THE JOE ROBINSON MEMORIAL TROPHY
The Mid Cheshire leagues Veterans Trophy.
1993
GORDON IS NUMBER ONE VET
Northwich Guardian, Wednesday 14th July.
(At the Beech Tree, Barnton)
Mid Cheshire's top veteran bowler is Castle Private's first team captain Gordon Yates.
Gordon proved himself on Thursday when he beat association President Alf Harrison (Comberbach) 21-12 in the final.
Semi finalists were Marshall Morrey(Wharton Cons) and Charlie Martin (Winsford Cons). Defeated quarter finalists were Frank Robinson, Jean Atherton, Frank James and Coiln Watts.
The Joe Robinson Memorial trophy was presented by the donors widow Pat, together with the £100 prize money.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
1999
Northwich Guardian, Friday 2nd July.
Ray Brearley collected his hat trick of Joe Robinson trophies on Thursday. The Owley wood veteran beat Alan Pickering comfortably 21-16 at the Beech Tree for his third Mid Cheshire veterans win
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2000
Northwich Guardian, Wednesday 8th August.
Ted pendleton (Meadowbank) was the winner of the Cheshire building society sponsored Joe Robinson veteranscompetition.
Ted beat Ron Hitchen (Farmers Arms) 21-13 in the final last Thursday, which was postponed because of rain on the scheduled date.
In the semi final Ted beat Sid Bernard (Over Park) 21-20, while Ron beat Harry Nicholas (Kelsall) 21-11.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2003
Northwich Chronicle, 13th August.
Norman Greatbanks declared his victory in the Joe Robinson Veterans cup as the proudest moment of his life. He beat John Spruce (Kelsall) 15-7 in 18 ends on the Beech Tree green, having seen off Eric Hamman (Meadowbank) and his clubmate Neville Mathias.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2004
HITCHEN CLAIMS VETERAN CROWN
Northwich Guardian, Wednesday 11th August.
Ron Hitchen the Farmers Arms man beat Pam Plant 21-19 in the final at the Beech Tree, Barnton, last week.
Hitchen's route to the final was difficult with him winning both his quarter and semi final ties 21-20 against Norman Greatbanks and Ted Pendleton.
But the match of the competition came in the semi final stage when Pam Plant faced her husband Ray and won 21-10.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2005
Played at the Farmers Arms on Thursday 25th August at 1:30pm.
Quarter Finals
F Nicholas 16 v 21 D Biddle A Land 11 v 21 J Spruce
P Kelly 21 v 17 M Thomas N Mathias 15 v 21 F Hopkins
Semi Finals
BIDDLE 21 v 19 SPRUCE KELLY 21 v 10 HOPKINS
FINAL
BIDDLE 21 v 18 KELLY
referee Mr M Harding of Crewe, measurers D Stocking & V Slater
winner £40, Runner up £20, total prize money £100
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2006
Played at the farmers Arms on Thursday 24th August at 1:30pm.
Quarter Finals
N Greatbanks 7 v 21 A Bannister A Land 21 v 18 T Allman
R Worthington 17 v 21 B Griffiths L Godfrey 16 v 21 F Nicholas
Semi Finals
Bannister 21 v 11 Land Griffiths 12 v 21 Nicholas
FINAL
BANNISTER 21 v 19 NICHOLAS
winner £40 and trophy, referee and measurers D Stocking & V Slater
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2007
Played at the Farmers Arms, Rudheath on Thursday 23rd August.
Referees; D. Stocking, D. Warburton & P. Humphreys
Awards presented by Mr Peter Gough and Mrs J. Robinson
Quarter Finals
Ray Plant (Castle Private) 18 v 21 Alan Bannister (Kelsall)
Alan Wilkinson (Beech Tree) 7 v 21 Frank Nicholas (Kelsall)
Peter Bellis (Crowton) 12 v 21 John Nicholas (Kelsall)
John Spruce (Kelsall) 21 v 11 Joe Dewsbury (Middlewich RBL)
Semi Finals
Alan Bannister 14 v 21 Frank Nicholas
John Nicholas 13 v 21 John Spruce
FINAL
FRANK NICHOLAS 21 v 18 JOHN SPRUCE
Winner £150, Runner up £80, semi Finals £50
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2008
ROD READY TO DINE OUT ON VICTORY
Rod Holding may have to wait to spend his winnings after lifting the Joe Robinson trophy.
The Comberbach bowler clinched his first title in almost two decades at Rudheath Private only to see the £150 first prize swiped by his other half. 'My wife has already taken the money from me,' he joked afterwards. 'I think I will take her out for a nice meal though.'
the 65 year old saw off Wharton Cons Peter kelly by just two chalks in the final after edging past John Nicholas (Kelsall) and Bill Ravenscroft (Wharton Cons) in similarly narrow fashion.
More than 70 spectators watched as Holding held his nerve to beat Kelly, his first competition victory since success at Southport's Zetland Hotel back in 1990. Few would argue his win on THursday was not deserved and Holding left a happy man.
'It was absolutely boiling, really hot,' he said. 'The green was very fast and it was hard to play good bowls. I looked at the draw and thought I had a good chance but you still have to win it.'
His strategy was to stay cool in the stifling heat. It was one that worked. holding added,' I just took one game at a time from the very beginning. If you think about winning it then in the first game you get beaten.'
he made History by beating Kelly in the final, so becoming the first Comberbach bowler to get his hands on the trophy for veteran bowlers.
'Peter is a good bowler and he only plays with small woods which proberbly suited the green better,' said Holding'I was happy just to get to the final.'
