Shropshire Verti-Drain & Turf Services Mid Shropshire Senior Merit Report

John Breeze retained the Shropshire Vertidrain & Turf Services Mid Shropshire Senior Merit with a clinical display of bowling in the final against the Over 60s Merit winner Paul Beer. He raced 17-2 up in the final after losing the first end, and despite Paul getting back in he couldn’t get a run going and John won 9. In the Semi Finals John beat Chris Lodge 14 after going 9-4 and 16-7 up. Paul had defeated Simon Madeley 18 in a close game, trailing 8-4 early on and then 16-15.

Please find a report below of the other games tonight.

Thank you to Broseley for hosting tonight.

Well done to John on retaining the trophy, only the fourth person to do so behind Jack Driscoll, Andy Stevens and Jamie King.

Full scores are here.

Quarter Finals:

Chris Lodge was 10-2 down to Roy Bradburn but Chris got back in and went 19-13 ahead. Roy pulled it back to 20 across but Chris beat two one yard bowls in the corners to win the game.

John Breeze was 10-7 down on Sian Skelton but went 14-11 up. Sian got back to lead 17-15 and 20-17 but John came back to run out.

Paul Beer was 13-5 down to Les Mumford but then went 19-13 up on a straight mark and held on to win 15.

Simon Madeley was 9-4 up on Darrell Handley then 13-9 down. He got back to lead 18-17 and won 20.

Last 16:

Chris Lodge went 15-8 up on Kate Wainwright and kept this lead to win 15.

Roy Bradburn was 7-0 up and 17-7 ahead of Rob Clarke and won 9.

John Breeze was 9-5 down early to Dave Price and then 12-10 but went 16-12 up and won 15.

Sian Skelton was 7-3 down to Carleen Doody-Millington but then went 10-7 up. She went 16-10 ahead and then 20-14 before winning 15.

Les Mumford went 11-3 up on Nick Mullinder and then 16-9. Nick got back to 16-14 down but Les kicked on again to win 17.

Paul Beer was 9-4 down to Stuart Church but then 11-9 up. He went 19-14 up before Stuart got back to 19 across, however Paul got out in the next two ends.

Darrell Handley from 5-4 up went 14-4 up and beat Johnny Davies 8.

Simon Madeley was 7-3 down against Harry Church but then went 14-9 up. Harry got back to 20 across but Simon got the one he needed.

Shropshire Vertidrain & Turf Services Mid Shropshire Merit Preview

The 2024 Shropshire Vertidrain & Turf Services finals today at Broseley has a quality line-up of 16 of our best players, 5 of them previous winners. Reigning champion John Breeze looks to regain the title he won 12 months ago, and faces Dave Price of Hadley USC first game. Former winner, and sponsor of this competition, Paul Beer aims to win it again but has a tough opener against another former champion in Stuart Church. Stuart’s son Harry won the Division One Averages in 2022, and has team mate Simon Madeley first game. Les Mumford is another former winner in the field, and will have some extra green knowledge from playing on Broseley in the Highley league. Les takes on Hadley USCs former County Junior Merit winner Nick Mullinder first game, while his team mate Chris Lodge is against former finalist Kate Wainwright at the top of the draw. Roy Bradburn is yet another former winner in the field, and has Wrockwardine Wood stalwart Rob Clarke first up. There is an all female clash as we look for the first female winner of this competition, with Carleen Doody-Millington taking on Sian Skelton, who was runner up in the Mixed Doubles last Sunday. Two other team mates collide as Staffordshire’s Darrell Handley takes on John Davies, both playing this year at Shifnal.

It promises to be a cracking night at Broseley with a 6.30 start, the first 5 games going on to speed up the night. There will be scores updated here.

Dress code applies tonight.

There will be food after the finals have finished.

The full draw is below.

1Chris Lodge  Kate Wainwright
2Roy Bradburn  Rob Clarke
3John Breeze  Dave Price
4Carleen Doody – Millington  Sian Skelton
5Les Mumford  Nick Mullinder
6Paul Beer  Stuart Church
7Jonathan Davies  Darrell Handley
8Harry Church  Simon Madeley

Ashton Cup 1st Round Preview

The 1st round of the Ashton Cup sees two teams from two clubs collide. Sir John Bayley C and D meet, with both teams playing on different greens at the club. But when the two St Georges’ teams meet, it will be all on the club’s bottom green. There is a tough tie for the holders Newport D as they meet Wrockwardine Wood C, who finished in 3rd in Division Four last season. Ashton Shield holders Donnington Wood B enter the competition and play Horsehay B, who lost to Newport in last year’s final. Donnington’s C team look to cause an upset against Shifnal C of Division 5. Allscott Heath E have the biggest handicap of all the teams, and aim to cause an upset against newly promoted Highley C. Allscott’s C team take on last year’s Ashton Shield runner-up Much Wenlock B. Two Division 5 teams meet as Sinclair C meet Madeley CC C.

