Blackpool Spring Bowling 2010

For the first time in 21 years the base for the Blackpool Spring Festival wasn’t the Pontin’s Holiday Centre on South Shore, but at the opposite end of town at the imposing structure of the Norbreck Castle Hotel! And, it was with some anxiety that organisers, Esselle Sports, greeted guests as they arrived on the Sunday to this new venue, as it could be said that the Norbreck Reception had never had 450 bowlers all trying to check in at once!

However, once everyone had got in their rooms, and dined for the first time in the Norbreck ‘Castles Restaurant’ any lingering concerns as to how successful the move would be were already starting to be alleviated and indeed probably Pontin’s’ strongest suit, its food, had been equalled, if not surpassed, by the fare on offer. So, by the time the opening meeting was held in the spectacular Ballroom guests were already settling into their ‘new home’.

With the Festival’s format operating along that of the Illuminations Classic the difference for bowlers came with the introduction of new greens closer to Blackpool’s North Shore, and indeed the Cleveleys WMC, Park Club, Norbreck B.C. and Gardeners Arms greens were all given a big ‘thumbs-up’ from all those who bowled there.

The hotel base was quickly proving a hit with the guests for several reasons – everything is under one roof, so no getting wrapped up for meals, entertainment or a visit to the bar or leisure facilities; the rooms with in-house telephones so parties of friends could easily keep in touch; the bar had special offers on beer and wine; no queuing outside for the Bowls buses; the a la carte restaurant, cinema and leisure spa were just some of the positives. Many of these were particularly applicable as the weather was very changeable during the week, and the benefits of not getting wet were appreciated by all in the largest Spring Festival turnout for five years (this included two Flat Green bowlers from Daventry and Enfield!).

Finals Day, having completed over 2500 games during the Festival, was in many ways the best of the lot weather-wise, and qualifiers in Main, Consolation, Mixed Pairs and Plate Pairs events were all battling for a place at the Waterloo for the Finals session in the afternoon. The pick of them all was the Ladies’ Main Final where Ronni Lyon lay 20 - 14 up on Lilian Hall who then squared things up only for Ronni to recover her game to take the final chalk and the Championship.

All in all a great start for a new venue and organisers Esselle Sports will be working closely with the Norbreck Castle and other local bowling clubs to improve things again for the Illuminations Festival in late September - forms can be requested on 01257 450991 or downloaded from www.essellesports.com.

RESULTS LIST

LADIES PLATE PAIRS

Lynn Crossley (Mossley) & Janette Pertoldi (Chadderton) 11
Pauline Norton (Oldham) & Jean Auchterlonie (Chorley) 0

MENS PLATE PAIRS

Jamie Fitzpatrick & Jack Beecham (Wirral) 11
Albert Carter (Fazackerley) & Robert Lenton (Kirkby) 2

LADIES CONSOLATION

Carol Burns (Wigan) 15
Linda Hough (Widnes) 9

MENS CONSOLATION

Bill Sutton (Leyland) 15
Richard Brook (Mirfield) 11

MIXED PAIRS

Andrew Spragg (Chesterfield) & Veronica Lyon (Whiston) 15
Mark Garbett & Janette Pertoldi (Chadderton) 4

LADIES MAIN