The reigning county champions were hoping to follow to land a
second national title of the year for Northants after the Kingsthorpe trio won the triples.

Rees/Broderick began well by beating Darlington Railway
Athletic's Clive Black/Andy Kirtland 19-15 in the first round before a thrilling 19-18 win over Headington's Shaun Claridge/Paul Mabbutt in round two with the Northants pair winning it on the final end.

The last 16 saw the Northants duo up against England inter-nationals Michael Bowley and Simon Skelton of Stute in Ilkeston and another close game went Rees/Broderick's way 21-17.

That set up a quarter-final against the Badby duo of Andy Irons/Steve Wade and, despite being seven shots down to the Leicestershire team at one stage, the Wellingborough men came back to eventually win 19-17.

In the semi-final Rees/Broderick were draw against Carlisle Subscription's John Baird/Ricky Gallagher and hopes were high of another national final and possibly another title. But the Cumbrians had other ideas and won 24-19.

County runners-up Sam Wade and Phil Reeve of Kingsthorpe had a tougher time of things after drawing England internationals Ian Honnor/Chris Young of Weybridge in the first round – the Surrey pair duly winning 22-7.

In the singles County champion Darren Childs of Thrapston, on his national championships debut, beat Ventor's Sam Lines 21-19 in the first round but then lost 21-18 to England international Nick Brett of White Hart, Warboys in round two.

County singles runner-up Keith Lines, also of Thrapston, also won his first-round clash after beating Thompson Park's Peter Thomson
21-18.

But he, too, then came unstuck in round two with a 21-11 defeat by Carlisle Subscription's England junior international Danny May.

The championships concluded with the Middleton Cup final which was a repeat of last year's clash between Norfolk and Devon who again coming out on top by 11 shots.

The Northamptonshire Honorary Vice-Presidents Association have sadly announced death of member Reg Abbott.

Abbott was a long-term member of Kettering Athletic and for his services to bowls in Northamptonshire he was awarded life
membership of Northamptonshire Bowling Association in 2007.

He was a player and administrator of the association for over 40
years, holding the offices of match secretary, fixture secretary and assistant match secretary for a continuous period from 1978-2006.

He was also the association's chairman in 1997 and in 2006 was elected its patron. He was very highly respected in bowling circles both in Northamptonshire and other counties. He was also twice runner-up in the County Secretary's Cup in 1993 and 1996.

His funeral is at St Andrews Church, Rockingham Road, Kettering on Thursday at 2.30pm.

Jamie Walker has been selected for the national under-25 indoor trial at Kingsthorpe on October 19 after finishing runner to Cumbria's Danny May in the National Indoor Championships earlier in the year.

Dominic Graham (Northampton & District) and Michael Chester (Wellingborough) have also been chosen as reserves.

Should any of the county bowlers be successful, they will play against Wales at Swansea on November 23 and then earn a place in the England team for the British Isles Indoor International Series in Dunfermline next January.

The Northamptonshire Vice-Presidents played their Leicestershire counterparts in a friendly at Hart of Fleckney and won 145-86.

Rink one: Leicestershire skips only): M Griffin, K Friend, M McKeown, O Pearson 33, G Spencer 15. Rink two: B Foster, P Byworth, W Stoddard, J Watson 23, J Wilson 15. Rink three: B Tingle, G Dunscombe, C incles, T Buckmaster 16, D Bramley 19. Rink four: G Cashmore, H Bell, B Audis, K Legan 18, M Roberts 16. Rink five: T Tilley, G Care, C Hulbert, T Essam 28, T Bentham 7. Rink six: L Marshall, M Pullen, R Howell, T Coles 27, G Sim 14.

NARPO lost their Boot Trophy match against West End, going down 84-79.

The retired policemen team won three rinks in the match, the highest victory of 23-14 featuring the team of Trevor Franklin, Norman Cooper, Jim Hickman and Mick Lee.


Youngsters bid to end campaign on high
Northants Under-25s conclude their Midland Counties Champion- ship campaign against Warwickshire at Wellingborough on Sunday having already retained the Ron Barston Trophy.

Team: Richard Lemon A Bell, C Wright (all Express), A Harris (Kettering Lodge), S Johnson (Wellingborough), A Gearey, R Gearey (both PSL Roade), V Stevenson (Whyte Melville), A Brown (Abington), R Wigfield (Desborough), M Pownall (Geddington & Newton), W Hill (Rothwell Cons), J Tobin, N Betts (both Rushden), S Marriott, J walker, W Walker, D Walker (all West End), M Wordingham (Higham Ferrers), C Cinato (Kettering Midland Band).

The County have an executive match against Manfield Cup winners Corby Forest on Friday.

Rink one: Rink provided by County under-25 team. Rink two: D Marriott (West End), A Hunter, S Wade, P Reeve (all Kingsthorpe). Rink three: M Horsham, J Cooper, L Harrison, J Clipston (all Executive). Rink four: Rink provided by Rushden. Rink five: J Ruff, B Jones, H Fruish, G Hunt (all Executive). Rink six: P Wright, M Cinato, P Kneeshaw, R Somerton (all Executive).

The County men also play at Thrapston on Sunday (2pm start) as part of the host club's centenary celebrations.

Rink one: G Thomas (Kettering Lodge), W Stoddard (St Crispin), G Harris (Higham Ferrers), H Fruish (Executive). Rink two: B Barnard, P Byworth (both Wellingborough), M Waters (Irchester), G Hunt (Executive). Rink three: F Craven, N Bodily (both Whyte Melville), M Tait (McAlpine), T Nunn (Executive). Rink four: P Wright, R Somerton (both Executive), S McInnes (St Crispin), D Stewart (Irchester). Rink five: M Hall, D Hatton (both Brackley), B Humphries (West Haddon), R Giles (Abington). Rink six: T Jackson (Wellingborough), J Riff, L Harrison (both Executive), D Thurlow (Burton Latimer). Reserve: G Morris (West End).