KENT COUNTY SHORT MAT BOWLING
ASSOCIATION
Affiliated to English Short Mat Bowling
Association
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Date of last update: May 2008
COUNTY
HALL OF FAME REPORTS
Tony recalls: “I took part in the 1st
National Singles in 1985 together with some other players from the Maidstone
area and I managed to get through to the quarter finals. As a result of this I
was asked to take part in the 1st ever international between
England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland at Lytham St. Annes in 1986. I skipped the
Fours and I am proud to say that we won the title. Having knocked out Wales and
Scotland we had to play the Irish! Our game was the last one on, and I can
remember that the other players and spectators came to crowd around our mat.
The local Mayor was sitting there together with some members of the committee
including Bob Weafer. It was a nip and tuck game all the way through and the
final end came and we were holding one shot when we changed ends. Their Skip
played his first wood and tipped our holding shot out so we were one down. I
managed to take his wood out and lay just short of the jack, he played his last
wood and missed my wood completely, it was uproar in the hall, I did not have
to play my wood, we had won. I remember Bob and the Mayor jumping up and down
and I will admit it was very emotional. I was after all, the first Kent player
to play for England, something I shall always be very proud of and my medal
takes its place of honour on the shelf.”
The British Isles
Team Championships 2005. Folkestone 3rd/4th December 2005
The format for the British Isles Team Championships is that
each team plays the other two teams three times in the Individual format and
once in the International Rinks format. The Individual format consists of two
singles, two pairs, two triples and two fours. Two points are awarded for each
mat win with one point for a draw. The Rinks format consists of six fours. One
point is awarded with each mat win and six points are available for the
aggregate shots total.
Kent played Pembrokeshire in the first Individual game
and won 5 mats with a score of 10 – 6 (88 shots – 89 shots). The second match
was Kent verses Oriel Zone with Kent winning 3 mats and drawing 1 with a score
of 7 – 9 (78 shots – 81 shots). Kent’s third game of the day was their
International Rinks game against Pembrokeshire. Kent won all 6 mats aggregating
a shots score of 77 – 32 and gaining 12 points – 0 points. Kent finished their
first day’s competition with an Individual game against Oriel Zone which
resulted in each team winning 4 mats. The game score finished 8 – 8 (98 shots –
83 shots).
Kent started the second day of the competition with
their second Individual game against Pembrokeshire. This finished 13 – 3 (103
shots – 61 shots). That game was followed by the International Rinks game
against Oriel Zone. The game finished with 2 mat wins for Kent and a shots
score of 51 – 55. The resulting points total being 2 – 10. Kent’s third
Individual game against Pembrokeshire finished 14 – 2 (122 shots – 65 shots).
Kent finished their part in the competition with their final Individual game
against Oriel Zone which ended 6 – 10 (78 shots – 90 shots)
The final team result was:
Kent v
Pembrokeshire 49 points – 11points. 490 shots – 247.
Kent v
Oriel Zone 23 points – 37points. 305 shots – 329.
Kent finished second to Oriel Zone in the overall
competition.
Short Mat World published the following match report in
the March/April 1996 issue under the headline “Championship Clash”.
In a historic first match, Kent, the reigning Premier
Inter County champions of England took on the Irish Western Zone, who are the
reigning Irish champions. The match was staged at the Arrow Valley club in
Redditch and was also attended by the English and Irish officials. After the
opening ceremony, the match commenced with the first rounds of play on Friday
evening and then recommenced on Saturday morning.
As the English and Irish Championships are played with
different sized teams (and the Irish only play in fours), a compromise format
was worked out with both teams fielding 24 players, in four rinks, two pairs,
one triple and one single. This allowed Kent to play some of their individual
games and also allowed for the Irish fours format.
