Double delight for table topping duo (From Dudley News)

Double delight for table topping duo

Top duo Geoff Brooks and Roy Harper chalked up a good win over Gemma Davies and Alan Mole 15-5 to increase their lead at the top of the Stourbridge Labour Indoor League to nine points.

Second-placed Dave and Trevor Bate lost to Dennis Foxall and Andy Pagett 15-8. It was also defeat for the third-placed duo of Phil Baker and Chris Markham who went down 10-5 against Derek and Brenda Brooks.

Third place is now held by Mark and Malcom Webster who beat Geoff Lowe and Martin Griffiths 16-9.

It was also a double success for Brooks and Harper when they retained the Stourbridge Labour Indoor Doubles Cup beating Geoff Lowe and Cedric Walters 10-5 in the final.

The winners opened with a 12-7 success against Harry Heaven and Frank Johnson and followed that with a semi final 11-7 victory over John and June Winmill.

With the top three teams winning the position remains unchanged at the top of the Cookley Indoor League Division One with Netherton Cons leading the rest by five points from DMBEC C'. Cradley Heath Libs are three points clear of the rest in Division Two.

The George BC have retained their Premier side in the Warwick and Worcester County Bowling Association but have for the first time entered a team in the Staffordshire County Bowling Association South Staffs League.

Although Baggeridge beat Kynochs 34-28 in the Hadley Indoor Friday League to move into second spot their efforts to win the title look over. Selly Park who are taking part in the league for the first time are now 14 points clear with three games to play.

On retiring from office former BCGBA President Brian Chamberlain from Staffordshire has hit out at how those in the game fail to fund the British Crown Green Bowling Association. The life membership, no more to pay situation he says is a farce. It is high time something was done about it and that efforts must be made to come into line with other sporting organisations.

Chamberlain argues that there is nothing wrong with an up front fee for new members. What is patently wrong is that this fee is considered to be all that needs to be paid ever. The funding of the BCGBA by £10 per club is grossly unfair he argues that those clubs with few members are under the system subsidising clubs with hundreds of members. Chamberlain strongly feels that after the initial individual joining membership fee there should be an annual licence to play fee for all members. Finally he states that the BCGBA desperately need a professional marketing expert along with an headquarters. However to do any or one of his suggestions the former President says that the thinking has to be changed in some quarters.

The biggest bowls event in th region commenced last weekend it is the Tony Pagett Open at the Cradley Liberal Club sponsored by Marstons Brewery. The winner collects £600 in the final on Sunday March 30th. I did not receive details of the first four qualifiers till last night can we get them in this Thursdays bowls column please.

The first eight qualifiers are Matt Kelly Wally, Andy Duckett, Richard Dandy, Glyn Storer, Peter Witehey, Paul Rolls, Matthew Hucknall and from the White Horse at Quarry Bank Craig Cartwright.