Thursday, March 31, 2011

Football/cycling: Griff gets into gear

The intrepid trio warm-up
for their 58-mile ride
Stowmarket Town FC general manager John Griffin is getting himself into gear for a charity marathon.
Griff, with friends Alan Edge and Lee Morton, will be cycling from London to Southend in aid of the British Heart Foundation.
Griff said on
his Facebook page: “We have decided that at this time of life we should get off our fat a**** and do something.
“As being an official spectator for the Ladies Volleyball world tour does not count, we decided to go on a pleasant bike ride. 58 miles worth of pleasantness to be precise!
“Why would we be so stupid… for charity of course!
“Please would you be kind enough to sponsor us. We want to raise as much as possible, so every penny counts.”
Griff and co can be sponsored on his justgiving webpage but he admitted the cycle ride, due to take place on July 17, was a poor substitute for what he really wanted to do.
“You get to thinking... let’s do something we have always wanted to do.
“After looking at the cost of hiring a Ferrari and driving it to Monaco, spending two weeks in the sun and then yachting back to Southampton, we took up the offer of a bike ride from London to Southend! It will hurt but its much more rewarding… apparently!”

Sponsor Griff by logging on to his justgiving page, here.

Golf: Chalmers tops standings despite changed greens

The hand-cut greens prove that summer is on its way at Stowmarket Golf Centre and scores reflected that in the March Stableford.
Professional Duncan Burl said: "By the looks of the scores, they caught a few out. Suddenly we are back in summer conditions and the ball is running again."
Undeterred by the change in conditions, Paul Chalmers won Division One with 20 points, reducing his handicap from eight to seven in the process.
Felicity Groom, in second, and Phil Puzey, third, repeated that reduction with 19 points.
Top of the pile in Division Two was Val Mayhew with a 22-point haul, knocking her handicap down two from 18. Mike Waspe and Simon Lapthorne also scored 22, reducing their handicaps from ten to eight.
Division Three was won by Dianne Richards with 21 points (handicap down from 20 to 18) ahead of Terry Davies (19, down from 21 to 20).

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Football: Stowmarket Town's cup dream snuffed out

Ridgeons League Cup, semi-final
Stowmarket Town 2 
Wisbech Town 6
For almost an hour Town's dream of reaching their first League Cup final since 1965 was very much alive.
The hosts more than matched Premier Division visitors Wisbech and led twice but a late flurry of goals killed off their hopes in cruel fashion.
Marc Wake put Stowmarket ahead after just 90 seconds, reacting first to Nathan Birch's knock-down from Lee Drummond's corner.
Callum Reed levelled for the Fenmen after 27 minutes with their first meaningful attack but a foul on James Graham allowed Wayne Proctor to put Stow back in front from the penalty spot after 40 minutes.
Wisbech had a goal disallowed before they equalised through Andy Furnell after 57 minutes.
The sides were still level with less than half-an-hour to go until Reed took centre stage. He struck from the spot after 65 minutes to make it 3-2 and added two more in the closing stages to take his tally to four after substitute Darren Jimson had made it 4-2 in the 78th minute.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Football: Latest from Stowmarket Town v Wisbech Town

Updates from tonight's Ridgeons League Cup semi-final will appear here as information is received.


90 secs: Stowmarket take an early lead from a corner. 1-0
27 mins: Wisbech equalise. 1-1
42 mins: Stowmarket regain lead from penalty spot. 2-1
44 mins: Wisbech goal disallowed.
Half-time: Stowmarket Town 2 Wisbech Town 1
59 mins: Wisbech level again. 2-2
66 mins: Wisbech go ahead for first time. 2-3
86 mins: Wisbech add another. 2-4
88 mins: and another... 2-5
90 mins: Oh dear! 2-6


Full-time: Stowmarket Town 2 Wisbech Town 6.
(Updates from Wisbech Town FC forum)


Wroxham beat CRC 2-0 in the other semi-final.

