It was Potter’s Cup Weekend 2022 in the famous Potter’s International Arena with twenty mats in play. This event has now run for well over twenty years and for many bowlers has become a not to be missed weekend of short mat bowls, dining and entertainment at this superb resort on the Norfolk coast. Organised by Norfolk’s Teresa & Selwyn Goldsmith, it gives short mat bowlers from all over the country the opportunity to sample the delights and magic of Potters at well below normal brochure price. The Potters Cup amply demonstrated that both young and old can compete on level terms in short mat bowls with Geoff Payne of Saxlingham Nethergate taking part, a gentleman in his 90’s and still a formidable bowler, while young Thetford SMBC bowlers Kieran Suffolk, Kacey Suffolk & Chloe Suffolk were determined to show that over the weekend they are more than ready to compete with the big guns. Saturday saw the Potters Cup taking place with all triples playing six games apiece to try and claim their place in the Potters Cup Final or the Potters Plate Final. Two triples reeled off six straight wins to earn a Potters Cup Final place. Audrey Fowler, Alan Hare & Brian Fowler of Letchworth and Greenwood Park were in sparkling form and finished on twelve points and plus 59 shots due to some super results that included wins of 17-2, 13-1 & 15-3. The other triple to earn maximum points were Alan Meek of North Yorkshire and Doreen Cook & Derek Barley of Carlton, Suffolk. They finished with plus 35 shots. In the final Barley’s triple drew first blood with a single on the first end but the Letchworth triple pulled level on the second end after a measure. Despite some superb bowls by Fowler’s triple on the third end Derek Barley produced a great last bowl to take a single and regain the lead. On the fourth end Audrey Fowler opened with a lovely drawn wood to make life difficult for Barley’s triple and a great bowl by Brian Fowler made it two shots and a 3-2 lead. On the fifth end Alan Meek won the battle of the leads drawing in both his bowls but Brian Fowler produced a perfect draw to increase his triples lead to 4-2. Alan Hare drew in a great wood on the next end but Doreen Cooke responded immediately to take shot and Barley’s triple held on to take the end and reduce the deficit to 4-3 with two ends to play. The seventh end saw Fowler’s triple in dazzling form as they produced a near perfect end with all three contributing to earn four shots and an 8-3 lead to take into the last end. Fowler’s triple kept up the pressure winning the final end to lift the Potter’s Cup for the first time by a 10-3 margin. Five triples dropped just two points each to finish with ten points so shot difference was used to determine the two triples who would play in the Potter’s Plate Final. Leading this pack were a triple no strangers to success in this event, Wymondham’s John Jeffrey, Debbie Sparham & Jon Sparham. They finished with plus 52 shots with Thetford’s Kieran Suffolk, Jason Martin & Peter Harvey earning their place in the Plate Final with plus 25 shots. Narrowly missing out were Owen Cranston’s triple on plus 23, George Hume’s triple on plus 22 and Jack Gray’s triple with plus 11. The Plate Final was a closely fought affair that produced just nine shots over the eight ends. Peter Harvey’s Thetford triple took a single on the first end but Sparham’s triple took singles on the second, third & fourth ends to move 3-1 up. On the fifth end Peter Harvey’s triple scored two shots to level the game at 3-3. Sparham’s triple moved back in front scoring singles on the sixth and eighth ends to lead 5-3 with one end remaining. Despite their best efforts the Thetford triple could only score a single on the final end leaving Sparham’s triple Plate winners with a 5-4 win. On Sunday the Potter’s Cash Pairs took place with all pairs playing six games in the battle for the three cash prizes on offer. Points and shot difference were used to determine the finishing positions and just three pairs scored maximum points. Colin Hayman & George Hume of Harling and Norfolk Over 60’s won the first prize with plus 34 shots after producing some great bowling all day. Kieran & Chloe Suffolk of Thetford SMBC finished second with plus 27 shots, a great achievement for these young bowlers. In third place were the formidable pairing of Debbie & Jon Sparham of Wymondham with plus 23 shots. Next year’s All-Inclusive Potter’s Cup Weekend will take place from Friday 22nd September to Monday 25th September 2023.
POTTERS CUP WEEKEND PRESENTATIONS
POTTERS CUP Winners Alan Hare, Audrey Fowler & Brian Fowler with Mark Brewer of Potters
POTTERS CUP Runners-up Derek Barley, Alan Meek & Doreen Cook
POTTERS PLATE Winners John Jeffrey, Debbie Sparham & Jon Sparham
POTTERS PLATE Runners-up Jason Martin, Kieran Suffolk & Peter Harvey
POTTERS CASH PAIRS Winners George Hume & Colin Hayman
POTTERS CASH PAIRS Second place Chloe & Kieran Suffolk
POTTERS CASH PAIRS Third place Debs & Jon Sparham
