Bowls round-up: Clubs cash in at presentation night
Almost £8,000 in prize money was paid out to honours winners in the Mid Shropshire Bowling League at its presentation dinner, writes Malcolm Fletcher.
Shifnal and Sinclair were the headline-grabbing clubs at the function at the West Stand @ TUFC, which was attended by nearly 140 people, including county president Brenda Slingo.
First-time champions Shifnal also won the inaugural Harris Shield final while Newport boasted Senior Merit winner John Breeze as well as dominating the Monday night scene.
The Fishes won Division Three, retained the Division Four title and the Ashton Cup, while proud skipper Mick Jones topped the Division Four averages as well as winning the Monday Night Merit.
Slingo, who proposed the toast to the league, said: “I was so proud when asked to represent the Mid Shropshire League as County President for 2024 and I believe I am its first female nominee.
“Looking forward to the 2025 season, it is looking food for the league with a number of new teams interested in joining - I wish them well and pray the league will continue to flourish.”
She has agreed to continue as a junior selector - and one of her goals is to retain the Shropshire inter-league crown for under-18 players.
Divisional champions. One: Shifnal A; Two: Trench A; Three: Newport C; Four: Newport D; Five: Horsehay B; Six: Donnington Wood C.
Dennis Lewis Thursday: Castlefields; Afternoon: St Georges; Saturday: Wrockwardine Wood.
Harris Cup: Sir John Bayley; Ashton Shield: Highley.
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Shropshire bowls great Callum Wraight returned to the scene of his last triumph in 2024 to get his 2025 campaign proper going in winning style.
The Castlefields ace shone at Edgmond on Saturday when the stars aligned to give the latest Bandit Bowls one-day competition a real shot in the arm.
“I think a mixture of better weather, the venue and the upcoming open comp on that green made the difference with 25 bowlers there,” said promoter Jamie Brookes. “Callum (who won the Edgmond Winter Shield in December) performed like he does and my thanks go to Michael Cooper for running the day.”
Wraight took the lion’s share of a £175 prize pot by racing to a 21-5 win over Will Childs (Meole Brace) in the final) having ended a run of defeats against Scott Harries by beating the Sir John Bayley star 21-17 in the semi-finals.
Childs beat Ellesmere’s David Cunningham 21-7 at the same stage and the quarter-final scores were: Harries 21 Adrian Owens 7; Wraight 21 Gerald Merry 5; Cunningham 21 Diane Harvey 17; Childs 21 Andy Cooke 19.
Grand finals day for the BB one-dayers is set for Saturday, March 29, and Brookes added: “The coming Saturday we are at Childs Ercall.”
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The company that sponsors Shropshire’s top bowls league has stepped up to support two elite team knockouts.
Taylor Support, backers of the Premier League, have agreed deals to sponsor the British Super Cup for the Arthur Land Trophy and the Free Press Cup, both to the tune of £250.
The Super Cup, won by Castlefields last year, is a four home-four away 31-up knockout for 64 teams from all over Britain.
Shropshire clubs have until March 31 to enter at a cost of £50 and finals day will be in the Greater Manchester area on Sunday, October 12.
Joint organiser Rob Burroughs, from Telford, relaunched the Free Press Cup last year in a five home-five away format and this year the semi-finals and final will be played on the same day at a neutral venue in September.
Entries, limited to 32, again cost £50 and need to be with Burroughs on 07901 229623 by March 31, the organiser adding: “Clubs must be within 50 miles of the post code B70 8AQ.”
Taylor Support is a specialist support provider for children, young people and adults with a disability in Telford and the surrounding areas.
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The people who look after bowling greens in the county can get some expert advice for free later this month.
Shropshire association chiefs have organised a ‘Greenkeepers Community Event’ at Edgmond BC on Thursday, February 27, starting at 7.30pm.
Sponsored by Dennis UK-Sisis – who already back the county’s Best Kept Green competition - it will feature a talk by experienced seeding and re-seeding specialist Matt Gresty.
“The evening is limited to 40 spaces and names should go to county chairman Phil Scott, to be treated on a first in basis, by text to 07946 478299 with name and club,” said a county spokesperson.
