Championship success for Hill

Young Spalding bowler Ruby Hill is celebrating after winning the mixed pairs World Championship and coming runner up in the under 25 singles.

After winning the ladies’ national under 25 singles in the 2021/22 season, Hill represented England at the International Indoor Bowls Council under 25 singles and mixed pairs championships, held at County Antrim Indoor Bowls Club.

As the men’s national under 25 singles champion, Harry Goodwin from Swale partnered Hill in the mixed pairs event.

Hill had an excellent week and after coming runner up in her singles group, lost out to Yu Yee Sin from Hong Kong in the semi-final.

However, Hill and Swale went on to lift the world under 25 mixed pairs title.

The pair started the week with a tough game against Australian duo, Brianna Smith and Nick Cahill.

Hill and Swale found the Australians in top form and lost in straight sets (3-9, 1-11).

They bounced back well though with a win against Ellie Dixon from Norfolk Island and Angel Gomez from USA (6-9, 17-1, 1-0).

Hill and Swale won their next two group games in straight sets, the first against Larissa Rubin from Switzerland and Daniel Spratt from Ireland (8-2, 7-6) and then against the Hungarian pairing of Sarolta Schrank and Mate Dobos (19-1, 18-0).

In their final group game, the pair beat Catherine Snell and Ben Harvey from Guernsey (9-1, 7-3) which secured second place in the group and a place in the knockout stages.

As they finished second in the group, Hill and Swale had a playoff against the Guernsey pairing who finished third.

Another straight sets victory followed (12-2, 5-4) to book their place in the semi-final against Kara Lees and Bradley Buchan from Scotland.

After winning the first set 10-5, Hill and Swale went into the last end of the second set 5-6 behind but scoring a single meant that they drew the set and won 1.5-0.5.

Awaiting them in the final were Smith and Cahill.

After being beaten by the Aussies in the group stages, Hill and Swale were out for revenge but Smith and Cahill started the better to win the first set 14-1.

Hill and Swale fought back to win the second set 12-4 to set up a tense one end tie break.

They held their nerve to win the tie break and the title of world under 25 mixed pairs champions.

• On Sunday, Spalding Lightning secured their place in the quarter final of the Egham Trophy with a win against Lincoln.

Spalding were ahead from the outset and won on all four rinks which led to a 94-43 aggregate win.

Top winning rink was skipped by Graham Smith, with Jean Patterson, Rebecca Simpson and Simon Lilley who had an impressive 32-12 win.

Rink Scores: Home – Patterson, Simpson, Lilley and Smith – won 32-12; Kevin Ekins, Tracy Philpott, Annie Dunham and Jordan Philpott – won 19-13. Away – Stephen Harris, Karen Martin, Chelsea Spencer and Mathew Orrey – won 20-6; Hill, Louise Harris, Martin Spencer and Dominic McVittie – won 23-12.

*On Saturday, Spalding Lightning progressed to the last 16 of the Denny Cup and Yetton Trophy with wins against Barwell and Leicester respectively.

In the Denny Cup, Spalding were out of the blocks quickly, mainly thanks to the home rinks and were 30-14 up at five ends. This was extended to 50-26 at ten ends and 79-41 by 15 ends. Barwell conceded with Spalding 30 shots (89-59) ahead at 18 ends.

Winning on three of the four rinks, the top winning rink was skipped by McVittie, with Brian Martin, Lewis Parnell and Andy Dunham who returned a 31-13 rink win.

Played alongside the Denny Cup, the Spalding Lightning ladies had an equally impressive win in the Yetton Trophy.

Spalding won by 47 shots (99-52) and won on all rinks.

Top winning rink was skipped by Hill, with Patterson, Carole Nunney and Tracy Philpott who won 34-9.
Denny Cup Rink Scores: Home – Brian Martin, Lewis Parnell, Andy Dunham and Dominic McVittie – won 31-13; Dan Mills, Ollie Jeapes, Simon Lilley and Graham Smith – won 19-14. Away – Kevin Ekins, Martin Simpson, Martin Spencer and Jordan Philpott – won 26-13; Stephen Harris, Mike Robertson, Ean Morton and Tristan Morton – lost 13-19. Yetton Trophy Rink Scores: Home – Patterson, Nunney, Philpott and Hill – won 34-9; Freda Lyon, Jan Sinclair, Sandra Hammond and Maisie Belding – won 21-12. Away – Ann Newbury, Michelle Billingsley, Betty Deaton and Julie Hicks – won 22-13; Sheila Chamberlain, Petrine Ault, Karen Martin and Maggie Wheatley – won 23-18.

*After the international trials at Nottingham Indoor Bowls Club on December 3 and 4, the teams were announced this week.

In the senior men’s team, Stephen Harris, Matt Whyers, Graham Smith and Mark Dawes retained their places, whilst McVittie has been selected as travelling reserve for the second year running.

Harris will lead a rink with Martin Puckett (Dorchester), Les Gillett (Melton) and captain Greg Harlow (Ely) whilst Whyers, Smith and Dawes are all selected in the same rink with Robert Paxton (Exonia) at number three.

The men will be trying to win the international series for a record extending eighth consecutive year at Abbeyview IBC in Scotland.

Moving on to the ladies’ senior team, Annie Dunham, Chelsea Spencer and Hill all retained their places.

Dunham will skip a rink with Devon Cooper (Hartlepool), Kylie Jenkins (Egham) and captain Sandy Hazell (Swale).

Spencer will skip her own rink with Cassidy Lenton (Exonia), Chloe Brett (Huntingdon) and Anna Chalk (Lakenheath).

The ladies will be trying the regain the international series, also at Abbeyview IBC.

In the ladies’ under 25 team, Hill retained her place where she will play number three to captain Rachel Tremlett (St Neots) with Leah Bamford and Imogen Jenner (both from Swale). It will take place at Ffrith IBC in Wales.

Finally, Jeapes was selected as travelling reserve in the mixed under 18 international series.