In the National Singles Championships at Melton Mowbray Norfolk’s four qualifiers failed to progress further than round three. Norfolk & England bowler Gary Best of Bob Carter was unbeaten in the group stages beating Janet Russell of Cambridgeshire and Benny Bass of Devon and drawing with Oxfordshire’s Bob Cummings. Best made light work of the round two stage beating Ed Sawbridge of Northants 10-2. Round three proved to be one step too far though as he was beaten 11-10 by West Mids star Chris Willies. Hempnall’s Neil Davidson started the group stage strongly beating Jenny Pearson of Northants 23-4 and Avon’s Saul Featherstone 12-5. Davidson then lost 13-8 to Cornwall’s Callum Beale but won the group after Beale suffered a surprise defeat against Featherstone. But Davidson exited the competition at the first knock-out round losing 14-7 to Andrew Beard of East Sussex. John Jeffery of Wymondham was in excellent form in the group stages. He won Group 11 after beating Adam Easthope of West Mids 13-7, Chris Jeffery of West Sussex 10-7 and drawing 6-6 with Ian Davis of Worcestershire. But the first knock-out round also proved fatal for him as he found himself on the wrong side of an 18-4 score-line against North Yorkshire’s Bronagh Toleman. Simon Willies of East Tuddenham failed to make it through the group stages after three straight defeats against Somerset’s Dan Winmill, Suffolk’s Derek Adams & Devon’s Sue Young. In the final James Trott of Devon became the new England Singles Champion after beating Danny Langdon 14-7.