Football: Stowmarket Town are up for the cup

Stowmarket Town are hoping to give their season a much-needed boost as they aim to reach the Ridgeons League Cup final for the first time in almost half a century this evening
Town have suffered a miserable downturn in fortunes since the turn of the year but can put their poor recent league record behind them when they welcome Wisbech Town to Greens Meadow in the semi-final of the prestigious competition, 7.45pm.
Town's only appearance in the Eastern Counties League Cup final came in 1964/65, when they drew 5-5 over two legs with Haverhill Rovers, only to lose a third-match decider 3-0.
Stowmarket go into the game very much as underdogs against their Premier Division visitors but are hoping to be at virtually full strength. Ben Licence faces a late fitness test on an injured ankle, while Robbie Smythe is cup tied.
Tonight's other semi-final sees Wroxham take on CRC.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Volleyball: Stowmarket ready for final

The indoor volleyball season is building to a climax with Suffolk Volleyball Association's Finals Day approaching.
In the Cup final, Stowmarket will take on Newmarket, having both overcome Ipswich Moles twice earlier in the season and after beating each other once each in close games, the matches going to five sets on both occasions.
This year, the top two teams from the Suffolk Indoor Series of tournaments have qualified for the Plate final. Having won all of the qualifying tournaments, Ipswich Meercats will be clear favourites, with Ipswich 2 looking to cause an upset, having finished the series on equal points with Stow Stingers.
Ipswich 2 qualified for the final due to beating Stingers when the two teams played in the final tournament.
Finals day will be held on Saturday, May 2, at Suffolk New College Sports Hall in Ipswich (next to the Goals Soccer Centre complex). The day will begin with the first serve of the Plate final at 12.30pm.
Following this, the Cup final will start at 2.30pm (warm-ups commence half an hour
earlier).
Following the tournament, presentations will be held at The Grinning Rat, to crown the new Suffolk Cup and Plate winners, where a buffet will be available for players, officials and guests.
Everyone is welcome to come along and support Suffolk Volleyball Association's end of season event.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Football: Chilton enjoy nap-hand victory

Chilton Veterans kept up their title challenge in DIvision Three South of the Norfolk & Suffolk Veterans League today.
They rattled off a 5-0 victory over Ipswich Park to maintain their one-point lead over Brantham Athletic, albeit from two games more.
Goals came from Darren Pleasance 2, Steve Gooding, Paul Lambert and Matt Platt.

Football: Title romp for Stowupland Falcons

Stowupland Falcons Veterans celebrated title glory in stunning fashion this afternoon.
The Norfolk and Suffolk Veterans League Division One crown was assured when the Falcons romped to an 8-0 victory at second-placed Whitton United.
Neil Gregory led the way with a four-goal haul and also on target were Sean Calvert, Richard Denison, Kevin Snell, and David Thompson.
It completes the first leg of a possible treble with the Falcons through to the final of the Suffolk FA Veterans Cup and the semi-final of the League Cup.

Football: Today's Sunday League results

Sunday, March 27

Flare Recruitment Ipswich Sunday League
Premier Division: Holbrook Swan 0 Unicorn 1.
Division MB3: Greshams 1 Wetherden 08 3.
Division RM4: Riverside 0 AFC Claydon 3.
Division RM5: Stowmarket All Stars 2 Shiplaunch 2.

FCD Bury District Sunday League
Division 2: Chedburgh SS v Stow Excelsior, match awarded to Stow.
Division 3: Cockfield 1 Buxhall Utd 0.

Norfolk & Suffolk Veterans League
Division 1: Whitton Utd 0 Stowupland Falcons 8 (Stowupland are champions).
Division 3S: Chilton 5 Ipswich Park 0.

Football: Defeat bring end to promotion hopes for Stowmarket Town

A three-goal blitz either side of half-time sent Stowmarket Town tumbling to a 3-0 Ridgeons League First Division defeat at Diss Town.
Realistically, that brings an end to any promotion hopes still harboured by Town, who now trail third-placed Diss by 12 points with only eight games to play.

Football: Salvation Army crash to heavy defeat

A goal from Jed Winfield was scant consolation as Salvaton Army's four-match unbeaten run came crashing to an end at Benhall St Mary's.
The SIL Division Two match ended 8-1 to the hosts and leaves the Army in a precarious position just about the relegation places.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Rugby: Stowmarket confirm title in style

Stowmarket RUFC confirmed the Greene King IPA Eastern Counties One title in scintillating style today.
While they were romping to a 62-5 victory at Thurston, nearest challengers West Norfolk were suffering a shock 13-7 defeat at home to Holt.
The results leave Stowmarket 13 points clear with one game to go.

