**Sayer nearly wins singles championship**
In the National Championships in Sun City Center (Nov 4-8, 2014), NED single rep. Dick Sayer had a chance to win it all with a victory in his final scheduled match against Max Cavender of the Central Division. He didn't manage to win that but was still alive needing to win in a playoff against Andy Klubberud of the Northwest Division. He fell behind early but battled back as he did in nearly every game he won in this tournament. at 19-17 down he was laying three shots when Klubberud played the shot of the game to burn the end and save Sayer going up for the first time in the game and only one point away from a comeback victory. Klubberud then scored a two in the next end to win 21-17. The Men's Pairs team of Patrick Duffy and Burl Roller, the women's pairs team of Eileen Luba and Rusty Hein and Women's singles player Michele Arculli all finished 3-4. It was a fine showing for Team Northeast!

Duffy does it again

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Tournament director Colin Smith reports that nineteen bowlers turned out at Dupont LBC on June 7, 2014 for the third annual Ron Buck Singles on what was a great weekend for bowling.
 Patrick Duffy ( 6 wins ) earned the championship with a finals victory over Bob Patterson ( 6 wins ).  Bud Fickley ( 5 wins ) defeated Ed Reynolds ( 5 wins ) in a playoff for 3rd place.
Betty-Lou Buck was on hand to present our winner with the plaque.
Congratulations to Patrick and all who played with a special thanks to Dupont for hosting the event.

First annual Skip Arculli pairs won by Patterson/Smith team

Bob Patterson (left) lead for Colin Smith (right) in the first annual Skip Arculli Pairs, a Northeast Division Open event.  The only undefeated team was presented the plaque by Hall of Famer, Skip Arculli who, as should be evidenced by him not presenting the plaque to himself, did not compete in the two day event.*
The first annual Skip Arculli Pairs was played at Essex County LBC on May 17-18, 2014 with 16 teams. The event was started after a brief discussion at last years board meeting about whether to continue the Paul Motta Pairs or retiring the full plaque and naming a new tournament. It was a no-brainer and the board was sort of surprised at itself for not having done this years ago. 

For those of you who do not know Skip, he is one of the great American champions having won countless US and National titles as well a a gold medal in World Bowls. His Hall of Fame bio reads:

Skip Arculli won the World Pairs Championship (gold medal) at Aberdeen, Scotland in 1984 (w/George Adrian). He also played on the U.S. World Bowls teams in 1988 (New Zealand) and 1996 (Australia). Skip appeared in nine United States Championships events representing the Eastern Division and holds four titles. He had Singles victories in 1978, 1981 and 1995; and won the U.S. Pairs crown in 1983 (w/J. Candelet). His other appearances in the U.S. Championships were in 1979, 1981 and 1990. A National Open "Triple Crown" champion, Skip won the Open Singles in 1981, the Open Pairs in 1978 and 1983, and the Open Triples in 1983 and 1985. He was named National Open "Bowler of the Tournament" in 1978 (tie), 1981 and 1983. Skip represented the United States in various major international competitions, including the Asia-Pacific Championships in 1993 (Victoria, BC). Born in Hong Kong, becoming a U.S. citizen in 1973, Skip served on the ALBA National Council 1984 to 1988, during which time he also managed the ALBA Memorial Foundation portfolio.More Northeast Hall of Fame info can be found here  http://www.bowlsnortheast.com/hall-of-fame.html

The Arculli family joined the festivities and with 16 teams attending it was one of the largest turnouts in recent years to pay tribute to our great champion.

Complete results are:
1st : 4 wins & tie - Colin Smith & Bob Patterson
2nd: 4 wins & 1 loss - Patrick Duffy & Burl Roller (after playoffs)
3rd : 4 wins & 1 loss - Bob Urquhart & Loraine Urquhart
4th : 4 wins & 1 loss - Michele Arculli & Frances Shen
* Skip played in the first game for a few ends with his daughter Michele. He was all over the jack and when he left the game he and Michele were up 9-1.
Learn more about the Arculli family in this feature article in Inside Bowls!
The Aculli father and daughter champions article in Inside bowls is on pages 44-47. Check it out. After reading the article consider coming to the first Skip Arculli Pairs tournament in Essex County NJ May 17 and 18. Itsd an artificial surface and as fast as we anywhere in the south or west!!!!
http://insidebowlsmag.com/april2014/index.html
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Colin Smith presents Monica, Skip's wife, flowers for, as Colin said (paraphrased) 'putting up with him for all these years.'
Skip rolled out the ceremonial first bowl.
Skip thanked everyone for honoring him with this tournament.
The champs shake hands and give each other hug after the last game against Bill and Annette Borowitz of Greenwich LBC. (It could've been worse Bob if Colin saw how the Borowitz team said good game at the end, you only got a hug!)
View more photos from the event by NED outstanding unofficial photographer Tee Adams here! 
http://videoboss.smugmug.com/Sports/Lawn-Bowling/NED-Arculli-Pairs-5-17-14/40946603_nPQZcX#!i=3259682963&k=wwNKHpB Thanks Tee!