
The Senior Bowling Championships 2025 will be held in Leipzig, Germany from 24th January until 2nd of February 2025.
Livestreaming – https://bowlstream.net/livestreaming/esc2025/
Teams
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Reports
Over the last few months our Senior Athletes have been in training for the upcoming ESC championships and confidence is high. Two UK Tenpin Hall of Famers in the squad and a lot of talent throughout the teams. A returning Angie Brown was a Gold medalist in doubles with Gaye McCully in Aalborg in 2023.
A New addition to the Women’s team sees Sally Wilson back in an england shirt after 33 years. The last time, she was a Trios Gold and Team Silver medallist at the 1992 European Youth Championships in Brussels, Belgium and in 2024 won the BTBA Nationals Senior Singles title. Add Senior World Championships double medallist Lynn Squibb and the 2024 Senior Triple Crown Masters champion Marsha Dalley to complete a strong Women’s team.
For the Men, 2024 BTBA Nationals singles champ and Triple Crown masters winner Matt Trotter together with Hall of Famer Steve Thornton who won the 2024 senior trials. To complete the Men’s lineups we have the experienced Paul Loberman and returning from injury the talented Alan Meades.
Men’s Singles
The Men were first up for Singles on Sunday with the Women playing Monday. Alan Meades and Matt Trotter on the lanes in the morning. A tough start on the fresh across the house but one or two top name lefties shooting the bigger games. Alan with 156,179 and 170 and Matt with 205,207 and finding a shot for 278 and up to third place after three games.
The second half of the block saw Alan finding some area and much improved with a 233,205 and fantastic 257 to pull back to 1200 par for the block as Matt added 222,216 and 196 for 1324 and just pipped to the top four at the end in fifth place.
Next up on Sunday afternoon, it was squad B’s turn on German lanes with Paul Loberman and Steve Thornton. A good start on the fresh oil for both as Paul hit games of 205,224 and 213 and Steve with 236,200,236 and pacing the top four overall with a 224 average at the halfway point. Further games of 167 and 185 saw Paul drop off a little but Steve still going strong with 211 and 236 yet again. This left him a pin off the cut average of 224 for the top four and a good final game around 220 needed to make the finals. A last game of 207 for Paul and 1201 overall as Steve kept us waiting until the tenth frame and then some as he rolled a 209 to tie the fourth spot on 1327. Sadly fifth place on the last game 214-208 in favour of German Bodo Koniecny.
Women’s Singles
Monday saw the Women’s turn for Singles and up first for Team England was Sally Wilson and Marsha Dalley. In a lower scoring squad overall and a few nerves Sally opened with 141 but much improved in game two with 202 then 173 in the third. Marsha opening with 159 and easing up to 163 and 166 at the halfway stage.
Things got even better or both as Marsha hit 188, 189 and 170 to end with 1032 and Sally fired 212 and 245 which took her up to fourth place then 174 to end with and a well recovered 1159.
Monday afternoon saw Lynn Squibb and Angie Brown on the lanes for Team England and again, a tricky fresh oil gave Lynn 173, 156 and up to 189 as Angie opened with 153 before a step up to 189 and 202.
The second half of the block and both struggled to find the scoring pace needed. Lynn with 162 and 163 and Angie with 179 and 184. Despite their best efforts, the higher games were just not yet coming. Between splits and the odd unforced errors, there were moments when strikes began to flow for both going into the last game. Lynn finishing with a 158 for 1001 overall. Angie ending with 182 and 1087.
Men’s Doubles
Tuesday was doubles day for the Men and first up for Team England were Matt Trotter and Steve Thornton. Both had bowled well in the singles and hopes were high for a top four placing in qualifying. Things going well at the start with 433 and 403 but then a slight dip to 375. Further games of 435 and 439 put our duo in fourth with a game to go. Matt on fire with games of 221,232,205,255 and 224 so far as Steve opened well with 212 before dropping to 171, 170 and 180 before recovering for 215. A final game of 420 and Matt with 1342 as Steve added 215 for 1163 and an overall of 2505 and sadly in fifth place.
It was Paul Loberman and Alan Meades turn in the doubles in the afternoon and Paul opening brightly with a 222 and 197 before tailing away with 165 then back up with a pair of 185’s, Alan with 166,174,203,158 and 184 as we hit the last game. Team games so far of 388,371,368,243 and 269. Paul finding some strikes in the last game for 224 and 1178 while Alan hit a final game of 200 for the highest team game of the block with 424, Alan ending with 1085 and overall doubles score of 2263.
