Callum Wraight braced for another title shot

The Castlefields king, winner of the title in 2012, won his three games to book his place in the last 32 for finals day on Sunday at the Shrewsbury club (11.30am), when a prize fund of £4,450 will be up for grabs.

But the winner of the £50 best senior citizen prize is already known after 74-year-old Potteries ace Barry Booth qualified for the finals again over two days that saw entrants shrug off injuries to take part in the sunshine.

"He's won that prize, just like he did last year when he got to the last eight," said competition organiser Barry Jennings of the Birches Head Hotel bowler.

"Glynn Cookson, twice a past winner, had a cortisone injection in his shoulder on Thursday.

"That proved how desperate he was to take part – and it worked because he qualified. Chris Ward (Victoria Park/Sir John Bayley) didn't think he would be able

to finish his games with a leg injury but he limped on and qualified too.

"Callum said he wasn't at his best but he beat Bill Kinchin 21-18 and then had two 21-11 wins to make it."

Wraight was not the only Shropshire success either, with Hanwood's Phil Lyttle starring on Saturday, Jennings declaring; "He always plays a good game to be fair."

Hanmer's reigning British Junior Merit champion Andy Armstrong also raced his way to finals day along with Paul Evans of Premier champions the Bayley, both catching the eye of Jennings with impressive displays.

Woore's Alan Bailey was another qualifier alongside Hanwood big gun Greg Smith of Warwick & Worcester fame and Castlefields signings Elliot McGuinness and Steve Freer.

Other qualifiers were Darren Plenderleith (Greville Arms), Ryan Prossser (The George), Ben Harris (Great Barr), Kirk Stevens (Moor Lane) and Mark Jones (Cunliffe, Wrexham).

"I just hope the weather stays as good for finals day because that will really make it for me," added Jennings.