RES DEV / BIG BEAR BOLTS Senior Tour
Stop One 2024 — Bromborough Bowl
Sunday 31st March 2024
By Al Turner
What a success Jack Smith has made of his senior tour thanks to the backing and sponsorship of Nick Wright (RES DEV) & Stuart England (BIG BEAR BOLTS).
This year Jack has a waiting list for all stops.
So how did Stop One go.
There were 63 entries in a high quality field.
QUALIFYING ROUND
The first squad leaders were :-
Paul Hewitt, David Hockney, Carole Orange
Steven Coates, David Broomfield,
Colin Grose, Bernie Matthews,
Mark (Smig) Smith & Nev Neville Robinson
The second squad was led by Alan Keddie,
Ron Oldfield,Ian Hollands, Cliff Dew
& Helen Caton.
The format was the leader moving straight into the final and positions 2 – 16 going into the final.
TOP 16 POSITIONS :-
1st. – Alan Keddie. 1434
2nd – Ron Oldfield. 1417
3rd – Paul Hewitt. 1368
4th – Dave Hockney. 1355
5th – Carole Orange. 1347
6th – Ian Hollands. 1342
7th – Gary Christopher. 1339
8th – Steve Coates. 1331
9th – Dave Broomfield. 1316
10th – Ian Runacres. 1313
11th – Colin Grose. 1311
12th – Gary Barlow. 1308
13th – Bernie Mathews. 1305
14th – Cliff Dew. 1300
15th – Mark (Smig) Smith 1297
16th – Helen Caton. 1283
Paul Loberman & Nev Robinson we’re unlucky in 17th & 18th places both with 1282, missing out by the one pin. Mike (Frosty) Halliwell 1280, John Cook & Ian Kennedy (Mr Grumpy) 1277 were also within a spare.
ROUND TWO
Previous scores are now deleted and the next 3 rounds are a three game series.
With leader & 2024 champion, Alan Keddie moving straight to the final the remaining 15 were playing for the top 10. (2nd – 11th) in a 3 game roll off-
2nd – Colin Grose. 687
3rd – Ian Hollands. 672
4th – Ron Oldfield. 644
5th – Carole Orange. 637
6th – Cliff Dew. 636
7th – Helen Caton. 622
8th – Ian Runacres. 603
9th – Gary Barlow. 602
10th – Dave Hockney. 595
11th – Mark (Smig)Smith 591
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12th – Gary Christopher 586
12th – Dave Broomfield. 571
13th – Paul Hewitt. 564
14th – Steve Coates. 558
15th – Bernie Mathews. 557
ROUND THREE
The top 10 in round 2 now play 3 more games for 5 places to join Alan Keddie in the final.
2nd – Mark Smith. 714
3rd – Ian Hollands. 659
4th – Gary Barlow. 656
5th – Dave Hockney 647
6th – CRol Orange 621
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7th – Helen Caton. 601
8th – Ian Runacres. 593
9th – Ron Oldfield. 589
10th – Colin Grose. 588
11th – Cliff Dew. 564
THE FINAL
Alan Keddie now rejoins the event with the knowledge the first round leader has never won on this format. With four Yorkshire county bowlers in the final the chances were for a Yorkshire winner and so it developed. Ian Hollands (Hull) took control in game one using his Purple Hammer with a superb 279. Following this with a 259 it looked all over even though Dave Hockney & Mark Smith we’re giving chase but were both over 60 pins adrift.
Suddenly Ian lost his way a little with a 189 while Dave 237 & Mark 228 closed the gap however Ian’s first 2 games were enough to give him his 1st RES DEV / BIG BEAR BOLTS title.
Champion – Ian Hollands. 727
Runner Up – Dave Hockney. . 708
3rd Place. – Mark (Smig) Smith 677
4th Place – Alan Keddie. 652
5th Place. – Gary Barlow. 633
6th Place. – Carol Orange. 629
High place lady obviously Carole Orange. Chased all day by Helen Caton
Results
Final
Round 3
Round 2
Round 1