The strength and experience of the Irish players
quickly became apparent but the Kent team stuck tenaciously to its task
throughout the match. The final result was an 18-6 victory for the Western Zone
but some very valuable experience was gained by the Kent Players, who will no
doubt put this to use in the coming seasons. I know they are striving to win
the Championship again so they can visit Ireland and I wish them luck, as by
the time you read this, the 1996 Championship will have already have been
decided.
It was quit simply one of the most enjoyable matches I
have been to for a number of years and was played in a great spirit, with
exemplary sportsmanship. The camaraderie and chat (“crack” to the Irish) in the
hotel was also superb. A meal in a local restaurant and a super evening concert
at the Arrow Valley Club rounded of a weekend that will long stay in my memory.
Next season there will be an optional trip to Ireland
for the lucky team that wins our Premiership title. A game against the Welsh
Champions could also be on the cards and it is hoped in the near future to turn
the event into a British Isles Champion of Champions event attended by all of
the British Isles county and zone champions. However, no matter what the future
brings there is only one first match and all of the players were awarded a
special commemorative plaque to recognise their place in this little bit of
Short Mat history.
Bob Weafer
British Isles “A”
International.
The following extracts have been taken from Short Mat
International published in September/October 1997.
Where the new “A” International series is concerned,
the old adage of “Big Oaks from little Acorns grow”, is very appropriate. Having
been initially greeted with a somewhat lukewarm reception, the idea and the
event was firmly grabbed by the enthusiasm of the players and around 200
players and spectators came from Ireland, Wales and England to the Redwell
Leisure Centre in Wellingborough, Northants.
The “A” team Championship followed the same pattern as
the main British Isles event, with a team of four rinks playing in the Team
Championships, along with separate events for singles, pairs, triples and
fours.
In the Team Championships, with England having squeezed
a narrow shots victory over Wales by 33-27, the Irish were next up. Ireland are
masters at rinks team events and a young and somewhat inexperienced England
team turned out an outstanding performance to beat Ireland by 46 shots to 27,
winning three of the four rinks. The best English performance came from Neil
Robinson, Paul Spencer, Terry Whitworth and Ted Messer (Kent) who won 12 – 2.
In the individual events, Sean Davidson, Ireland, took
the singles championship, winning three of his four games, with just a single
defeat by England’s (and Kent’s) Tim Rycraft. The fours title went to
England’s Len Frampton (Kent), Keith Alders, Craig Hall and Stan Shore. Going
into the last game with Ireland it was 6 – 4 on points to the Irish quartet,
who also held a three shots advantage. The match was hotly contested up to the
6th end when the England foursome took a superb 6 to lead 12-5. The
Irish immediately struck back with a four but this in turn was answered by a
three and a single to put England level on points but with a much superior
shots difference.
Kent win their
first ever Individual National title.
The following extracts have been taken from Short Mat
International published in September/October 1997.
The Fours title was hotly contested all the way and
ended at a Kent v Norfolk final, with several current England team mates facing
each other. The final started quietly with a single apiece but the Kent
foursome proceeded to take a stranglehold on the match. By the fourth end they
lead 6 – 1, there was no way back for the Norfolk four with the Kent four
winning 11 – 3. Thus the players and the Kent County name were added to their
first ever National title.
British Isles Championships. 1997.
The following extracts have been taken from Short Mat
International published in January/February 1998.
England’s fours of Jodie Frampton (Kent), Chris
Shakeshaft, Marc Stone and Andrew Cowlin won the Fours title by winning all three
games. A 13 – 7 win over Scotland followed by a 13 – 9 win over Wales set up a
winner take all contest against the Irish. Ireland took the first three ends
with singles but a four from England gave them a one shot lead. Irelands
retaliation was swift, immediate and looked almost decisive with a single and
two three’s to give them a commanding 10 – 4 lead after seven ends. However, a
superb five brought England back into the match 9 – 10. Two shots to Ireland
left them with a 12 – 9 lead with just three ends to go. An amazing top spin
drive saw the Irish foursome put a bowl over the fender to concede three shots
and the match was all square. Another three to England gave them a three shot
lead going into the last end, which was played in almost unbearable tension.
