The 49Th Royal Air Force Ten Pin Bowling Championships Were Held Over the Weekend of 5-7

RAF Champs 2012

The 49th Royal Air Force Ten Pin Bowling Championships were held over the weekend of 5-7 Oct 12 at the Lincoln Bowl. One hundred and fourteen servicemen and affiliates entered the various singles, doubles and fours events as well as the all events for those that did all three.

First up on Friday afternoon was a mixed squad of singles, 5 games at doubles pace, and doubles, 4 games. In the RAF Singles Sgt Tony Lee & Cpl Chris Jaap, both of RAF Coningsby, set the pace with high games of 230 & 244 respectively on route to sets of 984 and 1084. In the Open Singles Dave Chester (235), Al Hutchison (247) and Pete Crompton (251) led the field, Al Hutchison finishing highest of the 3 with a 1047 set. The Composite Doubles also had high scoring with Andrew Palmer of Coningsby F (210) and Chris Blissett of Coningsby E (219), Andrew Palmer partnered with father WO Colin Palmer finishing the higher of the two with a 1709 Hcp. However it was Coningsby B, the one and only service doubles team in this squad, that set the highest FS Chris Quilter after his 300 game. It’s rumoured that score of 1672 Scr, 1900 Hcp to lead the tournament with FS Porky he smiled later that evening Maddock hitting a high game of 220 at the same time as FS Chris Quilter scored his first ever maximum 300.

Squad two and Andy Williams led his Wittering 1 doubles with a 237 game on route to a 1464 Scr (1708 Hcp) team game whilst in the singles Cpl Matt Hall of Odiham, the only serving member in the squad, had a high game of 223 but failed to equal this throughout his set ending on 950 Scr (1030 Hcp) to finish mid table. Squad two proved a tough squad in the open singles seeing high scores from Sam Samuals (221), Lee Wilson (223), Pete Bromley (227), Mario Sinclair (234), Al Middleton (235) & Clem Clements (244). Of these it was Al Middleton that topped the scratch rankings with 1035 whilst Lee Wilson did the same in the handicap listings with 1143. The Ladies too joined in with Sarah Wilson (212) and Jacky Whitbread (202) leading the way, Jacky amassing the highest set to finish on 894 Scr (1024 Hcp).

Last squad of the day was another mixed group and in the Open singles Eddie Thompkins had the highest game score with a 232 to score a total of 925 Scr (1105 Hcp). In the composite doubles Alconbury A’s Bryan Roberts that had the highest game (222) but it was their team mates Don Clifton & Simon Field of Alconbury B that to the lead with 1728. The Service doubles were equally tight with Benson 1’s Cpl Ade French hitting a 257 high game whilst Brize Norton 2’s FS Dave Greig (215) and SAC(T) Chris Maddock (222) hit 1572 Scr (1772 SAC Ade French hopes for another Hcp) only to be outgunned by Brize Norton 1 with strike CT Craig MacPherson (227) and Sgt Paul Caddy (243)who despite scoring 1627 Scr (1781 Hcp) failed to make an impact on Coningsby B’s lead.

Saturday brought a 0830 start but that didn’t seem to affect the singles with continued high scoring from Odiham’s SAC(T) Chris Smith (229) & Cpl Gareth Holder (259), SAC(T) Ade French (245) of Benson and Coningsby bowlers SAC(T) Kev Sykes (237) and taking the lead FS Porky Maddock with a scratch set of 1028 (1173 Hcp) including a high game of 245. The Open singles were equally high scoring with Mark Granados (236), Cliff Stock (254) and to lead the event Andy Williams with a 1108 Scr (1193 Hcp) score. Pity he didn’t enter the scratch!

Next up was an all doubles squad and in the service division Cpl Gareth Holder scored a 247 to help Odiham's chances but it was Coningsby A with Sgt Tony Lee & Cpl Chris Jaap with Dave Chester after the 10 pin high games of 258 & 278 respectively that showed their Welsh International form and took them into the lead over teammates of Coningsby B. The Composite doubles had too many high scores to list here, the highest being FS Les Keates who bowling as aptly named Raptors Mature team with fellow FS Porky Maddock hit a 290 to record his highest ever single game score and enter a team game of 1587 Scr (1831 Hcp). However it was the GOGS 2 team of Pete Carter and Spud Hanslow that took the lead with a 1930 handicap score.