Women’s Doubles
Womens Wednesday in the doubles started at 10am local time with Lynn Squibb and Marsha Dalley up first for Team England. Marsha flying early on with turkey spare and fourbagger and on for a 279 as Lynn was finding a shot and just an open and a split open slowing her pace. 165 for Lynn and a great 247 opener for Marsha and team game of 412. further games of 157 and 169 for Lynn and 196 and 173 for Marsha took us to the halfway point and doubles games of 353 and 339 and sitting nicely in third place. The fourth game saw Lynn beginning to shine and hitting a fourbagger for 220 but splits troubling Marsha for 148 and game of 368. Lynn added 167 and 185 for 1063 and Marsha with 176 and 211 for 1151 and an overall of 2214 at the end.
Sally and Angie followed in the afternoon and 378 to start with followed by 247 and 333. Sally with games of 181,190 and 191 and Angie struggling a little after a bright start of 197 with further games of 157 and 142 at the midway point. 338 and 337 for the next two games with Sally on 153 and 174 while Angie added 185 and 163. The pair left the best till last as Sally fired 213 and Angie with 233 for 443. Sally ending with 1102 and Angie with 1077 and doubles overall of 2179.
Men’s Team
Thursday at ESC and day one of the team event. Games 1-3 starting with the men at 9.00am local. Paul Loberman lead us off and but for a chopped six count in frame seven, hit an opener of 212. Alan Meades with an open and split open found form at the end to hit a turkey then split spared for 189. Matt Trotter was sparing away then an open but bounced back with a fourbagger into the tenth for 213. Steve Thornton closed through the game with an early double and a latter turkey and ending with 208 and team game of 822 and sitting in fourth place.
Game two and Paul was flying with front six, Alan after an open frame hit a turkey, Matt struggling a little over the first few frames but Steve joining Paul with the front six also but as Paul’s run ended, Steve’s continued to seven in a row but sadly ended there with an open in he eighth. Matt was back on strikes though and looking like a good team game as we entered the final frame. Paul with 241, Alan adding a well recovered 214, Matt finished with 169 and Steve hitting more strikes at the end for 254 and team game of 878 and up to second.
Game three was going well but for two spilts from Alan but everyone else closed over the first five frames, Paul pacing 238,Alan 213, Matt 277 and Steve 250 if all were to strike out. That was not to be despite a turkey from Alan but Paul did end with 192 for a good 645. Alan with 178 for 581, Matt with 194 and 576 and Steve with 189 and fine 651. The last game of the day being 753 and overall of 2453 and in fourth place.
Our men were sitting in fourth place overnight and one foot in the door of the finals but only two pins ahead of the fifth place team and that team was Finland and one of the Finns, a name most UK bowlers would know as a former British Open champion, Teemu Raatikainen back in the seniors. Ahead were Malta and Sweden by just over 40 pins and someway further were Italy. This was certainly not going to be a given and our boys would need to fight for every pin. But for a couple of split opens from Paul, the first five frames were mostly strikes and spares but no doubles yet. Another split open for Paul in the sixth but still all closed elsewhere. Finland were going well and looking like passing team England so some of these strikes needed to turn into doubles and runs to keep them out. Alan heard the call and hit a turkey up to the ninth but no others and at the end, Paul finished with a disappointing 148 and Alan added 203 after a split in the tenth. Matt with 194 and Steve with a double in the tenth 213 and game of 758 and now in 5th place and 60 pins behind Malta.
Work to do now in game five and all closed in the first frame with Paul on a spare and Alan, Matt and Steve all striking. Malta could be caught as they only rolled 20 more pins in the previous game and just one big game would shake up the standings going into the last game. By the sixth frame we had a few splits but Steve going well on a 280 pace with strike spare and fourbagger and still hopes for a big team game. Paul with just one open over the first eight frames and Alan now adding a turkey of his own as matt had just the two split opens and Steve still flying at the bottom on six in a row now. Paul was back with a double in the ninth with Alan following and looking like a better game here towards the end. Matt joining the striking party in the ninth and Steve making it seven in a row. A big finish needed in the tenth and Paul ending with a spare and 188. Alan adding another strike for a five bagger and spare for a good 222. Matt with 184 and Stevie T doing Stevie T things with nine in a row then ten then eleven for an awesome 280 and team game of 874 and back into fourth by just seven pins.
