Badminton

DUCHY END WITH A WIN:

Cornwall U17 badminton team have completed a hard season in the South West Counties Badminton League with a great win in their final match against Wiltshire at Tregorrick Park, St Austell.

Wiltshire arrived in the same position as Cornwall, looking for their first win of the season, both teams having recently narrowly lost 19-17 to Gloucester.

Cornwall took an early advantage in the singles running out with eight wins to four and then in the doubles had eight wins with Wiltshire taking 10 to leave score tightly balanced at 16-14 in the Duchy's favour moving into the final six mixed doubles matches.

Lee Chapple and Imogen Powell won a tight first end at No 1 22-20, eventually securing a win in three ends. Tony Marshall and Eve Robertson excelled under immense pressure winning an outstanding game 20-22, 21-18, 21-13.

The match score was now balanced at 18-15. Wiltshire fought hard in the remaining three games but Tom Braithwaite's experience in his last match with Charlotte Somerville won the day at No 5 21-14 21-8.

The final two games saw Chris Grout and Beth Rich and Sam Spencer and Abi Logg both win in two straight ends making a Cornish victory 21-15. This win stands the team in good heart for their forthcoming Senior County Carlton Cup semi-final against Truro Badminton Club this evening.

Thanks were also given to the continued support of Tregorrick Park's staff and to all the parents.

The team has now been selected for the national four-day Inter Counties Tournament to be held at Nottingham University next month. The team leave the county on April 7 and are aiming to improve on last year's final standing of 31 from 40 counties.

If any local businesses wish to consider supporting the team in partnership with Dairy Crest, Davidstow, contact can be made with Jon Wotton 01736 850045.

Team: Tom Braithwaite (Capt Truro School); James Payne (Callington College); Lee Chapple (Mount's Bay School); Ben Cooper (Penryn College); Sam Spencer (Penryn College); Tony Marshall (Budehaven School); Chris Grout (Launceston College); Beth Wotton (capt Hayle School); Imogen Powell (Truro School); Charlotte Somerville (Truro School); Daphne Luke); Truro College); Beth Rich (Mounts Bay School); Eve Robertson (Callington College); Abigail Logg (St Joseph's School Launceston).

Darts

CORNWALL LOOKING GOOD AFTER ANOTHER VICTORY:

Cornwall consolidated their position at the top of division one in the Riley's British Inter Counties Championship with a 22-14 defeat of Dorset at Mount Charles Social Club, St Austell, writes Steve Chapman.

The result puts them 16 points in front of third-placed Bedfordshire and with two teams being promoted into the top flight at the end of the season, their destiny is in their own hands with just three matches remaining.

The Ladies' B encounter was eagerly contested and despite four of the six matches going the full distance, Cornwall emerged 4-2 winners.

Belinda Hall (18.22) was the only home winner from the first three sets, but a strong finish from Mandy Prout (17.41), Tracey Hancock (14.88) and Becky Curnow (16.89), saw Cornwall off to a great start.

Unfortunately their 4-2 lead turned into a 6-4 deficit after the Men's B side lost the first four sets but fortunes were swiftly turned around.

Kevin Dunstan (20.89) on his county debut and Daryl Baker (23.12) were both winners after being pushed the full five legs and Lance Beckerleg (24.68) won 3-1, before Simon Knowles (22.10) and Malcolm Johns (21.78) both caught the eye with 3-0 wins.

Dorset pulled it back to 5-5 when taking the next but John Mann (26.32) edged Cornwall in front at 6-5 and Andy Dunstan (21.78), representing the county for the first time this season, held his nerve to make it a 7-5 home win.

The overnight lead of 11-7 became 12-7 when Nikki Furse (21.13) won the opening set of the ladies' A match and although the visitors took the next, Teresa Brookshaw (16.55) came out the right side of a five leg encounter.

Dorset then levelled for the second time but solid performances from Sue Shepherd (20.31) and Jane Cummings (19.78) pushed the team to a 4-2 victory.

Only Sean Johns (25.91) was a home winner from the first three sets of the men's A match but a 3-1 victory from Simon Rees (24.51) and a man of the match performance from Adrian Lamerton, who threw the highest checkout of the weekend with a mark of 140, edged the team 3-2 in front.

Dorset responded by taking the next two but eye catching performances from Brian Jones (24.24), Danny May (23.95) and Kevin Bray (23.86) nudged Cornwall back in front.

