Spalding Indoor Bowls Club player Dominic McVittie has reached the WBT World Indoor Bowls Championships open singles for the first time in his bowls career after a demanding six-match qualifying campaign.

McVittie secured his place at Potters Resort in Hopton-On-Sea by overcoming Lloyd Sabatini in a final that went to a three-end tie-break. The qualification comes after a day in which he progressed through five earlier matches, including wins over Aaron Prowle, Daniel Richardson, Jack Larter, Ollie Sloan and Michael Bowley.

Six victories secure place at Potters

McVittie began the qualifying streak against Aaron Prowle, winning both sets 10-5 and 6-1. He followed that with another straight-sets success against Daniel Richardson, taking the match 7-1 and 6-2.

The third round against Jack Larter was closer. McVittie took the first set 4-4 before winning the second 6-3, sending him into the quarter-final against Ollie Sloan, a player from the host club.

He continued his run against Sloan with a 7-4, 8-1 victory. The semi-final brought another straight-sets win, this time against Michael Bowley, with McVittie taking the two sets 7-2 and 8-3.

The final against Sabatini began with McVittie in control. He won the opening set 8-2, but Sabatini responded by taking the second 10-2. That was McVittie’s first set defeat of the day and forced the deciding three-end tie-break.

McVittie held his nerve to win the tie-break 2-1. The result earned him a place at Potters in January, although the supplied report does not specify the year of that championship.

National final ends in narrow disappointment

McVittie also reached the final stages of the summer national men’s singles competition at Melton & District IBC. His route to the final included a quarter-final victory over David Young of Angel IBC, which he won 21-2.

He then defeated Ryan Boots of Bristol IBC 21-10 in the semi-final. In the final, McVittie established a strong 17-9 lead against Alex Walton of Riverain IBC, but Walton fought back to win the title 21-18.

Spalding Lightning men make winning league starts

The Spalding Lightning men’s county league team opened its season at home against Grantham IBC in the newly reformed south division. The team won 94 shots to 64, collected 12 of the 14 available points and won three of the four rinks.

Brian Martin skipped the leading winning rink, alongside Ben Sharp, Gavin Staite and new club member Jonny Pearce. They won 23-9. Tony Westland, Mike Taylor, Ian Harwood and Kevin Ekins recorded a 30-19 victory, while Paul Turner, Graham Hicks, Anthony Cronin and David Nunney won 25-19. The only rink defeat saw Mick Dolton, Robin Roffe, James Teesdale and Dan Mills lose 16-17.

The men’s over-60s side also began with a victory, beating Lincoln IBC A by 96 shots to 59. Under new captain Tony Westland, the team took 10 points from 14, winning two rinks and losing two.

Anthony Cronin skipped the highest-scoring winning rink, with Westland, Roger Billingsley and Rob West, as they won 30-7. Mike Taylor, Dave Murray, Ian Harwood and David Nunney won 33-16. Eric Wakefield, Gavin Staite, Malcolm Easy and Paul Turner lost 15-16, while Mick Dolton, Martyn Stanley, Derek Chamberlain and Ian Stafford were beaten 18-20.

Mixed team loses opening Stamford fixture

The Spalding Lightning mixed county league team had a more difficult start away at Stamford IBC. Playing on what the report described as a quick surface, Spalding lost 74-65, won one rink and collected two points from the 14 available.

The winning rink was skipped by Anthony Cronin, with Christine Williamson, June Taylor and Rob West, who won 20-13. Ann Newbury, Cliff Lattimer, Maggie Wheatley and Graham Wright lost 20-19. George Deaton, Betty Deaton, Carole Nunney and David Nunney lost 19-13, while Jenny Wakefield, Ben Sharp, Maisie Belding and James Teesdale lost 22-13.

Community session and new league opportunity

The club also hosted a bowls taster session for the Spalding Round Table community group on September 28. A challenge match followed between the group and the Spalding 41 Club. Each side won two rinks, so a bowls spider was used to decide the result. The 41 Club came closest and took home the Kettle Trophy.

A new bowls “drive” league is due to start at Long Sutton club in October. The sessions are scheduled for Tuesdays from 1pm to 3pm, and players of all abilities are invited to take part. Anyone interested can contact the club on 07517 189149.