It’s been another successful season of competitions for the league, with four new competitions being all successful and hopefully these can be built on for this coming season.
The Under 25 Merit proved to be another difficult year, with the competition having to be moved back a week due to lack of entries. It took place at Maddocks with 6 entries and Dan Corbett came out on top beating Logan Church 11 in the final. Particular thanks that night goes to Martin Gaut for starting the competition for me as I was working.
The Dixon & Driscoll Doubles attracted one of the best entries for years with 33 pairs taking part at Newport. Sonya Lucas & Pete Grimston were the winners defeating the home pair of Phil Emery & Mark Selley 11 in the final.
The Over 60s Merit was down on last year with 23 entries at the Bowring. On a very difficult green it was former Bowring player Roy Bradburn who won beating an excellent Ian Edwards in the final 21-17.
The Shropshire Verti-Drain & Turf Services Senior Merit saw 88 enter, and the final take place at Edgmond in one of the best final 16 line ups our Merit has ever seen. It was Harry Church who won beating Kate Wainwright 8 in the final.
June saw another four competitions ran. The Junior Day saw 15 Juniors take part on a hot day at Broseley. It was a double for Logan Church, beating Salvatori Farruggio 5 in the Under 18 Merit final, and Jamie Pritchard 14 in the Under 15 Merit final.
The first ever Ladies Merit attracted 14 entries, a great start for a new competition. Viv Cooper beat Cheryl Caswell 19 in the final at a tough Sir John Bayley green.
The Mixed Doubles had 18 entries, the most for a long time, on another tough quick green at Sinclair. Sian Skelton & Scott Harries went one better than last year by beating Sally & Jamie King in the final 21-9.
The Monday Night Merit was last night, with an incredible 65 entries, nearly double last year, taking part on four greens with a first ever finals day 16 to take place on Saturday 19th July. This was a great night at Albrighton, and was won by Martin Beddow, beating Lee Taylor 8 in the final.
The Fletcher Junior Doubles was won by Salvatore Farruggio and Harris Needham, coming back against Jack Cooke and Ellis Griffiths to win 20.
The three new competitions were all huge successes. The Junior & Adult Doubles at Sir John Bayley attracted 20 pairs, and was played in a round robin. The main competition was won by Logan & Harry Church with Finley & Ian Pessall winning the consolation competition.
The League Handicap at Bowring attracted 19 entries, and was won by Ben Delves who defeated Craig Christie in the final 15. The consolation was won by Lee Walmsley beating Matt Parton 17.
The Junior Handicap at Bowring was played for by 14 juniors in two groups. Harry Grimston won the main competition, beating Logan Church 21-13 in the final, while the consolation was won by Dan Corbett, defeating Salvatore Farruggio 13.
The Beginners Competition at Allscott Heath had a huge entry of 27, with Stuart Beddoes beating Owen Sheddon 18 in the final. The Consolation was won by Matt Parton defeating Tom Brittland 12.
I would like to thank all those clubs who have hosted a competition this season, they have all done an excellent job in doing so. Thank you to all those who have ran a qualifier or started off a competition for me, including Martin Gaut and Malcolm Fletcher, and Greg Needham (twice!), Helen Clee, Louise Cotton, Michael Cooper, Chris Hayward, Cheryl Caswell, Sue & Mike Humphries and Denise Tonks. Without these people the qualifiers and finals day could not be run so I appreciate all their support, as well as all those who have measured and marked for me. A big thank you though to Brenda Slingo for her help in running the Junior and Beginner’s Competitions this season she has been a big help.
Well done to all our winners this season.
Looking at 2026, and the competition dates seem fine to confirm tonight. The only ones that may change are the Ashton Cup knockout rounds depending on the format of the Monday Night Divisions, and this may change the Harris Cup dates too. The Thursday Night Merit dates may change if there are less than 13 or more than 14 teams in the league.
I will start asking some clubs to host these competitions providing their green is in good condition, hopefully this more usual Winter weather has helped compared to last year’s.
Again if there are any things that can be improved please just let me know, it will be interesting to see if a couple of rules change later but if they are voted in then that’s by the clubs and that will be what the majority of the clubs want.
I wish you all the best for the forthcoming season and hopefully the weather plays ball!