DENNY CUP AND YETTON INTER-CLUB TROPHIES at Bristol

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1 NATIONAL INDOOR BOWLS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS SATURDAY/SUNDAY, 23/24 APRIL DENNY CUP AND YETTON INTER-CLUB TROPHIES at Bristol The Denny Cup (R) and the men's inter-club runners up trophy (L) on display at the Bristol indoor bowls club. Saturday saw the final stages of the national men's inter-club championship, with teams from Carlisle, Norwich, Reading and Guildford vying for the Denny Cup. Today (SUN), it was the turn of the York & District, Riverain (Hitchin), Swale (Sittingbourne) and Bournemouth to do battle for the Yetton Trophy. DENNY CUP - The records... CUMBRIA, who were defending their title, were formed in Carlisle in 1975, have won the Denny Cup a record eight times - in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2010 and They were runners up in 1998 and 2003 NORFOLK, who play in Norwich, were formed in 1968, and were playing in their first final. WHITEKNIGHTS, formed in Reading in 1972, were runners up to the City of Ely in WEY VALLEY, formed in Guildford in 1972, lost in the final in 2006, but won the title YETTON TROPHY - the records... YORK (more correctly known as 'York & District', were formed in 1968, and have won the Yetton Trophy three times - in 2000, 2002 and They have never lost in the final. RIVERAIN, formed in Hitchin 1986, were in the semi finals for the first time. But they won the Plate in SWALE, formed in Sittingbourne in 1999, were appearing in their first final. Plate winners BOURNEMOUTH, the 'new' club, was opened in Kings Park in 1995, BUT... records show that a much older club with the same name actually won the Denny Cup in This was the first appearance in the semi finals for the 'new' club.

2 WHITEKNIGHTS WONDER WIN The Reading-based club beat Wey Valley and Norfolk to win the Denny Cup The Whiteknights team celebrate with club chairman Edna Orchard and EIBA President Jenny McConnell - and the Denny Cup. DENNY CUP The Whiteknights club, who play in Reading, were runners up in the national men's inter-club championship in 2001, but they went one better in Bristol today, when they defeated Norfolk, 74-69, in the final, and lifted the coveted Denny Cup for the very first time. Two years ago, neighbours Desborough, who play at Maidenhead, less than 13 miles away along the M4, won the title, and no fewer than six of the players who helped Whiteknights to the title today were in the winning Desborough side in With high profile Commonwealth Games medallists like Rob Newman and Andy Knapper on board, and former WIBC world indoor champion Simon Jones all skipping rinks, Whiteknights won on three rinks and by 74 shots to 69. Knapper, who is the Whiteknights club manager, skipped his rink to a five shots win over Norfolk's Ian Catchpole, Newman notched up a four shots win over Wayne Willgress, and Jones beat Richard Summers by eight shots. And, although Bernie Perrett replied with a splendid victory over a Whiteknights rink skipped by Duncan Christie, it was Christie that struck the most telling blow with a last-end count of four that saw the Berkshire side home. Whiteknights had led throughout, without being able to get out of reach, and a late five for Perrett brought the East Anglians to within two shots - but, in a dramatic and very tense finish, the Reading outfit held on grimly, and looked relieved to win. "I'm very proud of the lads," said Knapper. "Many members of our team were playing at this level for the first time, and it was a great experience for them. And, on a personal note, to have won the title twice in three years - and from two different clubs - is very special." An emotional Club chairman Edna Orchard, who was EIBA President in 2011, said: "Little did I think I would be returning to the scene to pick up the big one - it's a great feeling to have won the Denny Cup, but Norwich deserve a lot of praise for pushing us so close." ***

3 In this morning's semi finals, Whiteknights, fielding five players who helped the Maidenhead-based club Desborough to the title two years ago, scored eleven shots across the green on the first end, and went on to defeat the 2013 champions Wey Valley, The Guildford club recovered from that disastrous start, and got their noses in front by the eighth end, but they were outplayed in the second half, with only Charles Bruder skipping a winning rink. Whiteknights, who play in Reading, returned three winning cards, Andy Knapper, Duncan Christie and Simon Jones skipping their rinks to wins of 30-11, and respectively. Knapper's quartet, who were 13-0 ahead after only five ends, finished with a flourish, scoring seven shots on the last end to boost their winning margin. Norfolk also won on three rinks against defending champions Cumbria, and by 82 shots to 72 - but it must be said that no play has been possible in Carlisle since the floods inflicted by Storm Desmond on 5 December caused so much damage to their stadium. Given the circumstances, Cumbria had done well to qualify - but they were always on the back foot against a lively Norfolk side, for whom Richard Summders, Ian Catchpole and Bernie Perrett returned winning cards of 22-18, and respectively. Ian Gallagher skipped the only winning rink for Cumbria, scoring two fours and a six on their way to a win over a Norfolk quartet skipped by England under 25 international Wayne 'Wicked Willie' Willgress. Semi finals Norfolk bt Cumbria Rink scores (Norfolk names first): Phil Long, Andrew Morter, Tom Degolo, Wayne Willgress 15, Paul Barlow, John Wills, Mark Nanson, Ian Gallagher 26; Martin Ellis, Phil Bennett, Jake Willgress, Richard Summers 22, Kevin Harrison, Graham Vipond, Ben Sherwen, Stuart Airey 18; Nick Slater, Jake Leslie, James Segolo, Ian Catchpole 22, David Linton, Richard Chandler, Rae Graham, Gavin Taylor 13; Aaron Johnson, Karl Brooks, Charlie Boon, Bernie Perrett 23, Eddie Murray, John Baird, Stuart Irwin, Steve Farish 15. Whiteknights bt Wey Valley Rink scores (Whiteknights names first): Tim Curren, John Smith, Michael Knight, Rob Newman 16, James Bruder, Reece Hutton, Ian Ross, Charles Bruder 18; Carl Brooks, Neil Jones, Colin Brooks, Simon Jones 19, Duncan Heard, Jon Wilson, Gary Clarke, Dan Morris 14; Ken Elson, Steve Smith, Lloyd Sabatini, Andy Knapper 30, Graham Street, Andy Richardson, Paul Vamvacopoulos, Simon Clarke 11; B J Byles. Alan Symondson, Chris Hitt, Duncan Christie 21, Bill Short, Jake Ladd, Chris Young, Paul Coleman 16. Final Whiteknights bt Norfolk Rink scores (Whiteknights names first): Tim Curren, John Smith, Michael Knight, Rob Newman 18, Phil Long, Andrew Morter, Tom Degolo, Wayne Willgress 14; Carl Brooks, Neil Jones, Colin Brooks, Simon Jones 21, Martin Ellis, Phil Bennett, Jake Willgress, Richard Summers 13; Ken Elson, Steve Smith, Lloyd Sabatini, Andy Knapper 21, Nick Slater, Jake Leslie, James Segolo, Ian Catchpole 16; B J Byles. Alan Symondson, Chris Hitt, Duncan Christie 14, Aaron Johnson, Karl Brooks, Charlie Boon, Bernie Perrett 26.

