Page 12 - May 2023

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English Short Mat

Bowling Association

2023 National Championships

Alex Kley of Dorset retains England Singles crown
Another major title was won by Dorset’s Alex Kley as he became only
the second bowler to win the ESMBA National Singles title two years in
a row. Kley was once again in amazing form as he powered his way to
victory beating Neil Rixon of Hertfordshire in the final. The only other
bowler to successfully defend the National Singles title was the legendary
Gary Brown of the West Mids who won it in 1990 and 1991.
Norfolk’s Gary Best made it through to the quarter-finals where he
lost by just one shot to Matt Sifford of Essex. Chris Mann recovered from
a difficult group stage to get through to the Last 16 where he was beaten
8-7 by the beaten finalist Neil Rixon. Simon Willies went out at the Last
32 stage where he lost by 10-9 to Matt Sifford.
Robbie Lamb of Halvergate failed to make it through the group
Singles Champion stage. Kley is in the form of his life at the moment as he hoovers up title
Alex Kley after title while Neil Rixon can be delighted to have made it to the final
after beating West Mids bowler Craig Strong in the semi-finals. In the
other semi-final Alex Kley beat Mat Sifford 10-5 following an 11-1 win against Bronagh Toleman of
North Yorks in the quarter-finals.
A Pairs win for Gloucestershire

The Gloucestershire pairing of Ryan Knight & Saul Feath-
erstone are the new National Pairs champions after beat-
ing Peter Roberts & Steven Roberts of Greater
Manchester 7-5 in a close final.
In the semi-finals they faced top North Yorkshire
pair Bronagh & Lee Toleman and demonstrated their title
credentials with a stunning 9-2 victory. In the other semi-
final the Greater Manchester pair beat Andy Carr & Adam
Smith of Cheshire 7-6.
Out of the four Norfolk qualifiers two pairs reached
the Last 32 stage where Morgan Warnes & Gary Best lost
by 10-6 to Hampshire’s Leah Duman & Alden Corrigen
and Chris Willies & Jason Woods lost by 8-6 to Hereford- Pairs Champions
shire’s Dean Rudman and Joe Loveys. Halvergate’s Rob-
Ryan Knight & Saul Featherstone
bie & Ray Lamb just missed out on progressing from the
group stages where they finished third in their group with one win, one draw and one defeat. Simon
Warnes and Karl Newby finished fourth in their group with one draw and two defeats.
An astonishing Fifth National Triples title for Lee Toleman

The last day of the National Championships saw experienced internationals Bronagh Toleman,
Lawrence Moffat & Lee Toleman of North Yorks win the National Triples title again with a 7-5 victory
against Hampshire’s Steve Buckett, Alistair McCrea & Ben Pay.
In the semi-finals Toleman’s triple beat Cheshire’s Dan Rigby, Paul Clegg & Matty Worden by
9-8 while the Hampshire triple reached the final by beating Surrey’s Janet McEntee, Terry Osgood
& Rob Edwards by 12-8. The North Yorkshire triple know more than most about how to win the Na-
tional Triples title. For Lee Toleman it was the fifth time he had lifted the National Triples title, for
Bronagh Toleman it was the third time and for Lawrence Moffat the second time.