A reminder a player must have played a league game in any team in any league for that club.

1Newport D    Wrock Wood C(+2)AtNewport D
1Wrock Wood C(+2)    Newport DAtWrock Wood C
2Sinclair C(+15)    Madeley CC C(+10)AtSinclair C
2Madeley CC C(+10)    Sinclair C(+15)AtMadeley CC C
3Shifnal C(+11)    Donn Wood C(+28)AtShifnal C
3Donn Wood C(+28)    Shifnal C(+11)AtDonn Wood C
4Donn Wood B(+4)    Horsehay B(+16)AtDonn Wood B
4Horsehay B(+16)    Donn Wood B(+4)AtHorsehay B
5SJ Bayley C(+3)    SJ Bayley D(+19)AtSJ Bayley C
5SJ Bayley D(+19)    SJ Bayley C(+3)AtSJ Bayley D
6Allscott Heath E(+32)    Highley(+12)AtAllscott Heath E
6Highley(+12)    Allscott Heath E(+32)AtHighley
7St. George’s D(+27)    St Georges C(+1)AtSt. George’s D
7St Georges C(+1)    St. George’s D(+27)AtSt Georges C
8Allscott Heath C(+6)    Much Wenlock B(+13)AtAllscott Heath C
8Much Wenlock B(+13)    Allscott Heath C(+6)AtMuch Wenlock B

Monday Night Merit Qualifying Review

We now have our 8 finalists for the 2024 Monday Night Merit on Saturday 6th July.

At the Bowring it was Division 4 Averages Winner Mick Jones who got through by beating Chris Pritchard 18 and Chris Taylor 15. Two Sir John Bayley players got through. Steve Watkins beat Tim Childs 6 and Jamie Pritchard 5, while Eric Reynolds defeated Laura White 17 and Ann Grocott 11. The other qualifier was Des Connelly who got past Gregg Corbett 13 and Lee Taylor 9.

Over at Maddocks it was three Bowring players who qualified. Abi Helliwell beat got past Kevin Edwards 3 and then came through a great game with Emma Chetwood 20, holding off a fightback from Emma from 15-9 down. Stefan Whitehouse defeated Yvonne Kendall 6 and Chelsea Mills 5, while Stuart James beat Brian Jacques 10 and Roger Jones 19, from 17-8 down. The other qualifier was Michael Furness who overcame last year’s runner-up Steve Hendy 9 and Robert Carter 8.

The details for the finals will be released later this week.

Scores from Bowring are here.

Scores from Maddocks are here.

Monday Night Merit Qualifiers Preview

The Monday Night Merit qualifying takes place tonight with 34 players chasing the 8 tickets to finals day on Saturday 6th July. The headline player is former County President Mick Jones, who won the Division Four Averages last season, and takes part at the Bowring. The experienced Chris & Lee Taylor are also there, along with juniors Logan Church and Jamie Pritchard. At Maddocks is last year’s runner-up Steve Hendy looking to go one better, along with other Bowring players like Abi Helliwell. Martin Beddow and Roger Jones aim to use their experience coming up from Highley, while at the other end of the age spectrum sees 7 year old Finley Pessall take part.

Thank you to Denise, Ian and Malcolm for running the sessions tonight.

Scratch time is at 6.30 with the draw done after that.

There is no dress code tonight.

Bowring – Denise Tonks I/C

PlayerClub
Tim ChildsSJ Bayley
Logan ChurchSinclair
Des ConneelyHorsehay
Gregg CorbettHorsehay
Ann GrocottNewport
Ian HalfordHadley USC
Mick Jones ****Newport
Jeanette KinseySinclair
Christopher PritchardSinclair
Jamie PritchardHorsehay
Eric ReynoldsSJ Bayley
Martin SpiresAllscott Heath
Chris TaylorAllscott Heath
Lee TaylorAllscott Heath
Steve WatkinsSJ Bayley
Laura White ****Allscott Heath

Maddocks – Ian Pessall & Malcolm Fletcher I/C

PlayerClub
Martin BeddowHighley
Trish BradburnBowring
Robert CarterNewport
Emma ChetwoodNewport
Kevin EdwardsNewport
Dave EvansEdgmond
Michael Furness ***Shifnal
Abi HelliwellBowring
Steve HendyBowring
Brian JacquesAllscott Heath
Leila JamesBowring
Stuart JamesBowring
Roger JonesHighley
Yvonne KendallAllscott Heath
Chelsea MillsShifnal
Finley PessallAllscott Heath
Jacqui Ward ****Allscott Heath
Stefan WhitehouseBowring

Mixed Doubles Report

Competitions Secretary Rob Burroughs teamed up with Cheryl Caswell to win the 2024 Mid Shropshire Mixed Doubles. They beat Sian Skelton and Scott Harries 7 in the final after going 8-2 and 18-5 up to come out on top of 10 entries.