England had strategic bowls all around the head but the Irish skip had the
outside possibility of scoring three and drawing the match, which would have
given the Ireland the title on shots difference. However, it was not to be and
despite a valiant attempt, Ireland took just a single, giving England a 15 – 13
victory. England had won just four of the twelve ends to win the match.
In the Team Championships, Len Frampton was a member of
an England four that beat Scotland 14 – 9 and lost to Wales 12 – 17 and Ireland
6 – 18.
British Isles
Championships. 1996.
Jodie Frampton (Kent) was a member of the winning
England fours team in the Individual Championships. Wins of 12 – 8 against the
Welsh, 14 – 6 against Scotland and 12 – 9 against Ireland secured the winners
trophy.
British Isles
Championships. 2004
Michelle Fitzgerald, Reg Wager and Tim and John Rycraft
represented England in the Fours Individual competition of the British Isles
Championships held in Llandrindod Wells. The Kent four had a mixed weekend with
wins against Wales, 11 – 10, and Scotland, 16 – 9 and losing against Isle of
Man, 9 – 11 and Ireland, 9 – 15.
Christine and Richard Nicoll, Dereck Ford and Sue Smith
lost in the final on the last end to take the runners – up medal in this year’s
fours competition. In the semi-final a win of 8 shots – 7 saw them through to
the final.
British Isles Championships. 11th
– 12th November 2006, Isle of Man
The championships were played in Douglas at the
National Sports Centre and were opened by the Minister of Tourism and Leisure
for the Isle of Man, The Hon. D C Cretney.
The Championship event is a combination of Individual
Championships, of singles, pairs, triples and fours and the International Team
event of four rinks. The England team was managed by Ted Messer with Kent
players Rob Berry playing as lead in one of the International Team event fours
and Jody Frampton playing as a three in another of the rinks team.
The four that Rob Berry played in won their game
against Scotland, 22-2, drew against Isle of Man, 9-9 and lost their games
against Wales, 9-14 and Ireland, 5-14. Jody Frampton’s four won against
Scotland, 15-7, Isle of Man, 12-4 and Wales, 11-9 and lost against Ireland,
11-13.
England completed the International Team event as
runners-up to Ireland.
British
Isles Championships – 17th – 18th November 2007.
The championships
were played at the Potters Leisure Village, Norfolk. Before play commenced
there was a march on by the players around the arena in front of the Presidents
of the British Isles Council and the Home Countries and the spectators. The
Lord Mayor of the Borough of Great Yarmouth, Mr Paul Garrod, spoke to open the
Championships, welcoming everyone to the event and then bowled the customary
two woods.
The Championships
are run in two sections, the Individual Championships in four disciplines and
the International Team event of four rinks.
The final
Individual group results in the 2007 British Isles Championships were:
Singles: Wales, Scotland, England, Ireland, Isle of Man
Pairs: Ireland, England, Isle of Man, Wales, Scotland
Triples: England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man
Fours: England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man
In the International Team event Jody
Frampton, Hawkinge SMBC, played in a four with; Babs
Morokutti, Essex; Martin Walker, Cheshire and skip Stuart Lowe, Essex.
The
results of their matches were: beat Scotland 12-7; beat Isle of Man 15-3; lost
to Wales 7-8, having dropped 4 shots on the last end and lost to Ireland 2-14.
The
final results in the International Team event were:
International Team
Champions: Ireland
Runners-up: Wales
England
Scotland
Isle of Man
World
Short Mat Bowls Championships,
Herentals, Belgium. 29th – 30th March 2008.
The following
report was taken from the ESMBA website at www.esmba.org.uk
The Championships were being played
outside the British Isles for the first time, in Herentals, Belgium.