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2009
Played at Rudheath SSC on Thursday 23rd July.
Referees : P. humpreys, D. Warburton & D. Stocking
Awards presented by Mrs J. Robinson
Quarter Finals
Ron Hitchen (Rudheath) 6 v 21 Rod Holding (Comberbach)
Peter Kelly (Wharton Cons) 21 v 9 Jeff Simpson (Comberbach)
Bye v John Spruce (Kelsall)
Norman Lovatt (Comberbach) 16 v 21 Arthur Land (Frodsham Red Lion)
Semi Finals
Rod Holding 21 v 19 Peter Kelly
John Spruce 21 v 16 Arthur Land
FINAL
JOHN SPRUCE 21 v 11 ROD HOLDING
Winer £150, Runner up £80, Semi Finals £50
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2010
FRANK’S SMOOTH DAY
Northwich Guardian, Wednesday 28th July,
Frank Nicholas recaptured the title on Thursday to become only the fourth bowler in the competition’s two decade history to lift the trophy more than once.
The Kelsall man, winner for the first time in 2007, beat Castle’s Ray Plant 21-10 at Rudheath private.
‘I just felt it was going to be my day’ he said afterwards. ‘I found a mark against Ray that put him under pressure and I think he struggled to gather any momentum as a result’.
Nicholas told the Guardian that his last four success against another former champion, Beech Tree’s Rod Holding, had been the key one.
He won 21-16.
‘I’ve played against Rod a number of times and it’s always been close,’ added Nicholas.
Nicholas stormed into the semi finals after a crushing 21-7 success against Comberbach’s Norman Lovatt, while Holding edged out Tony Malisch (S & E).
Terry Bebbington (Winsford Cons) conquered defending champion John Spruce (Kelsall) in the other last eight encounters.
Nicholas said,’ they say it’s harder to win cup finals the second time, but I think my run this time around was smoother than three years ago’.
Plant ended Bebbington’s run in the semi final after Bernard McLean’s withdrawal had handed him a bye earlier in the afternoon.
Nicholas, who pocketed the £150 first prize, says his trophy will sit on top of a cabinet in the lounge at home. Nor did he have time to celebrate, choosing instead to play in a Wrexham league match soon after leaving Northwich.
‘I won then too’ he added.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2011
Played at Rudheath SSC on Thursday 21st July.
Referees : Bruce Simpson, Val Whyard and Doug Stocking.
Trophy presented by Mrs J. Robinson.
Quarter Finals
Chris Cain (Crewe PO) 14 v 21 Lol Godfrey (Moulton RBL)
Frank Nicholas (Kelsall) 18 v 21 Peter Kelly (Wharton Cons)
John Nicholas (Kelsall) 10 v 21 Gerald Merry (Delamere)
Dennis Leather (Rudheath) 21 v 13 Terry Bebbington (Winsford Cons)
Semi Finals
Lol Godfrey 20 v 21 Peter Kelly
Gerald Merry 21 v 20 Dennis Leather
FINAL
GERALD MERRY 21 v 15 PETER KELLY
Winner £150, Runner up £80, Semi Finals £50.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2013
Played at Rudheath SSC on Thursday 18th July.
Referees : Fred Huxley, Yvette Gregory and Peter Humprheys.
Trophy presented by Mrs J Robinson.
Quarter Finals
Gerald Merry (Delamere) 21 v 9 Phil Reeves (Owley Wood)
Tom Davies (Rudheath) 21 v 16 Alan Bannister (Kelsall)
Alan WIlkinson (Beech Tree) 10 v 21 Terry Bebbington (Wharton Cons)
John Spruce (Kelsall) 21 v 13 Geoff Dale (Beech Tree)
Semi Finals
Gerald Merry 21 v 8 Tom Davies
Terry Bebbington 21 v 12 John Spruce
FINAL
TERRY BEBBINGTON 21 v 15 GERALD MERRY
Winner £150, Runner up £80
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2014
A VICTORY FOR MIDDLEWICH
Northwich Guardian, Wednesday 30th July.
Paul Farrington hopes his triumph in the Joe Robinson trophy final at Rudheath on Thursday can provide a boost for bowls in his home town.
He beat defending champion Terry Bebbington to become the first bowler from Middlewich to win the competition, claiming a maiden individual title at the same time.
‘I’m Middlewich born and bred and have been playing the game for nearly 50 years,’ said Farrington, a member at Middlewich Community Church.
‘I’m made up to be the one who brings back the Cup to the town for the first time. We don’t get much of a mention because we don’t win that often, so I’m hoping this will be good for everybody and perhaps encourage a few to come and join us’.
Farrington proved too strong for Wharton Cons Bebbington in the final, recording a comfortable 21-7 success. Before that, he had seen off the challenge of Castle private’s Mark Winnington in the last four following a quarter final victory against Alan Wilkinson, of the Beech Tree.
Farrington said, ‘It was scorching hot, probably the warmest conditions I’ve ever played in, I was drenched in sweat by the end. I played against the weather as well as my opponents. I was happy to beat Terry, though i didn’t expect to win by such a large margin. I think he suffered in the heat’.
Farrington, a regular for Mid Cheshire B in the Federation national league as well as his club in the Mid Cheshire bowling association’s Premier division, is hoping history repeats itself next season.
Only one bowler, Castle Private’s Gordon Yates, has won back to back editions since the individual merit for veterans started in 1992.
‘I’ll be back to defend the title, absolutely,’ added the 65 year old.
