It was the Potters Cup Weekend at Potters Resort in Hopton-on-Sea with all the bowls action taking place in the famous International Arena. The Potters Cup final provided an absorbing battle between two fine Norfolk triples, John Jeffery, Debbie Sparham & Jon Sparham of Wymondham and Paula Cooke, Kerry Greenacre & Keith Cooke of Halvergate. All six bowlers know each other well, and what each other are capable of, and a cat and mouse game developed. First blood went to Sparham’s triple who took a single on the first end but Cooke’s triple hit back with a two on the second end. Another single to Sparham on the third end levelled the game at 2-2 and a superb three on the third end moved Sparham’s triple into a 5-2 lead. But with Paula Cooke playing well at lead, and Kerry Greenacre justifying her recent Player of the Season award at County Team level, Keith Cooke collected three shots on the fifth end to make it 5-5. The penultimate end saw John Jeffery, Debbie Sparham & Jon Sparham return the favour by also scoring three shots to take an 8-5 lead into the last end. Keith Cooke’s triple made a fine effort to retrieve the situation but another single was earned by the Jeffery-Sparham-Sparham triple who completed a 9-5 win to lift the Potters Cup. Qualifying for the Potters Shield final were Derbyshire’s Richard Kitchener, Maria Kitchener & Ivan Lunn and Alan Bunn & Marjorie Hall of Hevingham skipped by Harling’s Glen Hume. The Norfolk triple had been the surprise packet of the day winning five of their six games in common with their opponents. The Derbyshire triple had been the only triple to inflict a defeat on Sparham’s triple earlier in the day and found that fine seam of form again as they raced to an 8-0 win to win the Potters Shield. On Sunday the Potters Cash Pairs took place with the first three places going to bowlers who had featured strongly in the Potters Cup. The winners with ten points and a +40 shot difference were Kerry Greenacre & Keith Cooke with the runners-up Debbie & Jon Sparham who also scored ten points but with a +36 shot difference. This of course gave them revenge for their defeat in the previous day’s final. Third place went to Maria Kitchener & Ivan Lunn who yet again played excellent bowls all day. The Presentations were conducted by Potter’s entertainer Mark Brewer and Potters Cup Organiser Teresa Goldsmith. Next year’s Potters Cup Weekend starts on Friday 20th September 2024.
Presentation Ceremony photos
Potters Cup
Winners John Jeffery, Debbie Sparham & Jon Sparham with Mark Brewer
Runners-up Paula Cooke, Kerry Greenacre & Keith Cooke
Potters Shield
Winners Richard Kitchener, Maria Kitchener & Ivan Lunn
Runners-up Alan Bunn, Marjorie Hall & Glen Hume
Potters Cash Pairs
Winners Kerry Greenacre & Keith Cooke
Runners-up Debbie & Jon Sparham
Third place Maria Kitchener & Ivan Lunn
Most Relaxed Triple Margaret Barley, Michael Bunn & Jill Cleveland
Keith, Kerry & Paula played in Team Mike shirts in memory of Mike Greenacre
Potters Cup Top triples finishing positions with skips name
Triple 3 Jon Sparham
Triple 15 Keith Cooke
Triple 8 Ian Lunn
Triple 19 Glen Hume
Triple 10 Arthur Jackson
Triple 18 Peter Harvey
Triple 17 David Crosby
Triple 14 Owen Cranston
Triple 2 Melvyn Barker
Triple 16 Derek Barley
Triple 9 Joy Townsend
Triple 11 Bob Oatway
Triple 5 Derek Retchless
Triple 7 Val Easter
Triple 12 Jean Gardner
Triple 1 Pat Williamson
Triple 13 Jack Grey
Triple 6 George Cody
Triple 20 Richard Broad
Triple 4 Margaret Barley