Football: Lions pile on promotion pressure

Simon Anderson, Sam Henke, Danny Moore and Stephen Holland were on target in Cedars Park's 4-1 SIL Division Five win at Dennington United today.
The Lions remain two points adrift of leaders Westerfield but are now six points clear of third-placed AFC Crowley Reserves.

Football: Narrow derby day defeat for Stowupland

Stowupland Falcons 0 Mendlesham 1
An 18th-minute goal from Ben English was enough to earn Mendlesham the SIL DIvision One derby honours and leave the Falcons still looking for their first win of the season.
After a rocky start, the hosts hit back well to take a fair share of the possession, albeit without carving out many good opportunities to grab an equaliser.
The visitors should have scored inside the opening minute when a deep free-kick picked out the unmarked English but his header hit a post with goalkeeper Merrill Clark well beaten.
Gary Newland sent a 25-yard effort swirling narrowly over the bar but it was the hosts who came closest to breaking the deadlock after 15 minutes.
Dean Gridley led a Stowupland counter attack and his powerful 18-yard effort looked destined for the top corner until Nick Ridley flung himself high to his right to tip away the ball.
Mendlesham made the most of that let-off with the only goal of the game when a long ball released Nathan Sykes on the left wing and his cut-back picked out English to divert the ball into the net.
Clarke was off his line quickly to deny English a second soon after but then needed a stroke of luck to keep out Matthew Lockwood's full-blooded 30-yard drive after 35 minutes which he seemed to have let though his grasp only for the ball to wedge between his feet.
Clarke won a one-on-one to thwart Lockwood again early in the second half and, with the Falcons camped in their opponents' half in search of an equaliser, had to be alert to deny English on a counter attack.
Home captain Blake Richards cleared off the line from Lockwood and then Clarke pulled off a great save to keep out English's towering header.
The last chance of the game saw Stowupland substitutes Dan Lewis and Luke Godbold combine on the edge of the area but Godbold's shot drifted over.
Stowupland: Clarke, Double, Taylor (Lewis 56), Dye (Johnson 81), Richards, Wearing, Stuart (Godbold 80), Edgar, Lee, Binns, Gridley. Substitute (not used): Al-Aride.
Booking: Lee (90, foul).
Mendlesham: Ridley, S Brundell (Toner 80), Bockett, Newland, Lummis, Luciano, Lockwood, Eustace, English, Sykes. Substitue (not used): A Brundell.
Scorer: English (18).

Football: Haughley bandwagon rolls on

Aaron Robinson and Nathan Smith earned Haughley United a 2-1 victory over high-flying Ransomes Sports this afternoon.
It keeps the SIL Senior Division survival bandwagon rolling, moving them five points clear of bottom place and only a point away from escaping the drop zone with games in hand.

Football: Today's local results

Action from Stowupland Falcons 1-0 derby
defeat to Mendlesham in SIL Division One.
Saturday, March 26
Ridgeons League
First Division: Diss Town 3 Stowmarket Town 0.
Reserve Division North: Stowmarket Town Res 1 Lowestoft Town Res 0.

Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League
Senior Division: Haughley Utd 2 Ransomes Sports 1.
Division 1: Stowupland Falcons 0 Mendlesham 1.
Intermediate A: Old Newton Utd Res 6 Melton St Audry’s Res 0.
Intermediate B: Mendlesham Res 3 Stowupland Falcons Res 1; Wickham Mkt Res 0 Haughley Utd Res 1.
Division 2: Benhall St Mary 8 Salvation Army 1.
Division 4: Salvation Army Res 2 Benhall St Mary Res 0.
Division 5: Dennington Utd 1 Cedars Park 4; Old Newton Utd A 3 East Bergholt Utd A 4.
Division 6: Cedars Park Res 1 Halesworth Town Res 0.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Football: This weekend’s local fixtures

Saturday, March 26
Ridgeons League (3pm)
First Division: Diss Town v Stowmarket Town.
Reserve Division North: Stowmarket Town Res v Lowestoft Town Res.

Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League (2.30pm)
Senior Division: Haughley Utd v Ransomes Sports.
Division 1: Stowupland Falcons v Mendlesham.
Intermediate A: Old Newton Utd Res v Melton St Audry’s Res.
Intermediate B: Mendlesham Res v Stowupland Falcons Res; Wickham Mkt Res v Haughley Utd Res.
Division 2: Benhall St Mary v Salvation Army.
Division 4: Salvation Army Res v Benhall St Mary Res (1pm).
Division 5: Dennington Utd v Cedars Park; Old Newton Utd A v East Bergholt Utd A.
Division 6: Cedars Park Res v Halesworth Town Res.

Sunday, March 27
Flare Recruitment Ipswich Sunday League (10.30am)
Premier Division: Holbrook Swan v Unicorn.
Division MB3: Greshams v Wetherden 08.
Division RM4: Riverside v AFC Claydon.
Division RM5: Stowmarket All Stars v Shiplaunch.

FCD Bury District Sunday League (10.30am)
Division 2: Chedburgh SS v Stow Excelsior.
Division 3: Cockfield v Buxhall Utd.

Norfolk & Suffolk Veterans League (2pm)
Division 1: Whitton Utd v Stowupland Falcons.
Division 3S: Chilton v Ipswich Park.

Paper Talk: Stowmarket sport in the local media (Bury Free Press)

There are just the basics of Stowmarket sport in today’s Bury Free Press.
Included are reports from Stowmarket RUFC’s county cup win over Sudbury, with a picture, as well as reports from Stowmarket Town’s win against Saffron Walden and and Old Newton United’s SIL defeat to Stanton.
Other than that, a few football and golf results keep local interest.
  • Some sports reports are on the Bury Free Press website, or you can buy the paper for 70p at outlets throughout the area.

Darts: Latest results

Stowmarket & District Darts League
Queens Head 3, Stowupland Sports 4; Old Newton S&SC B 1, Kings Arms 6; Royal William 2, Huntsman 5; Needham 2, Stonham Ten Bells 5; Riverside 1, Onehouse Shepherd & Dog 6; Meadlands 3, Pickerel 4; Coddenham 2, Old Newton S&SC A 5; Walnut Tree 2, British Legion 5.
High out shots: 148 – A Goodchild (Needham).

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Shooting: Long-running club has fire power

Members of the 7th Home Guard, from which Stowmarket & District Rifle
Club was formed in the late 40s/early 50s.

One of the longest-standing sports clubs in Stowmarket is also one of the least known.
The Stowmarket & District Rifle Club was formed about 60 years ago, about the time of the disbandment of and by the members of the 7th Home Guard.
The small .22 club shoots at the Drill Hall in Finborough Road, Stowmarket, and meet on Tuesdays, 7-9pm.
They shoot at 25 yards but also share with the Woolpit club's 50-yard range.
Club spokesman David Meadows said: "Some members also shoot air rifle and air pistol at 10 yards. There are a number of competition to enter both club and county wide."
The club is affiliated to the Suffolk County and the National Rifle Associations.
For further information, contact Mr Meadows, 01449 612606.

Early members of the Stowmarket & District Rifle Club.

Paper Talk: Stowmarket sport in the local media (In Touch With …)

The April edition of In Touch With… Stowmarket is out this week and is packed with local news.
It again includes plenty of sport from the town.
There are pictures and a report from Stowmarket Aikido Club's trip to a Japan Day in Cambridge, as well as news from Old Newton Sports & Social Club and their various sporting teams.
There are reports from Stowmarket Football Referees, Stowmarket Cricket Club, Stowmarket Rugby Club, Stowmarket Tennis Club and an advert about Stowmarket Squash Club.
Football reports include news from Salvation Army and details of Stowmarket Town u10B's match against Moreton Hall.
This month's package is completed with news of events taken part in by Scorpions Martial Arts Academy and Mid Suffolk Gymnastics Club.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Badminton: Free taster sessions for females