Twenty-three mats where laid out to
accommodate the ten Countries taking part in all or some of the Singles, Pairs,
Triples and Fours, each in two groups, over the two days.
For the first time Sweden had sent a
team to take part, also a lone bowler from Canada was playing in the Singles.
All the Countries marched into the
arena to music and all were welcomed by Ghislain Loix and the Country
Presidents.
Singles
Group B England Gary Best
In Garys` first game he played Dick
Almen of Sweden who had already won against Belgium. Gary only led 10-8 when Dick
moved the jack to count shot but Gary rolled the Swedish wood away and counted
3 for himself, eventually winning 13-9.
Gary had a tight game against Tim
Mason, Canada, only winning 11-8.
Playing Giovanni Cataldi from Italy,
Gary led 12-4 and won 14-6.
Gary was 0-7 down against unbeaten
Lee Daniels of Wales. He managed to reach 7-11 down but lost 11-14.
Gary struggled against Sam Peel of
the Isle of Man, as he was 6-8 down but believing in himself he scored 12 shots
in five ends to win 18-8 to still give himself a chance.
Gary kept ahead of Tonny Francois of
Belgium winning 13-6.
Because of other results Gary still
a slight chance but he needed some luck. Gary was always behind until he took a
13-12 lead but Jim Wood, Scotland pushed Garys` counting bowl out to claim a
13-13 draw and certainly ruin Garys` day.
The head to head game between Lee
Daniels of Wales and John Quinn from Ireland, both unbeaten, was surprisingly
very one-sided as John took a 13-2 lead. He held on to win 14-9 giving him a
fine chance to reach the World Singles Final. Lee was no doubt at a low ebb,
feeling his opportunity of a Final Appearance had suddenly vanished with only
one game left.
Determined to finish on a high, Gary
played John Quinn of Ireland in both players` last game. England took a 5-0
lead and went further in front 12-2 after picking up 7 shots in three ends
including a 4. A Final appearance for John now depended on another mat as he
lost 15-7.
Gary finished 3rd in the Group.
Pairs
Group B England Babs Morokutti, Jody
Frampton
England started slowly finding
themselves 2-4 down playing Antonio Rinaldi and Lino Ballardini of Italy but
the drew four close shots to lead 6-4. Three singles to Italy eventually made
the score 7-7, here three shots to England gave them victory 10-7.
Leading 10-7 England made it 14-7
and then with the aid of a 3 and a 2 won 19-7 playing against Joeren Karlson
and Mans Ellmark from Sweden.
Although Rene and Martin Theunissen
from Belgium came within one shot, England eventually won 8-5.
A big game as England played Liam
McHugh and Keith McCullough from Ireland, this was going to be close. It was
3-3 and 6-6 with one end left. Here Babs was counting but Ireland made two
shots to win 8-6. This was Englands` first defeat.
Jill Quayle and Moira Anderson, Isle
of Man, held onto England and were only 6-5 down when Babs and Jody changed
gear and they bowled and drew well. Four successive 3s and a 2 gave England a
20-5 win.
England led Roddy Gillies and Craig
Cummings of Scotland 10-1 winning 15-5.
England now played Wales and if
either team won, they would play in the Final as Ireland could then only finish
second at best. At first England led 3-2 and then Ceri Jones and Arwel Nicholas
from Wales were in front 5-4 but England then established a lead 7-5 and 9-5.
Wales could only score a single on the last end so England reached the World
Final 9-6.
World Finals 2008.
Pairs Final
Ireland: Glenn Smith, Damien McElroy v England: Babs Morokutti, Jody Frampton
Ireland led 3-0 but with three singles
in three ends it was all square at 3-3 and later at 6-6. England were in
trouble when Jody bowled a great wood to save and one end later the score was
7-7. To the delight of the English supporters Babs and Jody scored a two to go
into the lead for the first time 9-7.
