The Darlington Indoor Bowls club team had mixed fortunes leading up to the area and the zone finals of the indoor bowls championship at local, regional and national level including the popular and coveted Home Nations Famous Grouse Top Ten Classic.

Brian Metcalfe and Ken Lamb did themselves and the Darlington club really proud when they faced up to Joe Gibson and International Derek Bell of Hartlepool in the regional final of the All England Over-60s National Pairs.

The first nine ends were all singles with Darlington securing two shots and Hartlepool seven shots. All four bowlers were at their very best throughout the 4-hour battle for supremacy. With scores level on 16-16 Ken drew two shots and Derek took one of these out of the head as Darlington finished winning 17-16 in a classic match.

They travel to Northampton for the national finals and on this form the gold medals are in their sights.

Ken has to meet Billy Bell (Stanley), twice National Singles Champion, in the Over-60s Championship looking for another title.

Congratulations go to Hartlepool Ladies Indoor Bowls Club who beat Darlington on three rinks out of four on a home and away basis. Darlington were National Bronze medallists last year and Hartlepool are seeking to go even one better.

Best for Darlington was Shirley Andews, Barbara Watson, Rene Gordon and skip Dulcie Harbin who had seven shots to spare while beating B. Kyle, S. Welsh, J. Wright and skip Ena Kirkbride by 21-14. Honours were even over the first half of the game at Hartlepool with the scores level at 10-10 after ten ends.

The Quaker girls with Dulcie at the helm hit a purple patch and allowed Hartlepool to win only three ends in the second half. Darlington were winners of six ends and secured 11 shots impressively to record a 21-14 victory.

After a slow start at Morrisons and then a fine recovery team captain Marjorie Bousfield's rink had the edge in the second half.

The Ann Simpson four went down by nine shots after being 21-2 adrift in the first half of their game to C. Wilgress. Joyce Stephenson's rink were beaten in spite of a late rally which captured ten shots in the last three ends including a six at the 21st. It proved not to be sufficient to recover from a 6-21 deficit after 15 ends against Madalaine Coates. Good luck to Hartlepool for national success.

Darlington Mens Over-60s Double Rink Inter-Club National Championship team of eight faced up to the North Cave (Humberside) team full of confidence after some previous good performances. Jack Grayson, Mort Mooney, Eric Ramsdale and skip Ken Lamb opened up an impressive 13-2 lead at the half way stage against Alan Fielder and finished with a seven to win by 28-17.

The other rink including Ken Bousfield, John Mackey, Barrie Armstrong and skip Brian Metcalfe had another good game losing by just four shots to help the Quakers to a 44-37 victory. They now go on to play Hornsea of East Yorkshire.

Congratulations also go to Great Aycliffe who beat Durham City by 95-80 in the National Egham Trophy Championships.

Rink scores: Ethel White, Esther Helm, Alan Metcalf, Vince Robson 35 - A Pratt 19; Jenny Basham, Enid Hugill, Derek Dodd, David Baron 21 - Trudy Kitto 18;. Ann Brown, Lynn Jones, Fred Edwards, Barry Attwood 20 - D. Brown 16; Jenny Heslop, Brenda Mangles, Jackie Potter and Billy Duffy 19 - J. Higgins 17. Final Score Aycliffe 95, Durham 80.

Darlington B Team beat the A Team in the Famous Grouse Top Ten, full report next week.