The opening League fixtures of 2026 are still a week away, but the first Mid Shropshire title goes on the line tonight – Thursday 26th March.
It’s the Thursday Night Merit with eight qualifiers, including husband and wife Stuart and Jackie Rutter, heading to St Georges to contest the finals on the club’s bottom green from 7pm.
Neither of the past winners – Peter Farmer and Josh Bradburn – feature but there is 2022 Senior Merit winner Stuart Church.
Stuart, pictured receiving that trophy from competition sponsors Paul Beer and Mike Humphries, beat his young son and Sinclair clubmate Logan to qualify last Thursday in a competition that was not played last year.
Tonight’s first round draw – Jackie Rutter v Carleen Doody-Millington, John Lea v Josh Cotton, Stuart Church v Stuart Rutter, Michael Cooper v Pete Grimston.
It’s the start of a busy pre-season spell on the local scene with tomorrow (Friday) night seeing the finals of the Newport Fours and the Allscott Heath Winter League prize-giving.
Then on Saturday it’s the finals of the Shifnal Spring Open with a 5.30pm start for a last 16 that includes Sinclair’s Peter Farmer and Steve Reeves of Horsehay.