The Men's A lead of 6-4 became 6-5 when losing the penultimate point, but Simon Stevenson (26.84) ensured victory was attained when he took the last in straight legs.

Cornwall's lead over second-placed Surrey is just seven points and with the two teams meeting over the last weekend of March, a win there would go a long way to securing not only promotion, but also the division one title.

Schoolboy scrambling

SUMMER SERIES STARTS:

Cornwall schoolboy scramble club started their 2010 summer series championship at the club's new track Polwyn Farm.

The week saw fantastic weather throughout which helped the track to be in such good condition.

The track consisted of a natural hill sided field with a step up, step down and interesting styled set of whoops. The day saw great racing throughout all the classes.

Results: Auto: 1, Morgan Timms; 2, Louie Kesse; 3, Sam Hunt; 4, Archie Bees.

Juniors: 1, Aiden Williams; 2, Brandon Eva; 3, Alfie Crocker; 4, Dan Roberts; 5, Thomas Andrew; 6, Henry Bees.

Small Wheel 85CC: 1, Dean Symons; 2, Jack Roberts; 3, Jake Curtis Stevens; 4, Joe Eiffer; 5, Zac Hudson; 6, Ollie Brooks.

Big Wheel 85CC: 1, William Hawkins; 2, Maverick Smith; 3, Jack Penhaligon; 4, Eddy Crocker; 5, Matthew Winn; 6, Luke Yelland.

Seniors: 1, Liam Curtis Stevens ; 2, Bradley Maddever; 3, Stuart Smith; 4, Alex Hockey; 5, Jack Blackburn; 6, Jamie Orchard.

AMX Open: 1, Jamie Paget; 2, Daniel Wade; 3, Johnny Hawkins; 4, Wayne Back; 5, Matthew Thomas; 6, Justin Hawkins.

Short mat

FINALS DAT AT BODMIN:

The Cornwall county short mat bowls singles, pairs, triples and fours titles were decided over the weekend at the Dragon Leisure Centre, Bodmin.

First up on Saturday was the county singles.

In the semis, Ronnie Thomas (Newlyn Trinity) defeated Graham Ford (St Newlyn East) with Tony Baldwin (Liskeard) taking a comfortable 12-4 win against Joyce Ward (Withiel).

The final saw Baldwin make the first score with one on the first end before Thomas scored on the next two ends to move into a 3-1 lead. Consecutive scores of two, two and three over the next three ends saw Baldwin move into a lead he would not relinquish eventually winning 15-10 with an end to spare.

On Saturday afternoon attention turned to the county fours.

Two close semi-finals saw Penlee (John Dollery, Nigel Jelbert, Malcolm Furneaux & Mike Jefferies) defeat Saltash (Melba Kitt, Margaret Goodwin, Graham Reeves & Darren Woolner 7-6 and Liskear (Sheila Hodge, Tony Baldwin, Derek Newton & Peter Spargo) defeat Withiel (Henry Kendall, Joe Dixon, Joan & Eric Boddy) 10-8. The final saw Penlee strike the first blow with one on the first end with Liskeard responding with scores of one, two and one to move into a three shot lead after four ends.

Scores of one, one and two saw Penlee back into the lead 5-4 after seven ends. The eighth end proved critical to the final result after a misdirected wood from Jefferies moved the jack back to a cluster of opposing woods resulting in Liskeard picking up five shots, a further two to Liskeard on the ninth end saw them move into a six shot lead with an end to play. Penlee claimed four shots on the final end to make the final score Penlee 9 Liskeard 11.

First up on Sunday was the county pairs.

In the semi-finals Tony Baldwin and Peter Spargo (Liskeard) took a comfortable 15-1 win against David Griffin and Norman Ward (Withiel) to set up a final against Val & Geoff Risdon (Lanteglos) who were 11-8 winners against Graham Sleep & Bill Sharp (Dobwalls). In the final first advantage went to the Risdons with two on the first end with Baldwin & Spargo claiming one on the second and two on the third ends to move in front. Consecutive scores of one, three and one put the Risdons 7-3 in the lead after six ends. The next six ends all went the way of the Liskeard pairing picking up 13 shots to move 16-7 in front with three ends to play. A shot apiece on the 13th and 14th ends left Baldwin and Spargo with an unassailable 17-8 lead to claim the title.

The county triples rounded off the weekend of final action on Sunday afternoon.

