With just three rinks entered into the joint Norfolk Mixed Fours County Championship/National Mixed Fours qualifier at Hingham, the lowest number on record, it seems that the event failed to raise much enthusiasm among bowlers. It is certainly unusual to see no players of either Bob Carter or Wymondham choosing to take part, probably Norfolk’s two strongest club sides. Whether this indicates concern among some bowlers about playing in general in these difficult times, or just waning interest in a National Championship event where even victory fails to secure an England place, is a matter for conjecture. New Norfolk Competition Secretary Mike Smail was in charge of a Norfolk County Championship Competition for the first time so the low entry at least gave him an easy introduction to the job. The first game saw Mike Smail, Jan Smail, Gill Coleman & Tony Ottewell of Forncett make a strong start beating Bob Oatway’s rink 12-4 over twelve ends. David Lamb’s rink, comprising of him, Ryan Fox and Donna Lamb of Halvergate with Thorpe Marriott’s Jenny Walker, started as favourites and confirmed their status in the second game beating Bob Oatway’s rink 13-7. In the third and final game of the round robin England international David Lamb skipped his rink to a 16-3 win against Smail’s four to lift the Norfolk County Mixed Fours title with Smail’s rink as runners-up. The National Mixed Fours are scheduled to take place on Saturday 5th March 2022 but with the low entry it is possible that only Lamb’s rink will get a place unless the entry numbers are low in other counties as well.
Ryan Fox, David Lamb, Donna Lamb & Jenny Walker - winners
Tony Ottewell, Gill Coleman, Mike Smail & Jan Smail - Runner-Ups