Year: 2016
DBE Potters Festive Week
Disability Bowls England Annual Trip to ‘Potters’
28th November – 2nd December 2016.
This year a group of 41 bowlers, friends and family travelled from all areas of the country to Potters Leisure Resort, for the ‘Bowls International’ sponsored ‘Festive Week’. This would be at least our 12th year for this Potters Festive week. Continue reading “DBE Potters Festive Week”
South East & Midlands Taster Day Changes
Potters Champion of Champions
Paul Brown – Bowls England Presentation
Disability Bowls England’s Paul Brown had a great night at the Bowls England Annual Dinner/Presentation evening in Coventry on 26th Nov.
Paul was invited by Bowls England to give the toast on behalf of the guests and was given a standing ovation after a powerful and inspirational speech.
BE President Michael Jennings outlined the highlights of his season which included the match played against DBE at Didcott BC and was delighted to announce that money collected at the presidential matches throughout the summer would be given to DBE, his nominated charity. He then proceeded to present Paul with a cheque for £7500.00
It was a great night helping raise awareness for disability bowls and Paul enjoyed the company of Bowls England CEO, Tony Allcock MBE, who along with Chair of the International Committee, Norma Hazzledine, presented Paul with flowers to be given to his wife.
Report by Mo Monkton
DBE Masters Singles Championship
Masters Singles – 19th & 20th November 2016
Top bowlers from four different disability bowls groups played in the elite 16-person event. The groups represented were BWBA (for wheelchair bowlers), CPSport (for bowlers with cerebral palsy, strokes and head injury), VIBE (visually impaired) and EALABA (for amputee’s and other disabilities). Each disability group nominates 4 top bowlers, they are then drawn into 4 pools consisting of one bowler from each disability group. They play a round robin in their pool, the winners of each pool determine the semi-finalists.
The previous year’s champion has automatic selection for the following year, in order that they may defend their title, this year it was Bob Love.
Representing
BWBA were; Simon Wright, George Ridgeon and Steve Bigg
EALABA Bowlers; John Rogers, Neil Smith, Chris Gray and Mike Robertson.
VIBE Bowlers; Ron Homer, Sarah Marshall, Liz Ward and Gareth Harwood.
CP Sport Bowlers; Alastair Domville, Steve Angus, Kieran Rollings and Jonathan Stokes.
The pool play this year produced clear winners, Simon Wright, George Ridgeon, Chris Gray and Bob Love.
The semi-finals saw Bob Love, (Birmingham) take on Simon Wright (Hornsea) in a very well contested game, Bob being the eventual winner, 17 shots to 11.
The other semi-finalists, George Ridgeon (Gloucs) and Chris Gray (Kettering) had a real tussle with George going 8 shots up in four ends. Chris then picked up 10 shots in the next 6 ends, George had a better short spell but then Chris won the last four ends. The eventual score finishing 19 – 13 to Chris, a real ‘see saw’ of a game.
The Final was no disappointment. Both Bob and Chris played really well. Chris put up a good fight but there seems to be no stopping Bob, he came out the winner once again. The final score 21 – 10, Well done Bob!Congratulations to all of the players for a wonderful display of bowling over the whole weekend.
This year the trophies were presented by Paul Brown, DBE Chairman.
A ‘big thank you’ to the Gedling IBC members who helped over the weekend, they were, as always, brilliant!
Margaret Smith, DBE Sec and tournament organiser.
DBE International Trials – 5th November
The first DBE International Trials were held at Solihull IBC over the weekend 5th/6th November 2016 where 64 players/directors, all competing for a place in the next stage of trials, were put through their paces.
Standards were high and the selectors delighted with the effort and commitment shown by all the attendees.
A number of players and directors have been selected to attend further trials at Gedling IBC on 26th February 2017 after which the squad to represent England at the Home Nations Championships in April will be chosen.
A full list of players/directors to attend on 26th February is attached.
Commonwealth Games Ambassadors – 2018
Disability Bowls England send their congratulations, are very proud and wish the athletes selected for the Games every success.
Read more: The Full Story
Celebration Evening 5th November 2016
2016 DBE Masters Selection
Competitors for this years DBE Masters Singles, November 19th & 20th at Gedling IBC, Nottingham
C.P. BOWLS: Alastair Domville – York, Kieran Rollings – Kettering, Jonathan Stokes – Luton, Steve Angus – Sunderland.
VIBE (Visual Impairment): Nancy Cheeseman – Yeovil, Ron Homer – Yeovil, Adrian Mears – Littlehampton, Sarah Marshall – Berkhamstead.
EALABA: Chris Gray – Kettering, Bob Love – Tamworth, John Rogers – Tamworth, Neil Smith – Tamworth.
WHEELCHAIR BOWLS: George Ridgeon – Gloucester, Simon Wright – Hull, Steve Bigg – Wellingborough, Helen Wood – York.
See more details: DBE at Gedling IBC