One game to go and a real chance here for a medal and all closed in the first frame with Steve still striking and technically on 12 in a row now. As Paul added a double both Alan and Matt opened in the third and Steve’s run of strikes ending at 13 and a double and spare for this last game so far. Paul then hitting a turkey then Alan and Matt following with a strike each and Steve completing the connect four in frame four. Paul again striking for a turkey in the fifth as Matt doubled and the other two spared and things looking promising especially when he added another for a turkey into the seventh frame but an open from Alan caused a pause for thought. Malta were going well but behind England at this point and our boys needed to stay calm going into the final frames. A split open from Paul in the eighth then a split from Alan and panic button in range. A split then followed for Matt but Steve managed to stop the rot with a strike. Another open for Paul in the ninth and this could slide away quickly if not stopped. Alan striking, Matt sparing and Steve hitting an important double rounded out the ninth frame. Paul ending with 203 for 1184, Alan with making a turkey in the tenth and finishing with 180 and 1186. Matt with 200 and 1154 and to round us out Steve with 218 and a great 1362. Team game of 801 and overall of 4886 and though to the finals as Malta hit 783.
We made it to the team finals and a medal no matter what but Gold was in sight and just Italy to get past first. That would not be easy, Italy are a great team at all levels and a good score needed to beat them. Paul, Alan and Steve all starting off with a strike as Matt Spared and the Italians with one open gave us an early lead. All closed in the next two frames also as Paul hit a double then Alan as Matt and Steve spared. Italy going well now too though and Alessandro Delcarmine on the front four. Paul Loberman flying now with strike spare turkey as Italy hit a split and opened and Delcarmine’s run of strikes ended in the fifth frame. Alan with a spare, Steve and Matt striking and a lead beginning to form. This could simply come down to open frames and so far we were clean and Italy had opened again for a third time. Paul leaving a six count but sparing took us into the sixth and Alan struck, Matt spared and Steve also sparing. Italy beginning now to strike. England around 30 pins up and still clean and an important double from Alan in the seventh then Matt and Steve following. Strikes needed as the Italians shot three doubles in the seventh and looking a lot better. Paul with a washout in the eighth and our first open frame but covered nicely by Alan with another strike for a turkey. Matt and Steve with spares but importantly the Italians had stopped striking but for Maurizio Celli who hit a turkey and we were all level. All closed for Italy in the ninth and a split open for Steve. Paul ending the game with 193 and Alan with 226, Matt with 195 and Steve hitting a Turkey in the tenth for 197 and 810. Italy ending with 827 and Bronze for Team England.
Women’s Tea
The women were up next in the afternoon and all going well over the first five frames bar the odd split open. All four hitting doubles with Marsha and Angie hitting fourbaggers and hope for a good first game. Sally firing another double near the end but a couple of opens from Lynn and Marsha keeping the score lower. Lynn finishing with 160, Marsha with 177. Sally shooting 203 with just one split open and Angie with 202 and team game of 742 for a steady start and in fourth place but only two pins off second place.
The second game started with some early splits but spares and strikes for the most part. Lynn then finding a run of four strikes as Sally and Angie were also hitting a few strikes now but a split and two opens hindering Marsha. Lynn with an improved 182 and Marsha dropping slightly to 163. Sally again with just the one split open ended with a split again for 170 and Angie also with just one split open also split n the tenth for 178 and team game of 693 and down to fifth but only by two pins.
Game three and splits still causing issues but enough spares and strikes to cover as we hit the midway point and pacing around 700. The doubles were not yet comig but mostly closed frames leading into the seventh frame. Marsha back and firing a turkey in the latter stages as the others were sparing but a third split for Angie slowing her progress. at the end, Lynn finished with 158 and a 500 series as Marsha added an improved 199 for 539. Sally almost shooting a closed game but for a split in the tenth and 179 and 552 as Angie ended with 157 and 537. A team game of 693 and overall of 2128.
Day two of the team event started with the women back for games 4-6 and Team England with a bit of work to do and some 83 pins behind fourth place. Not the greatest start with three split opens and three unforced errors but some bright moments as Sally opened with a turkey and Angie a double in the first five frames. At the end of the game, Lynn hit a split and spared for 161 with Marsha on 148. Sally and Angie were going well still with Sally finishing with 198 and Angie 190 and team game of 697 and now chasing 150 pins for fourth place..
