Club reach the last 16 (From Droitwich Advertiser)

Club reach the last 16

6:00pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in Local

BROMSGROVE Indoor Bowls Club booked their place in the last 16 of the English Championships with a comprehensive win over Solihull.

A 106-61 victory sparked hopes of another run to the final of the competition.

Bromsgrove reached the final in 2003 and tasted defeat at the hands of Plymouth but bounced back a year later to win the competition after seeing off Bath.

Team manager Tom Farrar believes this could be the club’s best chance since those halcyon days to go all the way.

He said: “This is the best ballanced team we have had for a few years the lads are hungry and want this title again.”

The match which was played on a two-rink home and two-rink away basis, which saw Steve Morris, Ray Lowe, Bob Jones and Skip John Cracknell beat the Solihull quartet of Dave Finney, Dave Ellsmore, Barry Hay and Reddich’s Gareth Roberts 39-9.

Bromsgrove captain Alex McWhinnie got the better of Solihull's Phil Holmes26-14.

In Solihull, Paul Kitchen Bob Niblock, Mark Sandoz and Skip Neil Brereton won 24-16.

Ray Kelard, Mike Laight, Berrill Everton and captain Lew Whitehouse where narrowly beaten 22-17 but that could not prevent Bromsgrove from progressing to the final 16.

Meanwhile, after the club successfully hosted their first international series this month, the club have been chosen to hold more prestigious matches.

They will be the venue for the UK Open on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1.

Bromsgrove also host the English Masters on the weekend on April 1 and 2 in 2014.

These events will see players from all over Europe competing at Bromsgrove.

Meanwhile, the England 2012-13 Short Mat National Championships are coming to the club in March.

Over 400 people a day will be at the venue for the six-day long tournament.

This includes the national mixed fours on Saturday, March 23, the youth finals a day later, the nation singles on Thursday April 4, followed by the pair competition the next day.

The National fours finals will be held Saturday, April 6, while Bromsgrove stage the triples final 24 hours later.

Earlier in February, Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid opened the Open International Women under-25s Indoor Tournament, which was the first ever international tournament held at the club.

The competition was attended by Sheila Storey, President English Indoor Bowling Association and Eddie Brown, President Bromsgrove and District Indoor Bowling Club.

England’s men’s and women’s teams were both triumphant.

Sajid said: “I was delighted to open the Open International Women U-25s Indoor Bowls Tournament here in Bromsgrove and to meet the participants.

“It's fantastic that a local club has had the opportunity to host this prestigious international event, and I was thrilled that England emerged victorious.

“The atmosphere was full of energy, and I am sure all who were there had an exciting time.”