January 28, 2008:          Andy James and Alex Hamilton, the organizers of the PTBC (Premier Tenpin Bowling Club) English Open, announced today that they have joined hands with Ebonite International to become the name sponsor of the 2008 English Open.  The Ebonite English Open will be held at Lakeside Superbowl in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England from December 3 through 7, 2008.

For years, the British Open, was one of the most well organized and well attended events in European Bowling.  Upon its demise several years ago, Andy, Alex, and a group of concerned players and proprietors met to organize a replacement event.  The English Open was first held in 2006 under the sanction of the BTBA.  However, their stated goal from the very start was to become a Major event on the European Bowling Tour.  This goal was accomplished in 2007 as The English Open became an EBT sanctioned Challenger event.

The EBT is a sanctioning body that sets and maintains standards for a group of scratch singles tournaments held throughout Europe.  The 2008 schedule is comprised of 18 events to be held in most major European bowling countries to include Finland, France, Italy, Holland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Catalonia, Turkey, Belgium, Slovenia, Austria, and England.  The 2008 tour also includes its newest and largest event, the Qatar International Open.

Andy and Alex said that they had been looking for a partner in the English Open that brought high visibility, stability, and promotional abilities.  It was decided that Ebonite fit the bill.  “We are looking forward to working with Ebonite and their marketing staff to insure that the English Open continues to grow in stature and prize fund.  Our goal now is to achieve Major status with the EBT.  With the help of Ebonite, we feel that this goal is within range.”

For their part, Ebonite’s Mike Quitter said that, “Andy and Alex have been two of the stalwarts in bowling on the European scene for many years.  They have done wonders for this tournament in the short two years of its existence.  We are hoping to help to make the 2008 event one to be remembered and to work with the committee on achieving their goals.”

We are pleased to announce that the B&P Fabrications Bruce Ford Memorial Doubles will take place at AMF Ilkeston on the 23rd and 24th June.

The PTBC Bruce Ford Memorial Doubles is being held at AMF Ilkeston on 23rd and 24th June. Sponsored by B+P Fabrications with a Masters section sponsored by UKtenpin.com, the tournament consists of 4 games qualifying with re-entries allowed. The entry fee is £40 per team and there is an expected priizefund of £2400 based on 60 entries in each division. Bowlers with a combined average of 380 or less may enter the '380 Handicap' division. Handicap will be 100% of the difference between the bowlers entering average and 220. The top eight individual bowlers from each division will qualify for the UKtenpin.com Masters final. The Scratch final will take preference for any bowler who may finish in the top eight in both divisions. The UKtenpin.com Masters will be a seven game round robin with a position round game to finish. Scores will revert to zero with bowlers in the Handicap final receiving their handicap throughout. There will be a 30 pins bonus for a win and 15 pins for a draw. The bowler with the highest pinfall including any bonus will be declared champion.

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The first match of the second day of the PartyPoker.net World Tenpin Masters saw two debutants in action. Darren Cundy of England, the only player who qualified for the competition by winning the PTBC Masters, was up against Badr Al Sheikh of Saudi Arabia. The winner of this match would be up against Australian Jason Belmonte in the second quarter-final on Sunday afternoon. Once again the World Tenpin Masters had proved extremely popular and in the audience were four people who had travelled over from Hungary especially for the competition. On the first day there had not been many close matches but after the first of the two games the score stood at 218-217 in Al Sheikh's favour.

Both players threw three strikes in a row at the start of the second game in what was becoming a classic encounter where one mistake could prove critical. In the fifth frame Al Sheikh left an opportunity as he only registered a spare and Cundy's subsequent strike put him in front. However, Cundy then produced a shot similar to Al Sheikh's as the match became close again. When Cundy only hit a spare that was not enough as Al Sheikh hit a superb 274 in the second game to seal a 492-472 win. "It was my first match and every ball counted," said Al Sheikh. "It's difficult when you have to strike every shot and difficult when the line changes so fast." Cundy added: "I would've taken 472 before I bowled, but he played well - we both did. It went all the way to the tenth frame of the second game. I've enjoyed it. It's a very different environment to what we normally play in and it was very hot." Cundy was the highest scoring first round loser of the competition, taking home $1000 USD. Story courteousy of www.worldtenpinmasters.com - Photo Lawrence Lustig