4 YETTON TROPHY Swale pip York in Yetton Trophy final Swale won the Yetton Trophy when they edged home against York in a nail-biting final. YETTON TROPHY The Swale club in Sittingbourne is widely regarded as one of the strongest in England, and recently supplied England's successful international side with three of its players - but it had never previously appeared in the final stages of the national women's inter-club championship. An exciting hairsbreadth victory over a determined York & District team gave Swale the Yetton Trophy for the first time - but, after taking an early 22-5 lead, the Kent club had to dig deep to repel a strong challenge from the gritty northerners. York won the title two years ago, and lost in the semi finals last year, and they showed their skill as they fought back courageously to take the lead at 34-33, and from then on in was a battle royal with no quarter asked or given. England team captain Sandy Hazell led the Swale charge, skipping her rink to a win over a York quartette that included one of England s top wheelchair bowlers Helen Wood, who was playing out of a motorised Bradshaw Bowls Buggy. Liz Gilham's rink scored a vital five on the run-in, and returned a card against Helen Walker, while Sue Allen and Linda Harrison replied with wins of and for York, The last few ends were tense, with Swale desperately trying to restrict York's scores to singles - and, in the main, they were successful in doing so, the final two-shots margin reflecting a hard-fought encounter. Hazell said: "Everyone thinks we're a strong club, and we are, but we have never been able to make the vital break-through to win this title. We have a reasonably young team, and the club has strong youth section, so we are hoping this is just the start." *** Earlier, in the semi finals, Swale had faced a challenge from Bournemouth, but had come out on top by fifteen shots, 90-75, with wins from Liz Gilham (27-19), Wendy King (26-13) and Amy Banes (22-18) building a platform for victory. In the other semi final, York trailed Hitchin-based Riverain for a while, but got on top and motored to a fine win. Sue Allen's rink returned the best card for York, winning by 33 shots to 16, while Linda Harrison won, Riverain's Hannah McConnell, who was 15-0 ahead of Carol Instone after eight ends, but Instone's recovery (her rink scored 15 shots to 2 over the next eight to trail by just two shots at 15-17) made a real difference to York's chances, and put them on the road to victory.

5 Semi finals York & District bt Riverain Rink scores (York names first): Joan Jackson, June Clayton, Helen Wood, Carol Instone 16, Rachel Tremlett, Sharon Allen, Joan Welch, Hannah McConnell 26; Maureen Walker, Betty Richardson, Hayley MacDonald, Sue Allen 33, Brenda Hollands, Val Bingley, Jackie Bryant, Gill Walker 16; Dot Kennedy, Sheila Turpin, Melanie Brooke, Linda Harrison 26, Ann Fuller, Ann Mitchell, Noreen Gazley, Shirley Hughes 12; Carol Banks, Lynda Parker, Zoe Eagles, Helen Walker 20, Linda O'Flanagan, Devon Cooper, Muriel Saunders, Shirley Page 20. Swale bt Bournemouth Rink scores (Swale names first): Paige Dennis, Natalie Harrison, Carol Anderson, Sandy Hazell 15, Jean Arnaud, Mary Lucas, Julie Leake, Joan Halliwell 25; Imogen Jenner, Jane Johnson, Jody Clinch, Wendy King 26, Sylvia Postill, Sue Dillon, Mary Jones, Jenny Osborne 13; Sue Petts, Pat Goodger, Joanne Clinch, Amy Banes 22, Julie Hudson, Rosie Beales, Liz Messer, Sue Dadson 18; Sue Mannering, Jane Russell, Yvonne Wallington, Liz Gilham 27, Jennie Cooper, Jill Griffiths, Linda Johnson, Brenda Streater 19. Final Swale bt York Rink scores (Swale names first): Paige Dennis, Natalie Harrison, Carol Anderson, Sandy Hazell 23, Joan Jackson, June Clayton, Helen Wood, Carol Instone 12; Imogen Jenner, Jane Johnson, Jody Clinch, Wendy King 16, Maureen Walker, Betty Richardson, Hayley MacDonald, Sue Allen 25; Sue Petts, Pat Goodger, Joanne Clinch, Amy Banes 14, Dot Kennedy, Sheila Turpin, Melanie Brooke, Linda Harrison 21; Sue Mannering, Jane Russell, Yvonne Wallington, Liz Gilham 24, Carol Banks, Lynda Parker, Zoe Eagles, Helen Walker 17.