Stowmarket Badminton Club is holding six free taster sessions to introduce women and girls to badminton.  
They will be held at Stowmarket Sports Centre on April 4, 11, 18 and continue after Easter on May 9, 16, 23. They last two hours from 8pm.
The sessions will be aimed at those wanting to get back into badminton, or those aiming to try it for the first time.  
Rackets and shuttles will be supplied for those that don’t have them and coaching will also be available, however, individuals are free to just turn up and play.  For more information contact club secretary Mary Hughes, 01359 240811.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Golf: Blenkinsop and Ridley are top division winners

Peter Blenkinsop came out on top of an incredibly close Men's March Medal competition at Stowmarket Golf Club on Saturday.
The nine-handicapper scored 37 points, to beat Neville Bolton on countback with Matthew Sears just a point behind in third.
Division Two was won by Ian Lucas (38), two ahead of Wayne French.
Chris Ridley (36) won Sunday's Division One award by two points from Clive George, Roger Taylor and John Clark.
Ian Hay's 38 was good enough to win Division Two, by a point from Aran O'Doherty.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Football: Players on the move

It was one in and one out at Old Newton United as teams swap and change their teams in preparation for the end of season charge.
Dean Drummond joins United from Elmswell, while Julian Turner has moved to Salvation Army.
Elsewhere, Grant Wearing has joined Stowupland Falcons from Bacton United and two players have moved from Stowmarket-area clubs to AFC Crowley, Elliot Ballard from Old Newton, and Samuel Frost from Haughley United.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Football: Falcons stay in hunt for trophy treble

Stowmarket Falcons Veterans remain on course for a trophy treble after a semi-final victory in the Suffolk County FA Veterans Cup today.
Goals from Neil Gregory (2), Shaun Peachment and Gavin Johnson earned a 4-2 success at Kesgrave Athletic.
Falcons twice trailed but were level at half-time and scored two unanswered second-half goals.
They will meet Kirkley & Pakefield in the final. Kirkley beat Stowupland 5-2 in last season's final, so revenge will be in the air.
Falcons are also just a win away from clinching the Division One title in the Norfolk and Suffolk Veterans League and are in the semi-finals of the League Cup, where they play Premier Division Woodbridge Town at home on April 17.

Football: Today's Stowmarket area results

Sunday, March 20

Flare Recruitment Ipswich Sunday League
Premier Division: Ipswich Thistle 4 Unicorn 1.
Division MB3: Wetherden 08 5 Chantry Phoenix 1.
Division RM4: Riverside 1 Ipswich Postal Legends 8.
Division RM5: Stowmarket All Stars 2 The Feathers 6.

Frames Conservatories Direct Bury Sunday League
Division 3: Real BSE 4 Buxhall United 1.


Suffolk County FA Veterans Cup
Semi-finals: Kesgrave Athletic 2 Stowupland Falcons 4; Leiston 0 Kirkley & Pakefield 1 (aet, f-t 0-0).

Football: Cedars Park make ground on leaders

A single goal from Stephen Holland was enough to push Cedars Park closer to promotion from SIL Division Five.
They beat Trimley Red Devils Reserves to pick up all three points, while leaders Westerfield United A and third-placed AFC Crowley Reserves were dropping two points each in a goalless draw.
Holland also had a goal disallowed as the Lions stayed on target for a second consecutive step up in standard.

Football: Shave close but not close enough for Old Newton

Aaron Shave came closest to earning Old Newton United something from their SIL Senior Division match at home to Stanton.
But a goal from Stan Chervenakov was enough to earn the visitors all the points.

Football: Smith keeps Stowmarket Town heads up

One goal was enough for Stowmarket Town to pick up a much-deserved three Ridgeons League First Division points at home to Saffron Walden and keep alive their promotion aspirations. 
They started the brighter and, with Walden chasing shadows for the opening 15 minutes, they opened the defence with a great four-man one-touch move that saw Le Drummond foiled by the advancing Walden keeper. 
The continued pressure told by the 39th minute as good work in the right corner by Drummond and James Graham, saw the later swing a deadly cross into the area for his central partner Dan Smith to head home. 
Stow had further chances with efforts by Ross Myhill and Proctor going just wide, while Riley's free-kick was all the opponents had to offer in the first 45. 
As the second half progressed, the match really opened up, with both teams counter-attacking at pace. 
The best effort of the half fell to Saffron's Green who collected a stumbled a pass from Murphy but could not celebrate as his effort came crashing off a post. 
Both sides had goals disallowed for offsides in the closing minutes and it was Stowmarket who went away the happier of the two teams with all three points in the bag and no-one measuring the height of the goals.

