BOWLS: Brilliant winter for the Barker brothers as St Neots enjoy huge success
The winning St Neots mixed fours team are, from the left, Jamie Barker, Rachel Tremlett, Michelle Coleman and Robbie Barker. - Credit: Archant
It’s been a wonderful winter for St Neots Indoor Bowls Club.
The successful Men's Pairs duo of Robbie Barker (left) and Keith Masters. - Credit: Archant
Jamie Barker is the star turn down at River Road after joining a select band of bowlers to win multiple major titles.
Barker, 21, captured the National Under 25 Indoor Singles crown to follow up his outdoor triumph in the same age category back in 2015.
He came through five qualifying outings – dropping only one set in the process - to reach the final stages which were held at the City of Ely club.
Barker beat Stamford opponent Stephen Harris in the last 16 before advancing past William Moulton (White Oak) in the quarter-finals.
A tie-break success against Ross Marshall (Wey Valley) at the semi-final stage before Barker brushed aside England team-mate Lee Calver (Ipswich) in straight sets in the final.
And the club enjoyed a catalogue of further successes at the recent Cambridgeshire Indoor Finals at Peterborough IBC when another member of the family took centre stage.
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St Neots bowlers claimed seven of the 11 available trophies during two days of competition with Robbie Barker – Jamie’s older brother at 23 – triumphing in five events!
He teamed up with regular sidekick Keith Masters to lift the Men’s Pairs crown thanks to a 32-7 victory against Cambs & County duo Paul Ferris and Geoff Emery. It was a case of fifth time lucky for the St Neots duo who had lost in four previous finals in this discipline.
Three Barker siblings – Robbie, Jamie and Adam (19) – all featured in the successful Men’s Fours side along with Barry Kitto. They beat Peterborough opponents Ray Keating, Joe Martin, Mick Linnell and Phil Afford 28-18 to win the title for the third time in four years.
Robbie and Adam Barker joined forces to great effect again when, along with Tom Hall, winning the Men’s Triples. They beat Huntingdon trio David Peak, Robert Jepson and Trevor Dighton 21-4 in an all-local final.
The same sibling duo were then part of the victorious Conmy Cup side along with Hayden Moorbey and young talent Mack May, seeing off March 20-12.
And Robbie was back alongside Jamie for Mixed Fours glory when the St Neots quartet, which also featured Rachel Tremlett and Michelle Coleman, pipped March opponents 23-22 in a final-end thriller.
A St Neots success was guaranteed in the Under 25 Singles where Rebecca Moorbey beat clubmate Adam Barker 21-16. Robyn and Tom Hall provided the other triumph in the Mixed Pairs with a 21-13 win against Huntingdon duo Jane Baldwin and John Hignett.
