After a break in fixtures due to the extreme heat the Bears resumed their friendly fixtures by welcoming Northamptonshire to Stoke BC. Despite winning winning three rinks and drawing one the Bears went down to a 108-89 loss.

Mick Sharpe (Rugby Railway), Match Secretary Mike Hall, County Secretary Michael Jackson and Past President Nigel Hewitson were level after seven ends but dropped a single and a five to trail at the midway point. A good spell by the Bears that included a four, three, two and trio of singles gave Hewitson and co a six shot lead with three ends left. A treble for the visitors was cancelled by a four but a last end two cut the lead, final score 21-16. County President Graham O’Donohue, Peter Coote (Stratford), Steve Bird (Avenue Coventry) and Les Anscombe (Royal Leamington Spa) trailed by one after seven ends but saw that increase to three with four ends left. A treble, double and single took Anscombe’s rink ahead and a last end single could only knock one off the lead, the Bears successful 14-12.

Colin Thomas (Avenue Leamington), Richard Kilgour (Jaguar), Peter Mabbs (Matrix) and David Vowels (Executive) raced away to a five shot lead after eight ends but the scores were level with four ends to go. A brace of singles and a double took Vowels and co ahead and they held on to win 13-12. Steve Martin (Executive), Paul Ashbourne (Warwick Boat Club), Des Workman (Kings Heath) and Rick Hayes (Three Spires) were five down after six ends but recovered to lead by six with four ends left. The visitors took seven shots to lead by one heading into the final end but a shot earned a draw for Hayes’ rink, score 17-17.

Peter Aughton (Caldecott Park), Barry Connolly (Avenue Leamington), Denis Ward (Southam) and Paul E Smith (Royal Leamington Spa) were five up at the halfway point but six down with three ends left. Smith and co took the next end with a single but fell to a 12-20 loss. Ivan Vernon (Three Spires), Simon Packwood (Kings Heath), Ken Orton and Jerry Horne (both Royal Leamington Spa) dropped back to back fives but were only four down after nine ends. A second half that saw the Bears pick up just three more shots meant that Horne and co lost 31-12.