Cricket: Stowmarket sign Sri Lankan pro

Stowmarket CC have announced that Thushira Madayaka will be their overseas coach for the 2011 season.
The 29-year-old Sri Lankan arrives in April and has played professionally for more than nine years.
A Stowmarket spokesman said: "Having already coached in England in 2007, Thushira will be using his experience to deliver 140 hours of coaching to schools in the Stowmarket area."
He will also be working with the Stowmarket juniors on Mondays 6-7.30pm.
Contact Clive Witherly on 01359 240019 or wig51@btinternet.com for more details of the junior sides.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Football: Haughley stay on escape route

The great escape continues to gather pace for Haughley United.
A 1-0 win at Capel Plough made it four SIL Senior Division games without defeat for new manager Phil Fairbrother's team.
More importantly, it took them off the bottom of the table and leaves United just four points adrift of Westerfield with two games in hand.

Football: Derby point for Salvation Army

Salvation Army picked up a valuable SIL Division Two point in their Mid Suffolk derby at Bacton United this afternoon.
Paul Gunton and Daniel Frappell (2) were on target in a 3-3 draw as the visitors stretched their unbeaten run to four games.
A full report will appear on the Salvation Army website, here.

Football: Own-goal heartache for lion-hearted Cedars Park

Goal! Daniel Barnard's long-range free-kick deceives Coplestonians
goalkeeper James Dines for Cedars Park's equaliser. 

Club Colours Cup, semi-final
Coplestonians A 3 Cedars Park Reserves 2
(after extra time, full-time 1-1)
A lion-hearted effort from Cedars Park's second string was not enough to earn a place in the Club Colours Cup final.
They were beaten in heart-breaking fashion by a side riding high three divisions further up the Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League.
It took a stunning diving header in extra-time to give the hosts the initiative. Unfortunately, that came courtesy of Cedars Park substitute Sam Hardwick who beat his own goalkeeper.
That made it 2-1 and the result was confirmed in the last minute with a third before the Stowmarket visitors pulled one back deep into stoppage time.
The Division Three promotion-chasers dominated the first half but could only find the net once thanks to a gritty defensive performance by Cedars Park.
That came after 22 minutes when Lions goalkeeper Craig Dootson pulled off a fantastic save, diving full-length to his right to keep out Ryan Coote's stinging 20-yard drive but the ball fell kindly for David McGregor to fire in.
Magnificent: Lions keeper Craig Dootson.
Dootson was in magnificent form and many Cops attacks foundered on the twin rocks at the heart of his defence, Richard Bell and Mark Ciaravolo.
When the hosts did find a way through, Dootson was invincible, although poor finishing did let him off the hook a few times.
The Division Six side's chances were limited with the hosts own twin pillars, Glenn Turner and Liam Powell, snuffing out any threat from the normally potent visiting strike force.
The match turned on the home side's loss through injury of scorer McGregor a minute into the second half and centre-back Turner ten minutes later.
Suddenly it was Cedars Park who looked the classier side and it was only a matter of time before they found an equaliser.
They needed Colin Booker to head off his own line first but after 58 minutes Bell's header flicked off Luke Uttley only to bounce into home keeper James Dines' arms. 
Dines was left red-faced seven minutes later when Daniel Barnard launched a high free-kick towards goal from 30 yards. It came out of the sun and left Dines hopelessly off his line as the ball looped over him and into the net.
25-goal striker Gerry Daly almost doubled Dines' agony 11 minutes later. Spotting him again off his line, his cheeky chip from an impossible angle bounced off the bar.
Handful: Cedars Park scorer Daniel Barnard.
Daly set up Barnard after a battling run with 10 minutes to go but he fired over from the edge of the penalty area and that proved to be the last good chance of normal time.
Dootson pulled off another superb save midway through the first half of extra-time, stretching out an arm to divert John Burch's goal-bound shot away. But he was left helpless after 101 minutes when Duncan Southgate's cross was headed powerfully past him by Hardwick.
That seemed to knock the spirit of the visitors and they were caught out on the break in the 120th minute with Rhys Williams tapping in from close range.
There was still time for a last hoorah with substitute Jake Hughes chipping in after Daly was bundled over after another surging run.
But the final whistle came less than a minute later to leave Cedars Park beaten but far from disgraced after a thoroughly entertaining cup tie played in good spirit throughout.
Coplestonians: Dines, Stokes, McGuinness, Burch, Turner (Williams 56), Powell, Quinn (Taylor 111), Southgate, McGregor (King 46), Coote, Battley.
Scorers: McGregor (22), Hardwick og (101), Williams (120).
Cedars Park: Dootson, Booker, Greenwood, Goddard (Hughes 74), Bell, Ciaravolo, Nichols (Hardwick h-t), Uttley, Barnard, Daly, Gerrard.
Substitute (not used): Beresford.
Scorers: Barnard (65), Hughes (120+3).

