The Suffolk squad hosted their third and final fundraising competition, the Chairmans Triples at Needham Market on Sunday 4 October.

The maximum entry was increased to 45 triples, with bowlers from all of the six eastern counties taking part.

After every triple had played their four group games, the nine group winners and seven best runners-ups progressed to the first knock-out round, which was then reduced to eight remaining triples.

In the quarter-finals:
Madajo (Old Felixstowe) were comfortable 11-1 winners over Three Two One (Hitcham).
A Cambridgeshire versus Norfolk match went the way of Trilogy (Fulbourn), beating the Reepham Robins 8-2.
The sole Hertfordshire representatives (Marilyn, Mick & Pete Cook) were beaten by Hit, Miss & Maybe (Kevin Postma, Keith Hull & Steven Cain) by 9-2.
Finally Us Three Girls (Claydon: Sue Isles, Linda Tricker & Sally Goodrich) were successful over our visitors from Tasburgh by 10-8.

The closest of the semi-finals saw Us Three Girls take on Trilogy. The Claydon ladies were always ahead but were unable to shake off a persistent Fulbourn triple. However they did just enough to win 5-3.

In the other semi-final, Hit, Miss & Maybe were dominant from the start. The first five ends saw them score two shots on each and there was no way back for Madajo. The game finishing with an 11-3 win for Hit, Miss & Maybe.

The all Suffolk final saw the Claydon ladies make the better start, winning the first two ends but only securing a 2-0 lead. The men then hit back, with a single shot third end and then crucially five shots on the fourth end. The Claydon ladies failed to recover from this and Hit, Miss & Maybe went on to win the next two ends to build an unassailable 10-2 lead.

Congratulations to Kevin Postma, Keith Hull & Steven Cain on their win and some excellent bowling throughout the day.

The Suffolk squad thank everyone who took part or who helped on the day.

Neil Jolly

The annual Marion’s Fab Fours was hosted by the Suffolk Squad, at Needham Market on Sunday 19 July.

Thirty seven teams entered, including bowlers from Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Norfolk.

In the group stages all teams played four matches, with the eight group winners and runners-up qualifying for the knock-out stages. The draw then pitched group winners against a different group runner-up, against form seven of the runners-up won their matches making it into the quarter finals.

The quarter-finals were all close fought matches. A good day for teams from Stratford St Mary and Brockdish were ended, with the two other defeated teams coming from Cockfield and Great Blakenham.

The semi-finals saw the team of Kay & Peter Masters and Sue & Andy Gilder face opposition from Elmstead Market. After three ends it was 2-2, but then two double shot ends saw the Elmstead Market team take control and they held on to win 6-3.

In the other semi-final, a Hundon four faced the team of Shirley Watkins, Linda Ellis, Sam & Tom Runnacles. By halfway Hundon seemed to have a foot in the final, with a 7-0 lead. However with an end to play it was 7-4, but they did enough to win the final end and the match 9-4.

So it was an Essex versus Suffolk final, Elmstead Market (Jan Richardson, James Jordan, Kathy & Dave Sheen) against Hundon (Ellen Grube, Ann Hathaway, Linda & Ralph Sadgrove).
It was the Essex team who got off to a flying start, scoring five shots on the first end. Hundon responded with a single shot on the next, but Elmstead Market had them back in trouble on the third end, scoring a further four shots. The Hundon team needed a big shot count on the fourth end but were restricted again to a single shot. The Elmstead Market team were all bowling well and when they won the fifth end to further extend their lead, the match finished an end early.

Congratulations to Elmstead Market on their excellent performances during the day, particularly in the final and deserved win.

The Suffolk squad thank all who took part. We hope you enjoyed the day and we look forward to seeing you at our next fundraiser, the Chairman’s Triples, at Needham Market on Sunday 4 October.

After a one year hiatus, 24th May 2015, saw the return of the Hartest Triples, at it's new home, Needham Market.

For many years the event was organised and run by Graham Robinson, most recently at Great Welnetham, but sadly Graham passed away last year.

It was therefore decided to bring the event back, rename it is Graham's honour and relocate it to Needham Market where there would be room to increase the entry and the subsequently the money raised for the chosen charity, which this year was the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Happily that proved to be a good decision, with the event attracting a full entry of 40 teams and raising £600.

