 7-0 up after 3 ends Nathan picked a single up but lost it on the next end and was 8-1 down a 3. The 6th saw him have a chance to tie on the last but Paul closed with a single to win 9-4.

Matt Hatton (Turvey) v Keith Cockings (Turvey)
This game was nip and tuck but after 3 ends Keith led 3-1, although he was being pushed hard by Matt's exceptional drawing. However Matt just couldn’t quite nick a shot and 2 singles and a pair saw Keith run out a 7-1 winner.

Final
Paul Hurren (Turvey) v Keith Cockings (Turvey)
The final looked to be a great end to the day both players on good form and Paul defending his title (despite his nickname 'I Can’t Play Singles' Hurren), and Keith also a previous champion.

End 1 - The first end saw lots of close bowls as was expected, but a measure saw Paul lead 1-0.
End 2 - Again both drawing in close but Paul is closest to the short jack and there's nothing Keith can do this end but keep it to a single, Paul 2-0.
End 3 - Paul holds 2 shots, Keith moves the jack but clips it and Paul now holds 3. But his blocker is narrow, Keith puts his wood into the head to cut one out and to go 4-0 down.
End 4 - Paul holds and has the back covered. Keith has a wood in the head but is 2 down. Paul makes it 3 but there is a gap, Keith rolls his last into the gap the jack is trapped but by fractions Paul has shot 5-0.
End 5 - Keith needs to get into this he draws a single but it's tit for tat pushing each others shots out. However Keith draws his final wood in to take 2 shots, Paul leads 5-2.
End 6 - This is a big end. Keith gets his first 2 woods very close as Paul is a little heavy. Keith draws a 3rd and gives Paul a problem as it drops behind the jack pinning it in, Paul draws close but Keith takes 3 to level score at 5-5.
End 7 - Both are playing some great bowls and this last end is probably how it should be decided. Keith nails the three quarter jack with his first wood. Paul attempts to move it but misses narrowly, then Keith puts 2 more woods close just behind. Paul is trying to move the shot bowl but goes inside it then grazes it again. Keith draws again, just behind covering Paul's back woods but counting. Paul tries to run in but clips the front bowl and Keith takes 4 shots to win 9-5

Well done both it was a fantastic final to by 2 very experienced bowlers and congratulations to Keith on winning once again.

Huge thanks to all who stayed to watch the final plus those who assisted on day with the catering and raffle, your help is very much appreciated.