Dominic McVittie has returned from the prestigious Hong Kong Classic tournament with a silver medal, marking a significant achievement for the England international and member of the Spalding Lightning club. McVittie competed in both the men’s singles and pairs events, showcasing his skills in a challenging international arena.
Strong Performance in Pairs Competition
While the singles event did not go as planned, with McVittie facing an early exit, he found success in the men’s pairs alongside teammate Harry Goodwin from Kent. Their competition format included a group stage followed by knockout rounds. The duo excelled, topping their group with six wins and one draw out of eleven matches.
In the quarter-finals, McVittie and Goodwin faced a team from New Zealand, securing a decisive victory in straight sets, 8-5 and 6-4. Their momentum continued into the semi-finals, where they dominated against Malaysia, winning again in straight sets with scores of 12-3 and 13-3. This impressive performance propelled them into the final against Scotland, a rival they were eager to confront.
The final match proved to be a thrilling encounter. Scotland narrowly clinched the first set, winning by a single shot (7-8). The second set saw a back-and-forth battle, but ultimately Scotland took the championship with a score of 9-14, leaving McVittie and Goodwin with a well-earned silver medal.
Success in Domestic Competitions
In addition to McVittie’s international success, the Spalding Lightning club continued to shine in domestic competitions. Their national under 30 open inter-club double rink team achieved a convincing victory against a strong Nottingham outfit, finishing 38 shots to 22. The home rink, featuring Danielle Wild, Ruby Philpott, and Jordan Philpott, dominated their match, winning 20-9.
The away rink, consisting of Dan Mills, Owen Aspinall, and Stephen Harris, faced an early setback, trailing 1-12 before staging a comeback to win 18-13. This victory sets up a national quarter-final match against York scheduled for February 21, 2024.
Meanwhile, the club’s friendly team participated in their second fixture of the season against a team from Peterborough, achieving a solid win by 34 shots (84-50) after winning on three rinks and drawing on the fourth. The standout rink for Spalding was skipped by Ian Stafford, alongside junior member Cooper Wells, Tony Westland, and Paula Lawson, who won 25-12.
Challenges in League Play
Despite their successes, the Spalding Lightning faced challenges in the men’s Over 60s Division One league. Last Thursday, they suffered a defeat at Horncastle, losing by a score of 84 shots to 54. They managed to secure just one rink and two points from the available 14. The winning rink was skipped by Martin Simpson, with Mike Taylor, Paul Turner, and Terry Windsor contributing a win of 17-13.
The team is scheduled to face Scunthorpe in their next match. Additionally, Spalding’s mixed county league team faced Boston in their third Division One match of the season, experiencing a second defeat by 73 shots to 65, again securing only one rink and two points. The victorious rink was skipped by James Teesdale, who, with teammates Gill Haydon, Ben Sharp, and Karen Martin, won 29-9.
In a separate competition, Spalding bowlers Brian Martin, Martin Simpson, and Nick Wilkie represented the Lincolnshire men’s Over 60s inter-county team. Unfortunately, they lost their opening match against Norfolk, finishing just one shot behind at 116-117.
As the season progresses, McVittie and his team continue to strive for excellence both on the international stage and in their local competitions, demonstrating resilience and determination in the face of challenges.