Football: Today's local results

Action from Cedars Park Reserves'
Club Colours Cup semi-final extra-time
defeat at Coplestonians this afternoon. 
Saturday, March 19

First Division: Stowmarket Tn 1 Saffron Walden Tn 0.

Senior Division: Capel Plough 0 Haughley Utd 1; Old Newton Utd 0 Stanton 1.
Division 1: St Johns 4 Stowupland Falcons 0.
Intermediate Division B: Haughley Utd Res 0 Wickham Mkt Res 5; Stowupland Falcons Res 6 BT Trimley Res 0.
Division 2: Bacton Utd 89 3 Salvation Army 3.
Division 4: Sizewell Assoc 6 Salvation Army Res 0.
Division 5: Cedars Park 1 Trimley Red Devils Res 0; Elmswell Res 0 Old Newton Utd A 0.
Club Colours Cup, semi-final: Coplestonians A 3 Cedars Park Res 2 (aet, f-t 1-1).

Golf: Mayhew impresses in Division Three

David Morgan finished strongly to take the March Medal at Stowmarket Golf Centre.
Morgan scored gross 37 off his seven handicap to pip three other players on countback – Paul Chalmers, Graham Theobald and Mark Voysey.
The leading lady was Felicity Groom with 38-8-30.
David Harper reduced his handicap by two on his way to a three-shot victory in Division Two. Harper scored 40-15-25 to hold off the challenge of Michael Wallis. Leading lady was Mary Chalmers (43-13-30)
Division Three was won by Val Mayhew, knocking four shots off her handicap on the way to the day's lowest overall nett score. She went round in 44 (nett 22)  to see her handicap drop from 22 to 18.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Swimming: More Stowmarket joy at county championships

Weekend wonders: Some of the successful Stowmarket SC members.

The second weekend of the county short course championships saw the first medal for Stowmarket Swimming Club go to Calvin Coe, winning bronze in the boys 12yrs 200m breaststroke in a PB of 305.35s. 
This was quickly followed by a silver for Rob Lancaster in the same event, coming home three seconds ahead of the third-placed swimmer. 
Ryan Clay tried to get on the podium for the 15/16 boys with a good three second PB, but missed at the end losing out by 0.2 secs, but this was offset by having achieved a good Eastern Region Championships qualification time.
William Blackaby kicked his weekend's medal haul with a silver in the 17yrs 50m freestyle, while the girl backstrokers, Chloe Long and Ellena Skoulding, received a silver and bronze medal in the girls 11yrs and 12yrs 50m back respectively, each getting a good PB, Chloe knocking over a second off to get 35.83, while Ellena dipped under 40 seconds for the first time with 33.98secs.
The boys 400IM saw Calvin Coe produce a four second PB to take bronze in the 12yr group, while in the 13 yrs age group Rob Lancaster swam an astounding 21 seconds PB to take silver in 5.21.72.
Toby Upson in the 14yr age band also swam a good race, bettering his previous time by 13 seconds (5.14.50), but lost bronze by a blink of 0.08seconds.
Ella Delves was the only Stowmarket finalist in the girls' 100m breaststroke but came away with a well deserved silver in a time of  1.24.08 for the 16 yr age group.
Liam Kerry reduced his best time in the 100m backstroke by three seconds to take the boys 13yrs silver medal in 1.10.78 and Will Blackaby managed the same feat, taking three seconds from his entry time, to take silver for the 17 yrs age band in 1.00.30.
In the  following 200m 9 yr old William Debenham produced a good swim to take nine seconds off his previous best time to make a  time of 3.30.37, while  Liam repeated his three second PB reduction in the backstroke, taking a bronze medal in 2.31.51s. William Blackaby did not need a PB to cruise home in first place for the 17 yr boys  and take top podium spot.
Flying finish: Ryan Eagles on his way
to bronze in the 50m breaststroke.
Chloe Long and Ellena Skoulding both achieved good PBs in the Girls' 200m freestyle, but the biggest reductions went to the 9yr olds with Amy Davies and Bethany Skoulding making reductions of eight and 10 seconds respectively.
The Boys gained some good medals in the 50m breaststroke finals. First up was Ryan Eagles. A very happy 9 yr old Ryan swam a good race finishing very strongly, overhauling the next two swimmers  on the second length to take the bronze medal in 51.08. Robert Lancaster swam equally as strong to take silver for the 13 yr olds ahead of the bronze position by two seconds in 35.88 secs. This was repeated by Toby Upson taking bronze for the 14yr age (35.62) and Ryan Clay in the 15/16 age group (34.12s  and another East Region Qualifying time).