In the Semi Finals Cheryl and Rob edged past Jackie and Stuart Rutter 20, coming back from 10-3 and 18-12 down. Sian and Scott beat Pauline Wilson and Andy Morgan 15 after being 10-8 down.

The Quarter Finals saw Cheryl and Rob beat Helen Clee and John Clarke 10 from 6 across. Jackie and Stuart defeated Carleen Doody-Millington and Pete Millington 18 after surviving a late fightback from being 20-8 up. Sian and Scott beat Lucy Evans and Tony Garmson 3 after running out from 8-3 up, while Pauline and Andy overcame Shavourne and Paul Osbourne 17, coming back from 11-4 down and running out from 17-14 behind.

The two prelims saw Cheryl and Rob defeat Carol and Steve Faulkner 11 by running out from 14-11 up, and Helen and John got past Lisa Pessall and Nick Davies 19 by recovering from 14-4 behind.

Thank you to Bridgnorth for hosting today, and to all those who entered and helped to measure and mark.

Full results are here.

Thank you to Pauline Wilson and Jackie Rutter for taking the pictures below.

Cheryl Caswell and Rob Burroughs with the trophy.
The Finalists Scott Harries & Sian Skelton and Cheryl Caswell & Rob Burroughs.

Junior Day Report

The Under 18 Merit saw 9 players take part with reigning Champion Dan Corbett retaining the title with a clinical display in the final against Jarrett Cotterill. He raced 9-0 up and then from 12-3 ahead only conceded 1 more.

In the Semi Finals Dan had got past clubmate Jordan Millman 16, running out from 16-15 down on an edge. The other Semi saw Jarrett get past Harris Needham, going 16-8 up from 8-6 down before winning 10.

The Under 15 Merit was won by Rowan Fuller, who finished runner up last season, beat Jarrett Cotterill 18. Jarrett was 10-5 up and then 17-12 but Rowan came back to close the gap at 18-16 and then ran out.

In the Semi Finals Jarrett had beaten Harry Grimston 16 after running out from 16 across, while Rowan defeated Billy Walmsley 14 after going 11-0 and 16-4 up.

Under 18 Quarter Finals:

Jarrett Cotterill was 15-6 down against Rowan Fuller and ran out from 20-15 down.

Harris Needham from 10-6 up only conceded one more against Emily Redden.

Jordan Millman was 9-7 down against Billy Walmsley but then went 13-9 up. Jordan kept this lead to win 15.

Dan Corbett was always in control against Harry Grimston to win 3.

Under 18 Prelim:

Rowan Fuller was always ahead of Finley Pessall to win 8.

Under 15 Merit Quarter Finals:

Jarrett Cotterill was 9-1 up ahead of Finley Pessall before winning 11.

Billy Walmsley had a very close game with Harris Needham and just edged him out 20.

Rowan Fuller was 9-4 down on Emily Redden and then 12-7 down but got back to lead 15-12 and won 16 from 16-15 down.

Thank you to Albrighton Bowling Club for being great hosts today. Thank you to Malcolm Fletcher and County President Brenda Slingo for helping me run the competition, and to our League President Mike Potter for taking the pictures that will follow.

Well done to Dan and Rowan for winning today, and to Jarrett for playing 6 games overall and reaching both finals. Thank you to all 9 juniors for entering and producing a great day of bowls!

Mixed Doubles Tomorrow!

The Mixed Doubles take place tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Bridgnorth.

Entry is £10 per pair, invoiced at the end of the season.

The rule for playing in these Doubles are as follows:

Players on the named list as per rule 21 (c) shall be permitted to play in the Mixed Doubles, but limited to one per pair on that list at the time of the competition.

So one player in the registered 12 of a Premier League club can play in this competition.

Home players are allowed to enter but will owe 2 and the jack each round.

Players can enter on the day or enter with Rob Burroughs on 07901 229623.

There is no dress code.

Bridgnorth are doing bacon baps as well as cheese baps and cake later in the day. There will be tea and coffee and the bar will be open.

Junior Day Tomorrow!

The Junior Day takes place tomorrow at Albrighton Bowling Club at 10 a.m.

The Under 15 and Under 18 Merits will take place on that day. Players who are under 15 on 1st January 2024 can play in both.

It is free entry to both competitions. You can enter on the day or can enter with Rob Burroughs on 07901 229623 beforehand.

Albrighton have kindly offered free food and drink to all Juniors taking part.