<p>RAFTBA Trios Nottingham 8-9 Mar 14</p><p>Fourth event of the year saw the RAFTBA road show descend on MFA Bowl Nottingham for the Trios, three rounds of qualifying, culminating in a knockout final being the format for the weekend.</p><p>The early squad getting the cheaper parking took to the lanes for the first round of 6 games. It soon became apparent that Sarah and her staff had given us good conditions that would result in some high scoring. In fact there were so many 200+ games scored I will only be listing each bowlers highest in the round to save both paper and my fingers. In squad one these were Jacky Whitbread (200), Carrianne Rogers (202), Dave Chester (209), Quoz (212), Dave Conner (220), Mike Williams (221), Les Keates & Katrina Knox (224), Andy Yeomans (231), Boggles & Kev Hunter (234), Terry Jones (235), Mav & Simon Yeomans (236), Mario (237), Dave Rogers (238), Boot (242), Kylie (245), Skid (246), Matt Hall (248), Pete Bromley (249), Chris Matthews (256), Porky (267) & topping the shop Gary Newton (268). Birthday Boy Squad 2 and the same six game block with yet more high scoring. Simon Yeomans This time saw Graham Matthews & Sandy Church (200), Shane Lyons & Granny (202), Pauline Linnett (210), Steve McAdam (212), Ade French, Pete Weller & Clem (214), Gary Fraser (216), Dave North (217), Myke Cattell (221), Gav O’Brien (224), Dave Greig & Ryan Morgan (225), Laurie (226), Bryan Roberts (227), Simon Field (230), Tony Lee (235), Jaapy (236), Stu Leader (238), Ant Moore (247), Cody Jones (256), Cads & Maddog (257), Mac (268), PC (279) and scoring his first ever 200 game Aaron Clark, the latest addition to the RAF bowlers from Brize Norton with a 216.</p><p>So on to round 2 and another 3 games to finish off day one. The scoring continued with Mike Williams (202), Kylie, Carrianne & Pete Bromley (203), Simon Whitbread (209), Jacky Whitbread (210), Dave Rogers, Les Keates & Andy Yeomans (213), Porky (214), Dave Conner & Boot (215), Terry (217), Chris Matthews & Gary Newton (222), Quoz (223), Kev Hunter (227), Boggles (233), Pip (236), PC & Pete Weller (237), Skid (239), Dave Chester (244), Matt Hall (246) & Clem showing he still has the technique topping the squad with a 255.</p><p>Last squad of the day and despite the long day the scores kept coming with Myke Cattell (201), Cads (202), Bryan Roberts (207), Ade French getting a grip Christina Cattell (209), Duncan Edwards (213), Eddie (214), Gary of the two handed style Fraser (215), Ollie (216), Dave Greig (220), Shane Lyons (222), Dave North (224), Tony Lee (233), Mac (244), Jaapy (245), Ant Moore (246) & Cody Jones only using the last two thirds of the lane with a 248.</p><p>Onto day two and a final 3 games to make the top 16 final. As with day one the scores were there to have and finding them were Tony Lee (200), Stu Leader (201), Ryan (202), Myke Cattell (205), Pauline (206), Gary Fraser (208), Cads & Ade (214), Cody (215), Maddog (221), Mac (222), Granny (236), Jaapy (238), Dave North (248), Eddie (249), Laurie (254), Ant Moore (255), Graham Matthews hitting a new personal best score of 257, whilst another relative newbie to the RAF Bowling contingent FO Gav O’Brien from Scampton threw a very impressive278.</p><p>The last squad of the qualifying rounds brought the last dash for the top 16 with high scores from Boot (201), Carrianne & Clem (203), Dave Rogers (205), Mav & Porky (210), Matt Hall (218), Les Keates (221), PC (223), Chris Matthews & Pete Bromley (224), Kylie (225), Skid & Pete Weller (227), Gary Newton (229), Dave Chester (234), Pip (243) & Andy Yeomans demonstrating his best impression of barney Rubble to record a 254.</p><p>All scores into Tenpin 2000 and onto the finals, the qualifying scores counting for nothing as we enter the one game knockout stages , 1st Les without the style playing 16th, 2nd v 15th etc. of his Ferrari Match 1 - Phantoms (4th) v Flintstones (13th) a 246 from Bryan Roberts teamname sealed the match, Phantoms winning 691 to 644. Match 2 - Odiham 1 (5th) v Brize 1 (12th) where Matt (214) & Boggles (246) were too strong for Brize despite Maddog (211) and Cads (234) trying hard. Odiham win 695 to 639. Match 3 - Odiham 2 (9th) v Team French (8th) a close match that saw team French pull away at the end winning 611 to 680. Match 4 - Wanderers Ferrari (16th) v Coningsby 1 (1st) with Jaapy’s form from the weekend deserting him the wanderer’s giant killers struck to win 629 to 613. Match 5 - Cosford (2nd) v Waddo Bhuna (15th) and with only 1 pin difference in handicap it was Laurie’s 263 that won the match, Bhuna winning 637 to 685. Match 6 - Waddo Madras (7th) v Waddo Jalfrezi (10th) where the Madras was not as hot as expected losing 573 to 635. Match 7 - Marham A (11th) v Waddo Vindaloo (6th) another curry that failed to live up to its name resulting in a win for Marham 614 to 590. Match 8 - Coningsby 2 (14th) v Team Stealth (3rd) with all three Cody lofts another bowlers above 200 Stealth sneak into the next round 704 to 602.</p><p>¼ Finals Match 1 – Phantoms v Odiham 1 and a 267 from Matt saw Odiham cruise into the Semis 707 to 612. Match 2 - Team French v Wanderers Ferrarri saw no giant killing this time as a 234 from Ade see Team French through 725 to 653. Match 3 - Waddo Bhuna v Waddo Jalfrezi where yet another curry war sees Jalfrezi bubble to the top winning 643 to 617. Match 4 - Marham A v Team Stealth where only 5 pins split the scratch result but it was the handicap making the He’s behind you difference Marham through 703 to 682. Into the Semis, Match 1 - Odiham 1 v Team French where 3 x 200 from Odiham saw them launch themselves easily into the final 716 to 589. Match 2 – Waddo Jalfrezi v Marham A saw Marham continue their form with a 221 from Dave North taking them through into the final 703 to 638.</p><p>And so to the final, Odiham 1 v Marham A which despite being a very close run thing going down to the last frame saw Marham triumph winning the battle 645 to 636 and crowned the 2014 RAFTBA Trios Champions. </p><p>Trios Winners – Marham A Dave North, Gary Fraser & Duncan Edwards</p><p>In summary, another high scoring weekend that ended with a tournament average of 180.1 and 16 bowlers finishing over the 200 average, well done to you all. Finally, but by no means least, our thanks must go to Sarah and her staff for stepping in when we needed a venue and for looking after us all weekend. Next up, the combinations at Ilkeston, see you all there.</p>