The Tournament
The 40 teams were split up into 8 groups with the winners and runners-up going through to the knockout stages which eventually produced the two finalists.

Barking/Belstead (Jim & Margaret Southgate and Paul Daniels) were the title holders, having won the event in 2013. They only just made it out of their group as runners-up, having won 2, drawn 1 and lost 1 game, and needed to wait on the result of the final group game to see if they would make it through.

They made their way through with the narrowest of wins over Reepham Robins (7-6) and Barking (4-3), before a Semi-Final which saw them take revenge for a thrashing in the round robin stage as they beat Copdock & Washbrook 8-3.

The John Varden All-Stars (John Varden, Andy Pooley & Colin Ward) swept through their group, winning the first 3 games to take the group before they had even played their final game.

The knockout stages saw wins over Reepham Robins A (8-6) and Fulbourn (6-1) before they too had a group game rematch, against Kelsale. A 4 shot loss on the first end meant that they had to fight their way back into the game, which they did, to win 7-4.

The final was a close affair in the first few ends as Barking/Belstead just managed to hang on to the odd single shot on the first 3 ends, but 2 each on the next 2 ends saw them take a decisive 7-0 lead with 2 ends to go. J.V's team gave themselves the slimest of chances on the next as they took one to keep the game alive, but needing to get all 6 on the last end, and in an impossible situation the jack was taken off to see Barking/Belstead retain the title with a 9-1 win.

Many thanks to everyone who attended the event and helped make it a success.

Message from Freda Wright: I would just like to thank all the clubs who entered and everyone who helped to run the competition, especially Mick Watkins. Also Neil Jolly for "rounding up" some old friends and Shirley and Sue who bowled with me and were there for me on the day. Graham would have been very proud yesterday. Everyone in the bowls world has been so kind.. you are all amazing. Thank you. Kind regards. Freda

On Sunday 29 March the Suffolk County Squad held the first of their three fundraising events for 2015, the Random Triples at Needham Market.

The maximum entry of 96 bowlers was quickly received, on the day each bowler was randomly drawn into different triples for each of their five games. Their scores being carried through from each game, two points for a win, one for a draw, with shots scored being used to decide placings.

After everyone had played two games just 23 bowlers had the maximum four points and they were headed by David Mittell and Daphne Spencer (22 shots scored), closely followed by Don Allum (20) and John Varden (19).

Following the completion of three games, those with maximum six points had reduced to 14 bowlers. It was tight at the top though with David Mittell, Daphne Spencer and Don Allum all now on 29 shots scored. Just behind them were Debbie Folkes (26), Lillian Gow and Andy Pooley (25).

Those with the maximum eight points after four games played, were reduced now to just 8 bowlers. The unbeaten records for Don Allum and Daphne Spencer went. David Mittell still led the way with 39 shots scored and Debbie Folkes (34) had jumped up to second spot. The chasing pack of six were Marie Harger (33), Lillian Gow (32), Colin Fellingham (31), Joyce Catchpole (30), Stephen Woodley (29) and Madge Smith (27).

The fifth round of games always provides an interesting draw and results which changes the leader board dramatically, this year’s event would be no different.

In the first half of the last set of games, it was long time leader David Mittell who fell at the final hurdle, losing his game. He wasn’t the only one though, Marie Harger lost as well, as did Lillian Gow but it took a final bowl from Colin Fellingham to do so, which at the same time maintained his winning streak. So it was Colin who set the target of 10 points and 39 shots scored.

The second half of the last set of games saw both Joyce Catchpole and Stephen Woodley out of contention, when they lost their games. At the same time Madge Smith could only draw her game to finish unbeaten for the day, but with nine points. That just left Debbie Folkes who was losing her game but by the last end it was 4-4. Then with the last bowl, her skip Steven Cain played a conversion shot to score two shots to earn a 6-4 win. Those two shots moved Debbie above Colin Fellingham by just one shot scored, they also took Steven Cain from eleventh overall into fourth with nine points.

So after an enjoyable days bowling, the worthy winner was Debbie Folkes.

The top five (the only unbeaten bowlers) at the end of the event were:

The Suffolk squad would like to thank everyone who took part and we hope to see you all at our other two fundraising events at Needham Market, Marion’s Fab Fours (19 July) and the Chairman’s Invitation Triples (4 October).

Neil Jolly (Suffolk captain)