Darlington A Win Play-Offs

The County Veterans teams are split into four divisions without promotion or relegation chances. In order to decide the top team the winners and runners-up from each of the four divisions play each other in a knockout competition - play-offs.

After the 8 teams had competed in an initial round with home advantage to the Divisional winning teams, the fourwinning teams went forward to the semi-finals and final at Stanley IBC. In the semis, Sunderland A beat Hartlepool B and Darlington A beat Durham A.

After their strong performance against Durham A, Darlington were favourites to win the final. Their oppponents in the Final Sunderland A battled all the way but the Darlington team were too strong, winning on all 3 rinks, 72-33.

Darlington A are the 2008 County Champions

Darlington A - Veterans County Champions 2008

Durham triumph against title holders Hampshire

The arena at Nottingham Indoor Bowls Centre was packed to the rafters for this exciting contest between two in form sides. Durham supporters were very prominent in the biggest crowd of the 10 days of these EIBA National Finals and they gave the team tremendous vocal encouragement in a thoroughly entertaining match.

Hampshire made the better start and led 26-24 after the first five ends but at ten ends Durham had recovered scoring 20 shots more than Hampshire to lead 61-43. They never faltered and continued to maintain an advantage which at 15 ends was 21 shots. At 18 it was 20 shots although it looked difficult for Hampshire they continued to battle and the noisy Durham crowd were unable to relax. In typical style a late surge saw them home 133-99.

Durham, County Champions 2008

Score card details

Two Durham Men contest the National Singles Championship Final

At Nottingham Indoor Bowls Centre the EIBA National Championships were held over a 10 day period ending on Sunday, 13th April. In what is probably a unique occurence two bowlers from Durham fought their way through four rounds of the hardest bowls matches possible to both reach the final to contest for the National Singles title. Gary R Smith, from Stanley IBC, who'd been in the final before, and Glen Skipp from Hartlepool IBC had to draw on their reserves of concentration and control their adrenalin rushes in what was a wonderful game of bowls. Gary took an early lead but Glen fought back strongly to reduce the deficit before Gary was able to finish the match 21 - 12.

Congratulations to both bowlers on their achievements and the way they played throughout the tournament. They were a credit to their County and to bowls.

Glen Skipp and Gary R Smith before the Final

Glen Skipp, EIBA National Singles Finalist 2008	Gary R Smith, EIBA National Singles Champion 2008