The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A quartet of Spalding bowlers have been crowned Midland Counties Four champions for the first time.
Steve Hill, Martin Simpson, Paul Simpson and Martin Spencer had travelled to Thringstone Bowls Club in Leicestershire to represent Lincolnshire at the championships.
The contest consisted of county champions from Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
The quartet, who play for Royal Mail Cart Bowls Club, actually lost in a closely-fought county final against a strong four from Lincoln in July.
However, as the Lincoln set were unavailable to attend, the Royal Mail Cart quartet were invited to the event as county runners-up.
In the semi-finals, Hill, father and son Martin and Paul, and Spencer played against the four representing Northamptonshire skipped by John Haines.
A closely-fought first few ends saw the Royal Mail Cart four leading 11-10 after nine ends.
A count of six shots on the 10th end saw the four take control and extend their lead to eventually secure a 28-16 win and a place in the final.
The quartet from Nottinghamshire, skipped by Steve Robinson, secured a one shot victory against Worcestershire in the other semi-final.
Like the semi-final, the final started off nip and tuck with the Royal Mail Cart four leading 5-4 after six ends.
It was at that point which they played some excellent bowls to take control, score 17 shots without reply to lead 22-4.
Despite a slight comeback by the Nottinghamshire set, the quartet from Royal Mail Cart secured a 25-11 final win to land the title.
The four also represented Lincolnshire at the national championships at Leamington Spa last month.
Despite comfortable wins against sets from Worcestershire (23-15) and Kent (18-12) in the first two rounds, a strong four from Devon – who eventually lost in the final – played exceptionally well in the last 16 to beat the talented four from Royal Mail Cart and end any dreams of securing the national title for another year.
