More League history will be made tomorrow – Monday 8^th May – when the first finals of the new Monday Divisions Merit are played.

Wellington’s Sir John Bayley Club from 6pm is the place to be as 8 bowlers who play primarily in divisions four, five and six on Monday evenings will battle it out for a trophy donated by League President Mike Potter.

It will be the second trophy donated in two years by Mike (PICTURED) after he so generously gave the League a cup to go to the runner-up in the Senior Merit.

The historic first finals field includes two bowlers each from Bowring, Newport and Shifnal and former county junior Ellie Wall, a member of the Wrockwardine Wood squad that won the British Ladies club championship again last month.

 Launching the new competition is one of the latest initiatives from the League’s officers as they keep trying new ideas aimed at moving Mid Shropshire bowls forward, rather than standing still.

An entry of 45 in last Monday’s qualifiers was highly encouraging –  and means organiser Rob Burroughs has been able to produce a prize money structure that sees all eight finalists rewarded for their efforts, the winner to receive £55.

Finals night draw – see Competition News

It’s going to be a sad day . . . the funeral of former League secretary, president and life member Jeff Hutchinson finally takes place tomorrow – Friday 5th May – at 3.30pm at All Saints Parish Church in Wellington.

It will be followed by cremation at Telford Crematorium at 4.30pm and then a wake at the Sir John Bayley Club, where Jeff spent many happy hours with his many bowling friends.

The Bayley’s A and B teams have called off their Friday games, as many of their players want to attend the funeral, and the club’s Premier League side have reversed their fixture and will now travel to face Burway in Ludlow.

As a mark of respect to this legend of Mid Shropshire and indeed county bowls, the League have requested that all teams hold a minute’s silence before their games on Friday night as a final tribute to Jeff.

It is the very least we can ask for to mark the funeral of a great servant of our game. RIP Jeff.

And in a fitting twist, the No.1 green at the Bayley will be the venue for the first finals of the new Monday Night Merit on 8^th May, starting at 6.30pm.

An encouraging 40-plus bowlers entered qualifying sessions at Sinclair, Madeley CC and Trench – and the list of finalists can be seen under Competition News.  

The waiting is almost over . . . top flight action in the League returns tomorrow – Friday 28^th April.

And the big question is can Horsehay retain the first division championship?

Having ended an 85 year wait to finish top of the pile again, the “Hoss’ open their defence of the title away against promoted Allscott Heath with new signing, Merit runner-up John Roberts, expected to feature.

Last year’s second division winners Shifnal are one of the teams everyone has been talking about in the countdown to the 2023 season.

The signings of Paul Beer, Alison Cotton and Pauline Wilson amongst others mean Chris Newbrok is set to take on a non-playing captain’s role for their opener at Sinclair, who boast last year’s division one averages winner Harry Church in their lne-up.

Newport, with new Merit champion John Breeze in their ranks, face a tough test for starters away at 2022 runners-up Wrockwardine Wood while St Georges – third last year – head for Hadley USC.

Trench, who survived relegation last year with a fine win over St Georges on the last night of the campaign, travel to Sir John Bayley – who have recruited Angus Needham – while Bowring entertain Madeley Cricket Club.

Meanwhile, a late flood of entries means the new Monday Night Merit will be launched on 1st May with more than 40 bowlers heading to qualifiers at Madeley CC and Sinclair for a 6pm start.

Four each from both venues will then make the finals night on Monday 8^th May (6.30pm).

There’s a good reason why top bowler John Breeze had never won the Mid Shropshire Merit until now – because he can’t remember entering it before!

But now the County Merit winner of 2000 is the king of the Molson Coors-backed League after triumphing in style on the evening of Friday 21st April at Bylet in Bridgnorth

John, a former Shropshire senior team regular who is now bowling for Newport, got his hands on a trophy first played for in 1934 by beating John Roberts jnr 21-13 in the final to bank £140.

“John Breeze won the 2023 Shropshire Verti-Drain & Turf Services Ltd Senior Merit after always being ahead in the final,” said new league competition secretary Rob Burroughs.

“He was leading 9-2 early on and held off any chance of a comeback by running out from 18-13 in his favoured round pegs.”

