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County and National Events

National champion Sue Seed with the Ivy Younger Secretaries Singles trophy National champion Sue Seed with the Ivy Younger Secretaries Singles trophy

EBF/EWBF National Outdoor Championships at Skegness 2026

Congratulations to Sue Seed, of Stamford Town Bowls Club, on winning the Ivy Younger Secretaries Singles Trophy at the English Bowling Federation (EBF) Outdoor Championships held at Skegness from August 22-29. This women’s singles competition was competed for over four rounds on consecutive days, with the final played on the last day of the championships. 

This was the second year running that Sue Seed had made it to the finals and this year she certainly made her mark. Singles matches can be long and gruelling, with the match continuing until one player reaches a score of 21 shots. Sue commented that the competition was very tough and very tiring, but also very rewarding, and that she had enjoyed the opportunity afforded to her in representing Northamptonshire at Skegness.

In Round 1, on Wednesday 26 August, Sue beat Roz Mortlock (North Essex) by 21 - 7 shots. Round 2, the quarter final, against Marion Perkins (Lincolnshire), proved to be the most demanding match of the series, not just because of the opposition, but also because of the horrendous weather conditions, with the players having to leave the green several times because of lightning in the area. Sue managed to prevail, winning by 21 - 17 shots. In the semi final, Sue faced Ann Patten (Nottinghamshire), whom she beat by 21 - 8 shots and in the final she played a tough match against Sarah Stothard (Northumberland), winning by 21 - 13 shots.

Two other local bowlers also had some success at the championships. Rita Downs (Blackstones Bowls Club) reached the semi final of the Women’s Senior Singles, when she lost to Sue Tolliday (North Cambs) by 17 - 21 shots. Elaine Upton (Ketton Bowls Club) reached the semi final of the Women’s Two-Bowl Singles, losing to Ann Patten (Nottinghamshire) by 18 - 21 shots.

15th July 2026:

Northants Bowling Federation Championships

Ketton bowler Elaine Upton faces a hectic weekend at the Northants Bowling Federation championships taking place at the Parkway Club over Saturday and Sunday.

Recently retired from her job as an assistant at the village Primary School, she features in four finals for a chance to qualify for the English Women’s Bowling Federation national championship at Skegness in August.

In 1986 she won the national under 25 women’s singles.

At Parkway on Saturday she takes on talented junior Caitlin Dalliday in the two-bowl singles and a few hours later joins Ketton clubmate John Suffling in the two-bowl Senior Mixed pairs in a bid to win at the third attempt - this time against Blackstones’ Sam and Rita Downs.

On Sunday she joins Helen Tilley in the Senior women’s pairs against a Crowland combination and later contests the Senior women’s two-bowl singles against Northants Federation vice president Rita Downs.

Elaine Upton will be competing in four finals Elaine Upton will be competing in four finals

SATURDAY 18th JULY

10.00am – Men’s 2b singles: Neil Wright (Parkway) v Adam Warrington (Blackstones); Women’s 2b singles – Caitlin Dalliday (Parkway) v Elaine Upton (Ketton); Men’s secretary singles: Melvyn Beck (Whittlesey Manor) v Ally McNaughton (Wittering); Men’s senior pairs: Dave Corney & Phil Symonds (Whittlesey Manor) v Alec Emery & Roger Martin (Whittlesey Manor)

12.15pm – Men’s pairs: Stephen Harris & John Earl (Blackstones) v Paul Dalliday & Simon Law (Parkway); Women’s pairs: Mitch Willoughby & Hannah Nicolich Willoughby (Wittering) v Angela Cox & Caroline Brace (Crowland); Women’s 2b triples: Sally Albany, Jan McDougall, Chris Ryan (Crowland) v Rhona Morrell, Marlene Osborne, Jenny Mosley (Yaxley); Women’s secretary singles: Linda Toms (Conservative) v Susan Seed (Stamford)

2.30pm – Senior mixed pairs: John Suffling & Elaine Upton (Ketton) v Rita & Brian Downs (Blackstones); Women’s under 25 singles: Caitlin Dalliday (Parkway) v Peyton Harford (Parkway); Women’s Champion of Champions singles: Sophie Morton (Parkway) v Julie O’Neill (Yaxley).

SUNDAY 19th JULY

10.00am – Men’s veterans singles: Martyn Dolby (Blackstones) v Stuart Agger (Whittlesey Manor); Women’s senior pairs: Helen Tilley & Elaine Upton (Ketton) v Jan McDougall & Chris Ryan (Crowland); Men’s 4b singles: Neil Wright (Parkway) v Stephen Harris (Blackstones); Women’s 4b singles: Caitlin Dalliday (Parkway) v Angela Cox (Crowland); Men’s Champion of Champions singles: Dave Corney (Whittlesey Manor) v Gavin Jinks (City of Peterborough); Men’s under 25 singles: Ollie Jeapes (Parkway) v Owen Aspinall (Blackstones).

12.15pm – Mixed pairs: John Earl (Blackstones) & Karen Mercer (Whittlesey Manor) v Sophie Morton & Simon Law (Parkway); Men’s 2b triples: Steve Lander, Tom Newman-Borrett, Peter Brown (Whittlesey Manor) v Stuart Agger, Zack Brown, Steven Shaw (Whittlesey Manor); Mixed triples: Mike Gordon, Jenny Mosley, Peter Marchant (Yaxley) v Paul Dalliday, Michelle Coleman, James Harford (Parkway).

2.30pm – Men’s 3b triples: Steve Lander, Tom Newman-Borrett, Peter Brown (Whittlesey Manor) v Wayne Morris, Dusty Miller, Darren Middleton (Blackstones); Women’s 3b triples: Sally Albany, Jan McDougall, Chris Ryan (Crowland) v Carol Grief, Angela Cox, Caroline Bruce (Crowland); Under 25 open pairs: William Marchant (Yaxley) & Luke Murray (Whittlesey Manor) v Ollie Jeapes (Parkway) & Owen Aspinall (Blackstones); Women’s senior singles: Rita Downs (Blackstones) v Elaine Upton (Ketton)