It became 10-7 when Ireland pushed
one of Babs woods in to count. Ireland as
always are never out when they are down and they fought back and scored another
single. They were three on when Jody cut the count to one with a fine bowl. England
now led 10-9 with one end left. Jody drew perfectly to count but Ireland
trailed the jack to count shot themselves. With the last wood of the
Championship, Jody bowled and drew an even better wood than his first as it
rolled just behind the jack and fell on it to count shot. England won 11-9.
Babs Morokutti and Jody Frampton
were World Pairs Champions
The trophies were presented by
Ghislain Loix, who then thanked everybody, the players, spectators and
Officials for supporting and running the Championships
The Championships were definitely a
success.
English National Pairs – April 2008
Having won the Kent County Pairs
Qualifiers, played at Burham Village Hall, Linda Wynn and partner Gary Best,
had progressed through to the National Finals which were played at Kettering
Leisure Village, Kettering on 4th April 2008.
Below is a personnel view from Linda of
that day.
My day at Kettering turned out to be one of
those experiences you never forget.
The excitement was all around the moment I
stepped on the mat. Smile Gary kept saying, I thought I was but obviously not
enough until…
We had reached our first knock out round
and were losing. Gary had managed to save the 9th end by drawing in
for a measure. A drawn end was given which gave us needing 3 shots to win on
the last end. We were holding 2 and Gary having the last wood, skilfully played
a drawing shot that gave us 3, it was pure poetry. The faces of the opposition
turned to despair while I jumped and cheered, I couldn’t stop smiling!
We continued to win until we reached the
semi final where we finally lost to a better team. It was a long, mentally
tiring day but a great experience, thanks Gary.
Linda Wynn.
The following is an extract from the report taken
from the ESMBA website at www.esmba.org.uk
The
English National Short Mat Bowls Championship 2008
Held at Kettering Leisure Village on 3rd–6th
April 2008.
Pairs.
Last
32.
Gary Best and Linda
Wynn,
Kent, found themselves 1-4 down against James Smith and Phil Atkins, Devon, but
rallied to go 6-4 in front. However Devon took the lead 8-6. The Kent pair then
dug deep and scored a three on the last end to win 9-8.
Last
16.
Gary Best and Linda
Wynn,
Kent, had a battle against Jon Pitcher and David Haywood, Warwickshire. It was
level at 2-2 and 4-4, but then Kent took a 6-4 lead. A single each set up a
final end with Warwickshire needing at least a two but they could only score a
single and Kent won 7-6.
Quarter
- Finals
Alan Jones, Dave
Wooller,
Essex v Gary Best, Linda Wynn, Kent.
Kent
appeared to take control with Gary drawing well as they scored five shots in
four ends to lead 5-2 after being 0-2 down, but Essex held on. At 8-4 with one
end left Alan and Dave could only score a two, so Gary Best and Linda Wynn won
8-6.
Semi
- Finals
Keith
Alders, Matt Smith, West
Midlands v Gary Best, Linda Wynn, Kent.
West
Midlands took a 4-0 lead on the first end and then 5-1 with Matt drawing well.
Kent scored a three with both Linda and Gary bowling at their best. It was 5-4
to the Midlanders. Linda counted with two woods round the jack on the next end
but Keith Alders drew in and counted a single which he held. Keith ditched the
jack on the sixth end and Matt drew to the line but Gary played a brilliant
bowl to win the end, only one shot in it at 6-5 to the West Midlands pairing.
Matt Smith wicked to the jack and held two but Gary fired the jack into the
ditch and scored one to level the match 6-6.
Linda,
leading well lay two on but Keith took one out and then Matt with controlled
weight took the jack into the ditch and counted one. Gary hit Linda toucher
into the ditch area but just lost the measure and so West Midlands now led 7-6
with two ends left. Three down Gary was forced to fire, he missed and ended up
going four down as Keith Alders and Matt Smith won 11-6.
Keith
Alders and Matt Smith went onto win the final.
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