John Roberts, who has signed for reigning champions Horsehay this season, said: “I’m gutted I couldn’t get it won, but happy to make the final of the Merit.

“Congratulations to John Breeze, the best player on the night.”

The new champion, who won the Whitchurch League’s Norman Ford Invitation Classic earlier in the month, beat Greg Needham (Shifnal) 21-4 in his semi-final while Roberts ran out from 12 across against new clubmate Andy Garbett.

A record for this century of 80 bowlers entered and for full scores from the finals night please see Competition News.

OUR PICTURE shows winner John Breeze with competition sponsors Paul Beer and Mike Humphries

It’s Merit time of the year for the League with Bylet in Bridgnorth the place to be tomorrow – Friday 21^st April – from 6.30pm.

That’s the place and time for the Senior Merit finals for the 16 bowlers who have qualified for the climax of the Shropshire Vertidrain & Turf Services Ltd-sponsored event.

None of them has landed the trophy before but there is still plenty of quality in the line-up chasing a £140 first prize and a £25 bonus for the highest break on the night.

There’s the County Merit winner of 2000 in John Breeze, last year’s division one averages winner Harry Church, Andy Garbett of reigning division one champions Horsehay, the multi-titled duo of Nick Mullinder and Louise Cotton and past Premier League Merit winner Phil Jones.”

Wrockwardine Wood secretary Louise will be bidding to make history as the first lady bowler to be crowned champion – for the fuull first round draw go to Competition News

And still on the subject of Merits, the League has launched a brand new competition this year – the Monday Night Merit.

Officers are eager to launch it with a decent entry, the deadline for which is the end of day on Tuesday 25^th April, ie 24 hours after the third set of fixtures on the Monday night.

The entry fee is £3 (for which clubs will be invoiced at the end of the season) and all bowlers who didn’t play 6 games on a Friday last season are eligible to take part.

Qualifiers take place on Monday 1st May at 6pm with the finals night for the last 8 following on Monday 8th May, starting at 6.30p.m.

All Monday bowlers who are eligible to play in this new event – which is aimed specifically at them – are encouraged to give it a go.

And the more names we get, the bigger the prizes the finalists will win!

Entries can be made by text or WhatsApp to organiser Rob Burroughs on 07901 229623 or via Facebook.

I can now confirm that the funeral of former League secretary, president and life member Jeff Hutchinson will take place on Friday 5th May at 3.30pm at All Saints Parish Church in Wellington.

It will be followed by cremation at Telford Crem at 4.30pm and a wake at the Sir John Bayley Club, where Jeff spent many happy hours with his many bowling friends.

Officers are in talks about how the day of the funeral should be marked – and it seems likely that clubs will be asked to hold another minute’s silence before all games that evening as a mark of respect.

Meanwhile, the odds on a lady bowler winning the Mid Shropshire Merit for the first time have come tumbling down.

Louise Cotton (Wrockwardine Wood) secured one of the 16 tickets to finals night on Friday 21^st April Bylet (6.30pm start) by qualifying thanks to a never-say die approach.

She beat defending champion Stuart Church 21-19 in her qualifying game at Horsehay, having edged out Akeel Duncan of Shifnal 21-20 in her previous game.

For a full list of qualifiers and the draw for the finals night please go to Competition News to see posts from new organiser Rob Burroughs.

First the bad news . . . Bowring have had to withdraw one of their 2 teams from division 6 on Monday evenings.

Club official Ann Rawlins explained: “The team was created because our new/novice members stated an interest to play competitively in the league this season.

“However, it became clear after our first match when a number of people dropped out themselves, that there is no commitment from the majority of the team to do this.

“And it is not fair on our opponents to keep re-arranging matches or, even worse, turning up with less than a full team.  

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and we will re-assess our situation in the future.”

As a result of the late withdrawal, MSBL fixture secretary John Palmer has scratched Bowring D from the fixtures – their place now becoming a bye – meaning that both Bowring teams left on a Monday will have home matches on the same night.

But now the good news . . . a stunning 80 entries have been received for the Mid Shropshire Senior Merit, now kindly sponsored by Shropshire Verti-Drain & Turf Services Ltd.

