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Cousins Marion Perkins and Julie Hicks won the Thornally Trophy at the Lincolnshire Women’s Bowls Federation finals in Lincoln – exactly 45 years after their grandma Olive Biggadike won the three bowl rinks competition.
Back in 1974, Olive won the trophy with M Cottam and V Grooby of Royal Mail Cart, Spalding.
The semi-finals and finals were held at Boultham Park Bowls Club in Lincoln.
Seven ladies from the Spalding & District Bowls League represented Area 1 in seven out of nine competitions held. Dannielle Wild had already been awarded the Val Baker Cup for the under 25 singles competition.
Sandra Hammond, from Goodfellowship (Fosdyke) Bowls club played in two semi-final competitions – the 4 Bowl Singles and the 2 Bowl Champion of Champion singles. Sandra was ahead for most of the time in the champion of champions but lost out to Maureen Wilson of Cherry Willingham by one shot, 20-21 on the 30th end.
Her 4 Bowls singles game was equally as close, finally beating Ann Garnham of Eslaforde 21-20. The final was against Sue Cooper from The Shires (Grimsby area) and Sandra picked up a couple of vital three and four shots, winning 22-15 and received the Ethel Grattan trophy.
Tracy Philpott from Spalding Town Bowls Club competed in the 2 Bowl singles competition against Jenna Earl from North Hykham. Tracy was 18-11 shots ahead after 22, ends seemingly on her way to the finals, but Jenna had different ideas, fighting her way back. But Tracy stepped up a gear and finally won 21-19.
The final was always going to be a tough game against reiging champion Kirsty Cox, of Cleethorpes. Tracy was slow to find the pace and green at the start, letting Kirsty get ahead 7-1. However, Tracy fought back this time and only lost out by four shots, 21-17.
Julie Hicks, Marion Perkins, Christine Jackson and Samantha Richardson from Moulton Harrox Bowls Club were involved in the four team competitions.
Julie and Marion were up first in the two bowl Pairs, 21 ends, against Kirsty Cox and Caroline Cullum (Cleethorpes) who certainly showed the Moulton pair how to play bowls, beating them 21-9.
Julie Marion and Chris Jackson joined forces to play the three bowl rinks, 18 ends, against M Regan, C Horne and J Wressell of Cemetery Road (Scunthorpe). What a tight game, nip and tuck all the way through, with Julie, Marion and Chris two shots adrift going into the last end. With Moulton holding one shot and possibly two more, they had to wait for Cemetery Road to play their last bowl AND a measure before finally being declared winners 14-13.
Next up was Julie and Chris in the over 60’s, two bowl pairs, 21 ends, against Chris Barber and Maureen Wilson (Cherry Willingham). Again another tough game with the Moulton Pair winning 16-15.
The final game of the semi-finals saw Julie, Marion and Samantha Richardson in the two bowl rinks 21 ends against Jenna Earl, Jean Brown and Chris Hempsall (North Hykeham). With the Moulton trio never in front, Hykeham must have thought they’d got it in the bag, but Moulton did not give up, winning the last four ends to go through to the final 21-20.
Finals day saw Julie Marion and Chris play Olive Wells, Mary Johnson and Patricia Scholey (Horncastle) in three bowl rinks. In a worthy final, Moulton picked up two shots on the last end to force an extra, nailbiting end. Julie, Marion and Chris got the one shot needed to pick up their first County Championship Title and the Thornally Trophy.
Julie and Chris then had to play Olive and Mary again in the two bowl over 60’s pairs on a tricky one-handed rink. Both teams had to work hard with Julie and Chris finally winning 20-18 and picking up the Howesman Trophy.
The last final of the day saw Julie Marion and Sam Richardson play (yet again) Olive, Mary and Patricia in the two bowl rinks, 21 ends. Sam, with fresh feet and hands, refused to let the Horncastle trio get to grips with this game, never letting them get in front and helped Julie and Marion pick up another County title 21-11 and the Bonner Cup.
Dannielle, Sandra, Marion, Chris, Sam and Julie will now go on to represent Lincolnshire in the National Finals at Skegness, week beginning August 19.
The Thornally Trophy, three bowl rinks competition win was especially poingnant for cousins Julie and Marion as their grandma, Olive Biggadike won the same trophy exactly 45 years ago with M Cottam and V Grooby of Royal Mail Cart, Spalding.
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