The matches were played at Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel in North Wales, and featured teams from Wales, Scotland, Ireland England.

Ireland won the series, being unbeaten with three wins, and although England finished third with only one win against the wooden spoonists Wales, Sharpe was on a winning rink in each of his three matches.

He played at number two in the rink skipped by Martin Sekjer of Bournemouth, and his other colleagues were Graham Standley of Banister Par at lead, and the England Under 25 manager Pip Branfield at number three.

Sharpe's rink scores were as follows: versus Ireland 19-12, versus Wales 20-13, versus Scotland 21-14

The other England rink was skipped by John Wickham from Torbay, and he had with him Mike London from The Parks, Bill Ward from Avon Valley and England senior manager John Bell.

Their record was played three, won one, lost two.

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A TOTAL of 47 members of Northants Indoor Bowling Association enjoyed their short Tour to Yorkshire last weekend.

The team was based at Scarborough and played five matches on tour, with the first against Scarborough IBC when they lost by 29 shots.

They also lost to Ryedale IBC and the Yorkshire Indoor Association (by 26 shots in each match), but they did beat New Earswick IBC by 15 shots before wrapping up the tour with a 72-shot defeat to York & District IBC.

The highlight of the winning match, which was led by Mick Pullen, was a maximum score of eight shots by John Haines' rink.

The following men have been selected to play for Northants IBA in a friendly against Rushden IBC on Thursday (start 2pm).

Eddie Pinder (Daventry, president), Brian Diver (Desborough), Mick Hall (Brackley), Malcolm Tait (Kettering), Dave Garland (Kingsthorpe), Peter Hales (Desborough), Geoff Harris (Rushden), Tony Fairmaner (Kettering), Walter Stoddard (Kingsthorpe), Andy Purcell (Desborough), Richard Somerton (Brackley), Terry James (Rushden), John Smith (Kettering), Eric Wareing (Daventry), Len Smith (Desborough), Peter Byworth (Wellingborough), Mick York (Desborough), Mick Pullen (Rushden, sen v/president), Mick Weatherill (Desborough), Brian Sherwood (Rushden), Tony Lane (Kingsthorpe), Brian Jones (Daventry), Keith Howlett (Desboro), Brian Carr (Northampton).

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THE Northants Vice-Presidents Association took on Kingsthorpe last week, and came away losers 142-100.

At the halfway stage there were only two shots in the match, but then Kingsthorpe eased steadily in front to record their win.

n Next VPs matches: Oct 19 v Desborough IBC; Oct 26 v Leicestershire at Wellingborough IBC.

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THE Northants Women's Indoor Bowling Association tour wil be held from March 12-16, with the team being based at the Heathlands Hotel in Bournemouth.

County President Pauline Capon is inviting lady bowlers to join her on the tour for an inclusive cost of £210.