In the semi-finals John Thomas (Penzance), Margaret Jenkins & Nigel Nicholls (Newlyn Trinity) earned a 9-6 win against Pam Hamley (Lostwithiel), Carol and Graham Ford (St Newlyn East) despite only scoring on the four of the 10 ends. The second semi-final was a close affair with the Withiel triple of Joe Dixon, Joan and Eric Boddy edging out Saltash's Melba Kitt, Graham Reeves and Darren Woolner 10-9 in a last end decider.

In the final Nicholls' trio scored three on the first end with Withiel responding with two on the second. A single to Nicholls on the third end was followed up with consecutive scores of one and two to leave Withiel 5-4 in front after five ends.

The sixth end saw Nicholls take a score of four to retake a lead that would not be relinquished again in the game. Two singles to Withiel on ends seven and eight brought them back to within one point but consecutive scores of one, three, one, three and one over the next five ends saw Thomas, Jenkins and Nicholls take control of the match. Withiel scored a consolation two shots on the 14th end to leave the final score Thomas, Nicholls and Jenkins 17, Dixon, Boddy & Boddy 9.

Stock cars

NEW SEASON STRARTS ON SUNDAY AT ST DAY:

The new national Stock Car racing season will embrace its first meeting in Cornwall this Sunday afternoon at the United Downs Raceway, St Day (1pm).

Westcountry drivers had the opportunity to prepare for the new season at St Day's practise event at the end of last month, but now it is time for the real thing – the first national meeting at St Day for this season.

The first duty of the new season will be to officially present Ross Rowe of Radnor with his prize for winning the 2009 Track Championship title on his home circuit. For 2010, Rowe has a new car, the chassis for which was built by former double world champion Colin Higman of Menheniot.

Rowe put the car through its paces for the first time at the practise event at St Day in February, where he posted the day's fastest lap time.

Last year, Rowe enjoyed a remarkably successful season at the United Downs Raceway, St Day, which he capped with a feature final win last October. That victory followed no fewer than three runner-up finishes in feature races earlier in the season.

At that same race meeting in October, Rowe's younger brother, teenager Liam, grabbed the first win of his career.

He has since refurbished his car ahead of the new season, as has another west Cornwall based racer, Ian Jefferies of St Agnes. Sixteen-year-old Dan Moss of Fowey will race at St Day for the very first time in the Formula Two Stock Cars.

The teenager has progressed from the junior class of Ministox, and also enjoyed a couple of outings last season in the comical Reliant Robins.

He made his Stock Car debut at Smeatharpe near Honiton two weeks ago, and is now poised to race in his home county for the first time. Whilst Moss is beginning his Stock Car career, both Ivor Collins of Saltash and Mike Lampshire of Liskeard are resuming theirs. Collins returned to racing a fortnight ago, after a five-year absence.

It is seven years since Lampshire last raced, but during the winter he has helped build a new car with his brother Neil, and they intend to share the car during the season. A most impressive entry of Bangers is expected for their first race meeting of the new season. More than 50 drivers are due at the United Downs Raceway, when the top prize at stake for the bangers will be the Taiya Densham Trophy Shield.

The whole day's racing for the Bangers will be aimed at benefiting the Fal Fibro Friends charity. Drivers will contribute to the charity fund, as will the promoters of the meeting. A number of newcomers to the formula are set to make their Bangers debut, including Miles Tiddy of Redruth, Sam Trengrove of Pengegon and former Ministox points champion, 19-year-old Katie Dawe of Grampound.

There should be a good mix of west country based drivers in the non-contact Stock Rods, with star graders Andy Thomas of St Austell and Simon Jones of Roche heading the Cornish entry, along with Simon Vincent of Helston, who will be keen to rediscover the form which brought him a final win at St Day late last season.

Snooker

BIG BREAKS IN SEMI WIN:

An extraordinary game of snooker took place last week in the CBSA County pairs snooker semi-final between Steve Downing & Phil Lane (Clinton SC) and Richard Lloyd & Ben Watkins (Lucky Kiss, Bude).

The Clinton pair won 3-0, Steve had a break of 102 in the first frame and followed up with a break of 55 to win the second frame. Phil then sealed the match with a 121 break in the third frame, the highest competition break this year.

Steve and Phil will play their final on Friday against the winners of Gary Bray & Graham Denning (Clinton SC) or Andrew Gooch and Darran Kirwan (Tywardreath RBL) which was due to be played last night.

In the team five-a-side snooker WH Bond won their semi-final against St Day 3-1 and await the winners of the match between Looe SC and Clinton SC.