Cumbria Indoor Bowls Club make a return trip to Bristol in the Denny Cup

Last year, the players had done very well to reach the semi-final, having been denied the use of their own green for over four months as a result of the floods.

On that Saturday morning, it was soon apparent that they faced a hard task against a fair Norfolk team, and so it proved.

Cumbria began slowly and were soon well behind, recovered to get within single shots, but in the end, were beaten by 10 shots.

This year, the side began reasonably and they were just three shots adrift after five ends. By the time the 10-end mark arrived, the margin had been slightly extended to eight shots and from then on, it was very much a slippery slope.

After 13 ends, there were 26 shots between the two sides and, at the worst point around the 15-mark, there were 28 shots between them.

In the end, the final winning margin of 19 shots probably slightly flattered Cumbria.

There were few highlights. Martyn Rice picked up three shots on the last end of his game to finish all-square against Kevin Phillips who played at three in Devon’s Liberty Trophy win over Cumbria in the previous week.

Ian Bond was in good form against Stuart Airey who could add only six shots in the last nine ends, while the Exonia four scored 16 to win 19-10.

On the next rink, Ian Gallagher was involved in a closely-run affair against Nathan Farrant. There was never much in it but the Exonia four came out on top 13-11.

The last of the Cumbria fours saw Stephen Farish never really looking like winning against James Hampton and looked as though he might lose quite heavily but eventually went down just 18-10.

This year’s side looked every bit as good as last year, Richard Chandler, Rae Graham and David Linton were missing this time around but their places were taken by Martyn Rice, Paul Wallace and Stephen Green and on balance I would not consider the team was weaker than last year.

However, on the green, Cumbria never really looked as though they wanted what would have been a record ninth win in this the premier indoor team competition.

Apart from a distinct lack of form from a fair number of players, the Cumbria spirit and enthusiasm was again sadly missing.

Familiarity can breed contempt. It could be that we have been there and done that to often in recent years. I hope that is not the case.

This was definitely a game which Cumbria should have won. Exonia included in their side no less than eight players who were not selected for the Devon Liberty side.

Fifteen of the Cumbria IBC side were in the Liberty, the only exception being Martyn Rice who was not available. Everything therefore pointed to a Cumbria appearance in the final.

It was Exonia, however, who went through but in an amazing game they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Playing against Northampton side Kingsthorpe, they led at the halfway stage by no less than 25 shots but Kingsthorpe never gave up and slowly got back into the game and in the closing stages, were definitely on top and won 71-66 repeating their 2003 win which was against Cumbria.

One point which has been mentioned on a number of occasions since Cumbria won its quarter-final is the long period of time between that game and the semi-finals.

It certainly is a long wait and, with most clubs winding down or like Cumbria having closed, there should surely be a rethink on the date of the final stage of this great event.

Outdoor Bowls

With the disappointment of the Liberty and Denny still fresh in the minds of Cumbria’s top players, I wonder what effect that will have on the exploits of this year’s Middleton Cup side.

Even before the events of the weekend, I understand that one or two of last year’s squad had indicated that they would not be playing this year.

Hopefully, not many others will follow suit and that we will remain competitive.

With the weather taking its usual downturn in the weeks before outdoor bowls really gets under way, there has not yet been a great deal happening.

But, by now, most clubs will have opened and their members will have had the opportunity to get their arms back and the skips have been heard making the usual request, “just make sure you’re up”.

It’s a phrase which will be heard many times especially in the early weeks but, hopefully, there is the possibility of an improvement in weather conditions by next Monday.

Let’s hope so for about 50 triples will be taking part in the Roland Starkie Triples tournament on a number of greens around the county.

In the past, there have been some really awful days and just last year play was not possible because of flooding on two or three greens. Let’s hope for better Monday.

County Tour

County Treasure Anthony Little has asked me to remind all those who will be going on this season’s County Tour to Leicestershire in July that they should let him have payment in the near future.

New Bowlers

Quite a number of clubs in the county have been offering open days for prospective new members.

Courtfield Bowls Club, at Back Lane, River Street in Carlisle, has its first open day on Sunday, May 7, 2pm-4pm.

Further open days are: Tuesday, May 9 – 6.30pm-8pm; Saturday, May 13 – 2pm-4pm; Monday, May 22 – 2pm-4pm; Thursday, May 25 – 6.30pm-8pm.

Bowls is a great game which suits the young and not so young, it requires skill but is also a great social game and bowlers have the opportunity to play as often as they like once they become a member. Bowls is one of the cheapest sports around and as such is available to all.

Equipment can last a lifetime and on Sunday all you need to take with you is a pair of flat shoes. Everything else will be supplied and there is no charge

I am sure that you’ll enjoy it and will probably wonder why you have not tried it sooner. If you need any further information, give Margaret Docherty a ring on 01228 530901.

The club is looking forward to seeing you – go on give it a try.