Herefordshire Short Mat Bowling Association

HSMBA-Brown-Bull-LOGO_RESIZED

Strong Entries See Increased National Places Following Competitive Qualifiers

The Herefordshire Short Mat Bowling Association held their National Qualifiers at Ross Bowling Club over the weekend of 17th/18th December. Entries were strong and have seen Herefordshire increase their allocation to two places in the Singles, Triples and Fours and to three places in the Over 55 Pairs at the main National competition at Melton Mowbray and Solihull respectively in April.

John Mills of Woolhope followed up his County Championship Crown to win the National Qualifier in the Singles, with Bryan Watkins, also of Woolhope, securing the second qualification place.

The Pairs went down to the final game and was won on shots difference by the Gorsley Chapel pairing of Dean Rudman and Joe Loveys.

The triples and fours saw John Mills win a further two qualifiers. He was joined by Shirley and Becci Cox (Woolhope) in the triples, with the same triple joined by Joe Loveys (Gorsley Chapel) to qualify in the fours. St Martins were the runner-up on both occasions and also qualify in both disciplines, securing their first National appearances!

Mills secured his fourth and final discipline in the Mixed Fours with Shirley Cox (Woolhope), Kate Williams (Weston) and Joe Loveys (Gorsley Chapel) as Herefordshire’s 2021 semi-finalists look to reclaim the National Championship won by the same team in 2019.

The final two qualifiers saw Bradley Kite (Lea) win the Under-18 Singles to reach his first National Final and Peter Wright and Ian Roe (Ross) secure their place in the Over 55 Pairs. Wright and Roe are joined by Shirley Cox and Bryan Watkins (Woolhope) and Dean Rudman and Steve Kite (Gorsley and Lea).

The association would like to congratulate all of the qualifiers and wish all the County’s National representatives the very best of luck at the National Finals.