Then out of this, evolved the TRI-COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP, where we declare the top scorer from all 3 counties as the best bowler at Dunstable ! – basically it started because I won the first one…
This year for the ladies, the trials also doubled up as the Zoe Disson Memorial Trophy. Zoe was a Bedfordshire County bowler and sadly lost a short battle against a very aggressive cancer. She’s missed by a lot of people within the Dunstable leagues and especially within the Bedfordshire Ladies County team. So, we wanted to do something to keep her in peoples memories. And with her son Kyle bowling in the adult section and presenting the award we thought a memorial trophy would be a nice thing to do.
So lets getting into the action !
We had 62 bowlers across the 3 counties, which I think could be the best we’ve ever had. We had 57 in 2024, in 2023 we had 52, and 2022 we had 45 – so yeah the best yet !
We never just roll out the house pattern for the trials. We try and mix it up. And the pattern is kinda kept under wraps, with bowlers told that it will be either +1 or -1 of a certain length.
This year the pattern can now be revealed as the Mark Roth 20 pattern. It’s a great pattern that gives people a chance to score without it being too EASY… the dry/oil step is quite steep that it makes it kinda tricky to read. Do you play in the oil with an aggressive ball and slow it down, or do it you fire down the edge with something hard… perhaps stay away from the shin of the pattern as you can get some under/over reactions out there… I’m talking a good game here… I have no idea what I just wrote.
Adult teams
For Bedfordshire the top qualifier was two hander Jordan the Hit Man Hart on 1344, with Sukky Gill on 1300 in 2nd
For Hertfordshire the top qualifier was BIG Mickey Walrond on 1297 with Austin Taylor in 2nd on 1237. Good to see Austin try out for his county adult team.
For Bucks the top qualifier was Matt Trotter on 1365, with pre tournament favourite Gary Robertson 2nd on 1260 – slightly less than his own pre tournament score prediction of 1436 !
Ladies Teams
Only Bedfordshire have enough ladies to field a county team. And the top qualifier was our International Star Lorna Scott on 1314… 3 pins of short of Basher’s score… proving once again that she will never be better than me ! In 2nd with her best ever County Trials performance was Lisa Cook on 1123.
Seniors Teams
Bedfordshire it was the master of ceremonies Basher who claimed top spot on 1317, with Welsh International Sukky Gill in 2nd on 1300.
Hertfordshire it was one their oldest bowlers who came out on top Tony Imren with 1300, with Mickey Walrond in 2nd on 1297
Buckinghamshire Senior Team England “bronze” Medallist Matt Trotter was of course top with 1365, with Richie Beck 2nd on 1257
Super Senior Teams
All 3 counties this year are looking to field a Super Senior Team. That’s bowlers aged 65+
Bedfordshire’s top bowler was David Crouch on 1153
Hertfordshire’s top bowler was Tony Imren on 1300
Buckinghamshire’s top bowler was Paul Brunning on 1100
TRI COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Jordan Hit man Hart was leading after the first squad with 1344. But a 278 final game from Matt Trotter saw him go one better then 2024 where he finished 2nd to take the crown of TRI COUNTY CHAMPION and he can confidently and categorically say he is the BEST bowler at Dunstable ! – he gets the keys to the bowl, and has to do meet and greets at ALL the kids birthday parties the bowl host.
Worthy note of mention – Basher Bonfield the 2022 Champion was 3rd this year.
Zoe Disson Memorial Trophy
So all the ladies that bowled had handicap added on to their scores. After the first squad Lisa Cook posted a great score on 1293 with 12 year old Ava Richardson 2nd on 1293. But then Ava’s auntie Lorna Scott bowled and even though she had zero handicap took home the trophy with a score of 1314.
Pictured with Zoe’s son Kyle Mclaughlin, presenting her with the memorial trophy
POT GAMES
There will always be pot games when I’m running the tournament ! – LOVE EM. 35 for the 62 entered the high game pots. £20 for a win and £15 for 2nd
Game 2
1st – Alan Keddie 255
2nd – Big Mac 253
Game 3
1st– Kevin Minnis 268
2nd Mark Secker bag 265
Game 4
1st – Mickey Walrond 267
2nd – Alan Keddie 248
Game 5
1st – Basher 245
2nd – Matt Nash 236
Game 6
1st – Matt Trotter 278
2nd – Andrew McLaughlin 258
So that concludes the 2025 Herts, Beds, and Bucks Tri County rolloffs. Thank you to all the bowlers for attending and wish all the teams the best of success in the 2025 BTBA Inter County Championships
Peace Out
Basher
Results – 2025countyscores