Swimming: Stowmarket make a splash in county championships

Winner: Amy Davies starts her gold run.

The first weekend of the county short course championships saw Stowmarket Swimming Club take 18 medals three gold, eight silver and seven bronze.
The first medal almost went to Hannah Harrison as she was outreached for bronze in the Girls 9yrs 200m breaststroke, losing a place on the podium by less than half a second.
Calvin Coe entered the 12u 200m fly as favourite and did not disappoint, pacing well to come home with the first gold medal in a time of 2.45.03.
In the Girls 50m freestyle Bethany Skoulding, who, in her first county championships and just her second competitive gala, improved her entry time by three seconds, but just missed a bronze by a third of a second. This left it to Ria Delves to get the only medal in the event, gaining silver in the 18yrs+ age group by going under 30secs for the first time in a PB of 29.99.
Alex Harrison made the final by a swim off after a tie for eighth place. He swam a determined race, but the effort of the swim off left him a second adrift of the medals. These were picked up by Liam Kerry and Will Blackaby, getting bronze and silver respectively.
In the most gruelling race of any meet, the 400IM, Amy Davies swam a lonely race, but dug deep to take gold in the 9yrs age group. Chloe Long also put in a good time taking 14 secs off her entry time. Calvin Coe tried but failed to make a medal in the 100m breaststroke, being outreached by 0.1 second for the bronze, but was happy with a new two second PB. Rob Lancaster swam a strong race, and shared the same PB improvement taking silver in the boys 13ys age group,  a medal position also shared by Ryan Clay in the 15/16 age group.
Chloe Long and Ellena Skoulding, recovered enough from the 400IM to both get one second best times and each took a 100m backstroke bronze medal home in the Girls 11yrs and 12yrs age groups. The two girls then continued to accrue medals in the 200m race, Chloe reducing her time by nine seconds to take the silver and Ellena taking another bronze with a two second PB.
Strong stuff: Will Blackaby enjoyed a medal-laden weekend.
Hannah Harrison finally got her metalwork, taking a shiny silver in the 9yrs 50m breaststroke, As did Ella Delves in the 16yrs final, while Florence Lampart swam strongly to take bronze for the 13yr girls.
The boys 9 yrs 50m fly final looked like placings for Deben, Ipswich and Lowestoft, but they had not realised they had a battle on their hands – a Manfred Battle to be precise, in a display of focussed determination, Manfred swam the race of his life to take silver, having knocked a massive eight seconds off his entry time. Will Blackaby took up the mantle in the boys 17yrs age group swimming a strong race to take gold.
The IM races saw Amy Davies add to her 400m gold with a 200 bronze, with Rob Lancaster representing the boys with a bronze in the 13yrs.
The last race of the weekend saw Will Blackaby take a silver in the Boys 17yrs 100m free and bring the tally of medals for the club to 20, including the long-course events. This is a good result for a club the Stowmarket’s size and a good platform for the following weekend.
  • Second weekend report follows later today.