The first of the 4 man team squads saw the majority of the service teams bowl and resulted in RAF Coningsby (2514 Hcp) finishing holding 3rd position, RAF Brize Norton (2559 Hcp) 2nd and RAF High Wycombe comprising SAC Jon Cook, Sgt Brian Hallam, Cpl Graham Matthews & FS Les Keates, 1st with 2728 Hcp, all four bowlers bowling above their entering averages to secure the 2012 title. The Composite event was equally tight with the top three finishing as Waddo Copper (2585 Hcp) in 3 rd, Coningsby 3 (2594 Hcp) in 2nd and Brize Red, SAC Ollie Barrett, Sgt Martin Maybrey, Chris Smith & Steve Allen holding 1st with 2628 Hcp.

Last team squad of the day and the last service teams fails to make a dent into the scores already posted. However in the composite teams more high scoring saw two teams overtake Brize Red. Waddo Silver (2639 Hcp) and Waddo Gold, Martin Clements (258), Gary Newton (289), Colin Laing (255) and Dave Chester (215) finishing with a handicap score of 2799 to claim the top spot.

Last squad of the day was a composite doubles squad and again there were several high scores, Sandy Church (208), Chris Jaap (221), Matt Hall (247) and John Frey (255). However no doubles scores troubled the leader’s board.

A nice leisurely 0900 start for the Sunday and three more squads to go. First up another high scoring singles squad where 230+ games were extremely plentiful and somewhat becoming the norm. In the open event they were as follows: Ed Brandon (230), Gary Newton (230), Sed Simpson (233), Dave North (234), Kev Hughes (236), Duncan Edwards (245), Rick Matthews (249), Pete Weller (256) & Andy Yeomans (268). Andy’s 1281 handicap score also took him into first place with one squad to go. In the Ladies a 1150 handicap from Linda Edwards took her into the lead whilst in the service event Sgt Paul Caddy & FS Les Keates recorded high games of 236 and FS Dave Greig hit a 245, Les Keates consistency throughout the set leading to a 1045 Scr (1205 Hcp) that catapulted him into the lead for the event.

The last singles and doubles squad for the tournament followed and needless to say the high scoring continued. In the doubles, which comprised all composite teams, the individual high games continued to show themselves: Dave North (232), Matt Hall (239), Ed Brandon (242), Colin Laing (256), Ade French (258) & Tony Lee (278). However in the event as a whole it was the husband & wife team of Granny & FS Les Keates winner of the RAF handicap Kirsty Granados as Coningsby D that won the event with a 1970 handicap score, singles event Kirsty hitting a 221 average over her 4 games. In the singles despite a spirited attempt the RAF bowlers were unable to overcome the scores already posted. In the ladies a 900 scratch from Pauline Linnett won her the singles scratch and 2nd in the handicap. In the open event only Bryan Roberts got on top of the lanes with a high game of 269 but this just failed to get him into the top three.

Last squad of the tournament was again all composite teams with this year’s RAF squad & Development squad (the Raptors) having their first outing in their respective shirts. Again high scores were abundant with the following getting over 230 games, Sgt Tony Lee (232), Sed Simpson (235), Cpl Chris Jaap (236), Andy Shedd (241), Brian Marks (242), Al Hutchison (248), Bryan Roberts (253), Cpl Matt Hall (259), SAC(T) Chris Smith (263), Dave North (264) & Andy Yeomans Coningsby D (Granny and Kirsty) winners (268). After the scores were in the of the composite doubles Tenpin 2000+ program none of the teams have beaten the scores posted by Waddo Gold

In the all events it was Cpl Chris Jaap who secured the Service event amassing a 12 game total of 2594 Scr to once again secure the Alex Seaman Trophy and with some 2786 Hcp the Hcp all events trophy too. In the ladies event it was the consistent bowling from Kirsty Waddo Gold - Gary Newton, Dave Chester, Clem Granados that proved successful to Clements & Colin Laing Composite Team winners earn her the title whilst in the Open event Andy Yeomans capped off an excellent Cpl Chris Jaap – Winner Alex Seaman weekends bowling hitting a 220 average over 15 games to secure the all events in his category. Award 2012 Our thanks to Andi and his staff at Lincoln bowl for the excellent conditions as well as all their help throughout the weekend and for presenting our winners with their medals. Of the 1500 games bowled some 376 proved to be over 200 and with 69, 600 series and 4, 700 series and not forgetting the perfect 300 game from Chris Quilter it has been another successful tournament that led to a 179.8 tournament average and a good start to another season. Top 3 placings in each event are listed below. Next event will be the RAFTBA singles at the Astra Bowl RAF Brize Norton in November.