Game two started with two opens but closed in the next frame and one big game could shoot the team up the standings. Things going better now for Lynn and shooting a double as Marsha was closed over five frames. Sally with a split open and Angie struggling a little with a split and open. Still time to turn this one around though. Sally in with a shot in the masters and Angie not given up hope on a place also but would need to start striking, fast as she was 100 pin adrift of the 24. A split again for Lynn in the eighth frame but Marsha hitting a double as she too could still see a masters place and still closed for the game. Sally hitting a strike and Angie sparing leading into the final two frames. Lynn ending with 179 and Marsha with 195 then Sally with 158 and Angie with a split at the end and 137 and hopes all but dashed. A team game of 669 and playing for masters and pride now.
Game three for Marsha had to go big, 100 pins off the 24 and for Sally, she was only just inside the cut and safe by just seven pins. Hopes fading in the very first frame as Marsha opened but Sally sparing as Angie opened and Lynn spared. Marsha back though with a double and Lynn also hitting a double with Sally still sparing over four frames. Marsha made it a turkey as the fightback continued into the fifth frame and Angie now striking and hitting a double. Marsha’s run ended with an open frame so it was looking like Sally was now our only female hope in the masters and still closed through six frames but could do with a double or more to be sure. Lynn bowling much better in this game hitting another double but Marsha struggling again with an open in the seventh. Still the strikes not coming for sally and seven spares in a row. Lynn now hitting a turkey and Marsha following with a strike but an open for Sally and this could be tight in the masters. At the end, Lynn saved the best until last with 226 for 1066 overall, Marsha with 166 for 1048 and Sally with 172 for 1080 and vervous wait to see if it was enough. Angie ending with a double in the tenth for 191 and 1055. A team game of 755 and overall of 4249.
Masters
Not the greatest starts in game 1 as Matt and Steve both opening in the second frame and advantage to Italy and Finland. The Italia promptly split I the third and opened as Matt spared and all level. Steve behind though with the Finn hitting a turkey But Steve back with a double after the open. At the halfway point Matt still not struck and the Italian with a double as Finland split open Steve spares and 10 down. Maurizio Celli added a turkey and game 1 was slipping away from Matt. Steve nip and tuck with the Finn but still down in the sixth frame by 11pins. A split for the Italian and door back open for Matt and just 10 down now. Steve and Petteri sharing spares again and 13 down now. Matt and Marizio striking in the ninth but a split in the 10th and Matt for one game down 171-187. Steve and Petteri hitting doubles and Steve then making it a turkey and pressure on the Finn but not quite enough and the Finn taking the game 212-209.
Game two and all or nothing needed to level the matches and advance. Matt 20 pins down after the first five frames and striking on one lane and splits on the other but did spare one. Steve all level with Petteri after three frames then finding a double and an advantage at last but then split open and advantage lost and jut 9 pins up. A split open from the Italian in the seventh and Matt was just two pins behind but then hit a split himself and it was slipping away. Petteri Salonen with a double as Steve struck in the sixth and level in the fifth frame. Matt with a double in the tenth for pride and 180-197 and losing 2-0. Still level in the other match but a strike from the Finn and spare from Steve in the eighth gave Finland a pin advantage and on strike then hitting a double as Steve struck also. This was a tenth frame shootout now and a nightmare split for Petteri opened the door and Steve doubled to level the match 216-200.
Game three and a great start for Steve with a double as Petteri spared and struck. Steve with a split open in the third but back with a turkey as Salonen had extended his strikes to five in a row. Steve made it a fourbagger, Petteri made it a six pack and this could be a classic. Another nightmare split for Steve in the eighth and this was suddenly slipping away fast. Salonen adding another for seven in a row and all but advancing. Nine spare in the ninth for Steve and the Finn now on eight in a row and it was over. Salonen taking the game and match 269-222 and 2-1.
Results
Results will appear here during the championships
Results – https://bowlingresults.info/esc/2025/
Live Scoring – https://livescore.lanetalk.com/livescoring/15c41235-a2e5-11e9-9292-0637e245fe12
Livestreaming – https://bowlstream.net/livestreaming/esc2025/
Womens Team Finals
Women’s Team Qualifying Top 5
Men’s Team Finals
Men’s Team Qualifying Top 5
Women’s Doubles Finals
Women’s Doubles Qualifying Top 7
Men’s Doubles Finals
Men’s Doubles Qualifying Top 7
Women’s Singles Finals
Women’s Singles Qualifying Top 10
Men’s Singles Finals
Men’s Singles Qualifying
Team England Results
Singles
Doubles
Team
All Events
Men
Women