Qualifying is on Friday 14th April at 6.30pm at Bowring, Bridgnorth, Horsehay and Newport – and there is NO dress code.

Said new comps secretary Rob Burroughs: “Due to having 80 entries, four will qualify from each venue for a final 16 on Friday 21st April starting at 6.30pm”

See Competition News for who will be attempting to qualify at each venue.

The League would like to wish all its clubs, bowlers and their families and friends a very happy and healthy Easter.

And it will certainly be a happy one for Edgdmond who, as one of seven clubs, launched the brand new Afternoon Division with a stunning whitewash away win yesterday (see Results / Tables).

Newcomers Castlefields also marked their debut in the Dennis Lewis Thursday Division with an away success after the 2023 League campaign had actually started on Monday with 16 fixtures in divisions 4-5-6.

Today – Good Friday – is the deadline for entries in the Mid Shropshire Senior Merit, with new organiser reporting 64 entries at Tuesday’s April management meeting.

That’s when glowing tributes were paid to former secretary, president and life member Jeff Hutchinson, led by chairman Sean Round, which were followed by a minute’s silence.

The meeting was the last until the July executive as those in May and June will be replaced by newsletters emailed to clubs and then posted on website, with link from Facebook. But officers will retain the right to call a meeting if they feel one is needed.

A sombre start to the League’s 2023 season will continue at the April Management Committee Meeting tomorrow (Tuesday the 4^th).

Mid Shropshire bowling is mourning the loss of one of its legendary figures, Jeff Hutchinson, at the age of 91 last week.

Tributes will be paid at the meeting and member clubs have been asked to hold a minute’s silence before the first matches of the season – starting in divisions 4-5-6 tonight.

“I feel it is the very least we can do as a mark of respect to a man who served Mid Shropshire as secretary, president, county delegate and then County President in 2005, before being made a life member for nearly half a century of outstanding service to the sport,” said league secretary Malcolm Fletcher.

Agenda for the April 2023 Management Committee Meeting

To be held on Tuesday 4^th April at the Sir John Bayley Club at 7.30pm

1  Chairman’s remarks to open the meeting

2  Apologies & In Memoria

3  Minutes of the March Executive Committee Meeting & 2023 AGM

4  Matters arising

5  General Secretary’s report

6  Correspondence

7  Fixture Secretary’s report

8  Afternoon Division – approval of rules for new division

9  Treasurer’s report

10 Competition Secretary’s report – deadlines, entry figures etc

11 County matters –report from Executive meeting on March 13

12 Any Other Business

13 President / chairman to close the meeting

Captains’ Books and (hopefully) Scorecards ordered can be collected at this meeting

DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Executive on Tuesday the 4^th July at SJBC at 7.30pm

This is one of the hardest posts I have ever had to write but, now the family have made it public, I feel it is my duty to relay the sad news of the passing of League legend Jeff Hutchinson in the early hours of this morning at the Royal Stoke Hospital, aged 91.

Tributes to one of the great administrators of the game will be paid at the League’s April meeting on Tuesday the 4^th, fittingly to held at a place close to Jeff’s heart – the Sir John Bayley Club.

He was made a life member of the League in 2017 – and he’s pictured with the award – and the summary on this website sums up his contribution to the sport in a nutshell.

It reads: “Awarded in recognition of the long term commitment and outstanding work on behalf of the League and SCGBA. A past league secretary and president who represented Mid Shropshire as County President in 2005.”

But Jeff was so much more than that to crown green bowling and his great playing claim to fame was to win an open competition at the long-gone White Horse, Heath Hill, claiming the scalp of then county No.1 Tony Poole en route to the title.

A devoted historian, Wellington-based Jeff was the co-author of the book that celebrated the centenary of the Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association in 2012, with the late Terry Sambrook and myself – and he was a mighty proud man when we picked up the first copies from the printer.

He played a huge part in the launch of the Shropshire Premier League in 1994 and, in recent years, became very active on the senior citizens scene, successfully launching the countywide KO for the Wrekin Cup.

I’m too upset to write much more about my mentor, but I thank him for all he taught me and the League’s sincere condolences go to Jeff’s family at this saddest of times.

 Malcolm Fletcher