RAF Singles Handicap Scratch 1st FS Les Keates RAF High Wycombe Cpl Gareth Holder RAF Odiham 2nd FS Paul Maddock RAF Coningsby Cpl Chris Jaap RAF Coningsby 3rd Cpl Chris Jaap RAF Coningsby FS Les Keates RAF High Wycombe

Ladies Singles Handicap Scratch 1st Linda Edwards RAF Marham Pauline Linnett RAF Wyton 2nd Pauline Linnett RAF Wyton Jacky Whitbread RAF Waddington 3rd Gill Hutchison Waddington Affiliates Jan Stocks Grantham

Open Singles Handicap Scratch 1st Andy Yeomans Waddington Affiliates Andy Yeomans Waddington Affiliates 2nd Pete Weller Waddington Affiliates Pete Weller Waddington Affiliates 3rd Dave North RAF Marham Dave North RAF Marham

RAF Doubles Handicap 1st Coningsby A Sgt Tony Lee & Cpl Chris Jaap RAF Coningsby 2nd Coningsby B FS Paul Maddock & FS Chris Quilter RAF Coningsby 3rd Brize 1 Sgt Paul Caddy & CT Craig MacPherson RAF Brize Norton Scratch 1st Coningsby A Sgt Tony Lee & Cpl Chris Jaap RAF Coningsby 2nd Coningsby B FS Paul Maddock & FS Chris Quilter RAF Coningsby 3rd Brize 1 Sgt Paul Caddy & CT Craig MacPherson RAF Brize Norton

Composite Doubles Handicap 1st Coningsby D Kirsty Granados & Mark Granados RAF Coningsby 2nd GOGS 2 Pete Carter & Spud Hanslow Gloucester 3rd Matt & Tony Cpl Matt Hall & Sgt Tony Lee (Odiham/Coningsby) RAF Team Scratch 1st Matt & Tony Cpl Matt Hall & Sgt Tony Lee (Odiham/Coningsby) RAF Team 2nd Waddo Gold 1 Martin Clements & Gary Newton Waddington Affiliates 3rd Colin & Ade Colin Laing & Cpl Ade French Waddo Affils/Benson

RAF Team Handicap 1st RAF High Wycombe SAC Jon Cook, Sgt Brian Hallam, Cpl Graham Matthews, FS Les Keates 2nd RAF Brize Norton SAC(T) Chris Maddock, Sgt Paul Caddy, CT Craig Macpherson, FS Dave Greig 3rd RAF Coningsby Cpl Chris Jaap, Sgt Tony Lee, FS Paul Maddock, FS Chris Quilter Scratch 1st RAF Brize Norton SAC(T) Chris Maddock, Sgt Paul Caddy, CT Craig Macpherson, FS Dave Greig 2nd RAF High Wycombe SAC Jon Cook, Cpl Brian Hallam, Cpl Graham Matthews, FS Les Keates 3rd RAF Coningsby Cpl Chris Jaap, Sgt Tony Lee, FS Paul Maddock, FS Chris Quilter

Composite Team Handicap 1st Waddo Gold Martin Clements, Gary Newton, Colin Laing, Dave Chester 2nd Waddington ONE Al Hutchison, Martin Clements, Mario Sinclair, Andy Yeomans 3rd VETS 1 Pete Weller, Bryan Roberts, Pete Crompton, Dave North Scratch 1st Waddo Gold Martin Clements, Gary Newton, Colin Laing, Dave Chester 2nd Waddington ONE Al Hutchison, Martin Clements, Mario Sinclair, Andy Yeomans 3rd RAF Red Cpl Chris Jaap, Sgt Tony Lee, Cpl Matt Hall, Cpl Gareth Holder

RAF All Events Handicap Scratch 1st Cpl Chris Jaap RAF Coningsby Cpl Chris Jaap RAF Coningsby 2nd FS Les Keates RAF High Wycombe Sgt Tony Lee RAF Coningsby 3rd FS Paul Maddock RAF Coningsby Sgt Paul Caddy RAF Brize Norton Ladies All Events Open All Events Handicap Handicap 1st Kirsty Granados RAF Coningsby Andy Yeomans Waddington Affiliates 2nd Linda Edwards RAF Marham Andy Shedd RAF Wyton 3rd Gill Hutchison Waddington Affiliates Mark Granados RAF Coningsby