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Potter's Cup Weekend
30 Potter's Cup Weekend
The Potter’s Cup Weekend delivered an exciting, and emotional, weekend in a busy In-
ternational Arena as the annual event again provided a great time for all. The five-star Norfolk
coastal venue is the perfect setting for this long weekend of bowls,
With five games apiece during the
day triples were intent on securing
themselves a top eight place to
qualify for the Potter’s Cup & Pot-
ter’s Shield semi-finals.
Defending Potter’s Cup
champions Ann Rawlings, Mar-
garet Barley & Laurie Rawlings of
Carlton Colville started well with
two wins but a 17-0 defeat against
Wymondham’s John Jeffery, Deb-
bie Sparham & Jon Sparham tor-
pedoed their chances.
Potters Cup Winners Sparham’s triple had started
Potters Cup Winners
John Jeffery, Debbie Jon Sparham the day as favourites and con-
John Jeffery, Debbie Jon Sparham
with Potters Mark Brewer
with Potters Mark Brewer firmed how dangerous they can be
when they opened with a fantastic 22-0 win against East Harling’s Glen Hume, Colin Hayman
& fellow Norfolk Squad bowler Jill Hayman. They were one of only two triples to win all their five
games and with a +49-shot difference claimed their place in the Potter’s Cup semi-finals.
Carlton Colville’s Doreen Cooke & Derek Barley playing with Wortwell’s David Blundell
were the other triple on maximum points with + 31 shots. Pat & Alan High of Essex were playing
with Steve Easter, recently transferred to Wymondham from East Harling, and recovered from
an opening game 6-5 defeat to earn a Potters Cup semi-final place with 8 points and +52 shots.
Carol & Bob Taylor of Essex were playing with North Yorkshire’s “King” Arthur Jackson and
earned their place in the Potters Cup semi-finals with four straight wins before losing their last
game. Their 8 points and a +33 shots difference proved enough to see them through. Triples
finishing in the next four places earned a place in the Potter’s Shield semi-finals.
Last year’s winners of the Potter’s Shield were Owen Cranston, Lewis Cranston and Rob
Cranston of County Council but Rob was recently tragically killed in an explosion at his work-
place in Norwich. Bravely Rob’s widow Claire Cranston decided to play with her sons Owen &
Lewis in the competition and all wore special tops in memory of Rob. They opened with a 6-5
win against Alan High’s triple and finished with eight points and +13 shots which was enough to
see them through to the Potter’s Shield semi-finals.
Kerry Greenacre, Diane Boswell & Mike Boswell lost their opening game against Paul
Baker’s triple but four straight wins followed to see them through with 8 points and +31shots.
With no triple finishing on seven points no less than twelve triples all finished on six points and
shot difference decided who the other two Potter’s Shield semi-finalists would be. These proved
to be Pam Pearce, Jean Godfrey & Geoff Ward of Cambridgeshire with +24 and Hayley Stratton
of Wymondham playing with Elaine & Bob Oatway of First Bus with +19.
In the Semi-finals John Jeffery, Debbie Sparham & Jon Sparham continued their sparkling
form against Carol Taylor, Bob Taylor & Arthur Jackson in the semi-finals. They opened with
fours on the first two ends to lead 8-0. There was to be no way back for “King” Arthur this time
as his triple were beaten 15-4. The other semi-final saw an even heavier defeat as Pat High,
Steve Easter & Alan High beat Doreen Cooke, Derek Barley & David Blundell 15-0.
This set up a final between two triples in excellent form. But there was a loose start to the
first end until Debbie Sparham drew shot. Jon Sparham added a second with his first wood and
they held on to take a 2-0 lead. Pat High won the battle of the leads on the second end to hold