I'm really forcing myself these days to write these reports - i just don't seem to have the enthuasim any more - so I apologise if this comes across a bit bland, I'm also writing this when i'm completly ker-knackered and my creative juices don't want to flow.

First tournament of the year was the BTBA organised Knockout Singles - where 57 men and 22 ladies took to the lanes for a 6 game first round - slightly up from last year. The field was boosted by junior boys and girls who played a practice match against the adults and yac bowlers the day before. The scores were high, it might not of been as easy as the usual league wall, but for the standard of bowlers who play a Team England event these conditions didn't prove any test at all - especially when some of the field had previously played the challenge match on the same or very similar conditions the day before.

Leading the field was the local lad Steve Miller - who shot a 300 and a 289 for a total of 1478 a 246.33. In 2nd was junior bowler of the year Elliot Crosby who opened up with games of 279,297,257 and finished with a 1450 total. And in 3rd was Sheffields Rob Harding on 1419 a 236.50 average. The cut to the top 30 in the men was set by Dave Woods on 1241 206.8 average.

Into the ladies ... in first place was Hayley White who showed she had good tekkers when she finished off her set and what a set she's got with games of 278,279 to give her a total of 1453 a 242.16 average. In 2nd was schnail Autum Chamberlain who opened up with games of 277,245,280 to finish with a 1400 total. In third was last years no 1 ranked lady Jenny Billingham on 1399. The cut to the 2nd round was very high, set at 84 over by Katrina McIver

The YOGI's award ---- I didn't play great starting slowly with 158, and 168 games, but recovering to only finish 4 short of averaging 200. Richie Teece WD'd after opening with a 149 - his cilla black was playing up. Talented lefty Hadley also struggled missing the cut on 1175. Another lefty having a bad day was the White Socked Wizard Damian Gray who shot 1184. But I have to give the YOGI to the house hero Lee Cocker - every week he seems to either have a 300 or 800 - but playing tournaments is different to playing league and Cockerdillo couldn't get his tekkers going and failed to make the cut shooting 1183 - and for that reason i have to give the  Cocker's knockers the YOGI.

2nd round was another 3 games - Elliot Crosby climbed to the top whilst Steve Miller slipped down to 6th after a 160 last game . Any game under 210 really hurt and saw you go in free fall down the table. Into 2nd was last years winner the big 'orrible hairy thing Mike Quarry and remaining in 3rd was Rob Harding. The cut to the knockout stages was  Adam Purnell on 2016 a 224 average.

In the ladies Hayley white remaining in 1st with, Jenny Billingham moving up into 2nd whilst Autum slipped down to 4th and was replaced in the top 3 by junior Keira Reay who shot 2012 a 223 average.

Now we get into the knock out stages, which were a two game knockout. In the mens first match Adam Purnell against  Adam Cairns - Purnell won through, beating 474-481. Next match was junior Matt lochhead against shine miller - Steve 'del boy' Miller won with 441-404. He was joined in the next round by his bro Matt who beat Oates 446-416. In the final game junior Adam Maher beat Matt Chamberlain 506-452

2nd round and the top 4 seeds from round 1 came into the competition - 4th seed Stevie T despatached Purnell 445-422. 3rd Seed Rob Harding knocked out Steve Miller 418-398. Matt Miller opened up his match against Quarry with a 299 and then followed that up with a 211 for a 510 total - which would have beat anyone else - except Quarry who rinsed up back to back 279's for a 558 total. And making it a clean sweep for the seeds was Elliot Crosby who beat Adam Maher 446-354

Ladies first round all juniors ... Keira Reay 419 - Hannah Frost 390 And in the other match Autum knocked out Lauren's Husband 444-422

Semi's - Thornton eliminated Harding 487-402 and Q scared off Crosby 410-347 to set up a repeat of last years English Open final

Girls Semi - first match was of the highest order - Keira Reay shot a good 464 but Jenny Billingham on this block didn't have a little she had a lot with 538. In the 2nd semi Hayley White beat Autum 460-433

FINALS

The finals were brilliant - excellent bowling. Quarry's 493 would normally win, but the old war horse, the veteran, the old man, the silver fox Stevie T shot a 515 to take the title.

In the girls final it was a tail of two halfs.... first game jenny took the lead with a 234-186 over hayley. But Hayley nevers gives in and fights all the way and she battled back with a 259 2nd game to Jenny's 216 - but it weren't quite enough as Jenny won 450-445

thank god that reports over .....