All Change?

A brand new competition this year for bowlers in the lower of the League is set for lift-off next week.

The Monday Merit, a singles knockout for bowlers playing primarily for teams in divisions 4-5-6, is up for approval at the League’s AGM on Monday 30th January.

And delegates at the meeting at Wellington’s Sir John Bayley Club (7pm) will also vote on proposals to streamline the management of the League with fewer meetings during the playing season.

Moves to tweak the handicaps for the main team knockout, the Harris Cup, now that it is 10-a-side, are on the agenda, along with a Hadley USC bid to stop registered Premier League bowlers from competing in the main Senior Merit – even if they play in Mid Shropshire’s Dennis Lewis Thursday Division.

Competition secretary Phil King – now a county senior team selector – is considering his future in the role and Peter Spragg wishes to stand down as veterans inter-league captain.

“The annual meeting itself looks pretty straightforward – the League made a profit on 2022 and we have had good feedback from the annual presentation dinner earlier this month,” said league secretary Malcolm Fletcher.

“As for new teams, the early signs for the coming season are positive.

“I have had an application from Castlefields to join the Thursday Division and have already been contacted about two possible new Friday teams and one on a Monday.

“The next league meeting is due to be an executive gathering on Tuesday 7th March, but there is so much going – like the potential launch of a new Afternoon Division – that we will probably have to call an extra meeting in mid February.”

AGM AGENDA

The AGM to take place on Monday 30th January, 2023, at the Sir John Bayley Club, Wellington, Telford   (TF1 1QX), starting at 7pm

1  Chairman’s opening address – followed by Apologies & In Memoria

2  Minutes of the 2022 AGM

3  Matters arising

4  President’s Report

5  General Secretary’s Report

6  Treasurer’s Report (accounts circulated to clubs with agenda)

6 (a)  Auditor’s Observations

7  Fixture Secretary’s Report

8  Competition Secretary’s Report

9  Proposals for Rule Changes

10 Honoraria for 2023

11 Election of Officers

12 Any Other Business – at the discretion of the chairman 

Note: Each club is entitled to one vote. All decisions shall be by a simple majority. Clubs not represented at the AGM will be fined £5 as per Management rule 6 (e).

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Mike’s Plea

The League successfully re-launched the biggest bowls presentation in Shropshire – but it came with a health warning for its member clubs.

Honours winners from the 2022 season were in the spotlight as more than 160 attended the prize-giving dinner on Saturday 21st January at the West Stand @ TUFC in Wellington.

Horsehay took pride of place as division one champions, ending an 85-year wait to get their hands on the trophy again – and Andy Garbett is PICTURED with it – but there were a series of special presentations too.

They were made by County and League President Mike Potter who, as the sole speaker on the night, told the bowlers in attendance that they needed to support their clubs more than ever now.

“It’s been three years since the league’s last presentation because of Covid and now, due to the cost of living increases, I think clubs are going to struggle,” said Mike.

“We need all bowlers to think of ideas of how we can come through this with their clubs intact – it’s up to members to think of how they can help their clubs to make money.”

Mike’s second reign as Shropshire president ends next month at the county AGM at Sinclair  and he added: “I am so very proud of not only of this league, but the county too – they are both in fine fettle.”

League vice-chairman Steve Wall, dinner organiser Margaret Fletcher, guests June Lewis and Brenda Slingo and sponsor Paul Beer of Shropshire Verti-drain & Turf Services Ltd handed over the trophies with competition secretary Phil King as compere.

Divisional and averages winners:

One – Horsehay A, Harry Church (Sinclair A); two – Shifnal A, Jonathan Davies (Shifnal A); three – Bridgnorth B, Stephen Booth (Madeley CC B).

Four – Newport C, George Emlyn (Donn Wood B); five – Bridgnorth C, Abi Helliwell (Bowring C); six – WrockwardineWood D, Liam Bremner (Wrock Wood D).

Dennis Lewis Thursday Division – Wrockwardine Wood A, Rob Roden (Wrock Wood A).

Knockout winners – Harris Cup: Hadnall; Ashton Cup: Newport C; Ashton Shield: Allscott Heath C.

Senior Merit: Stuart Church (Sinclair); Over-60 Merit: Dave Brown (Sinclair); Under-25 Merit: Aaron King (Newport).

Under-18 Merit: Tom Killen (Shfinal); Under-15 Merit Jordan Millman (Sinclair); Junior Doubles: Akeel Duncan (Shifnal) & Will Thompson (SJ Bayley).

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Nearly There

The wait to celebrate the League’s 2022 season is nearly over.

And for one member club, tomorrow’s annual presentation dinner will end an 85 year to be crowned Mid Shropshire champions again.

Horsehay were founder members and the second club to win the League in 1934, repeating the feat in 1937.

But the major honour has eluded them since then . . .  until now that is!

The ‘Hoss’ pipped Wrockwardine Wood A to the first division title by the narrowest margin in all seven divisions – just one point – after scoring a 10-3 home win over Hadley USC A on the final night of the fixtures last September.

But it was still a good season for the Wrockites as they topped division six and also the Dennis Lewis Thursday Division.

Bridgnorth enjoyed a title double too after topping divisions three and five while Shifnal A were clear second division champions and Ashton Cup winners Newport C finished top of the pile in the fourth division.

And tomorrow night will also see Shrewsbury village club Hadnall rewarded for entering the League’s main team knockout, the Harris Cup, for the first time as skipper Andy Marshall will receive the historic trophy.

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Parking Vital

Parking in the right place for the League’s presentation dinner on Saturday 21st January is vital for the success of the evening – and for car owners to avoid a fine!

Drivers MUST enter the West Stand @ TUFC site off Haybridge Road by Wellington Fire Station – using sat nav TF1 2NW – and then take a left turn to get to the football club’s big car park. DO NOT DRIVE DOWN THE BANK TO PARK IN THAT SMALLER AREA!!

Having parked up, people will then need to walk down the slope to the actual entrance of the dinner venue and enter via the main doors.

The registration number of all cars parked MUST then be entered via an iPad situated just inside the entrance – where dinner organiser Marg Fletcher plans to be set up to make doubly sure letters and digits are entered correctly!!!

People can be dropped off or picked up by the main entrance, but drivers doing so need to be aware they have only a 10 MINUTE WINDOW before their vehicle is clocked for a fine.

The other key thing for the 170 plus attending is that everything on the night is CASH ONLY and that the meal will be served is earlier than usual at 6.30pm

All club secretaries have been set a map to show exactly where to access the site and where to park. So if anyone has any doubts at all, please contact your club sec and get a copy of the map!

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The Bare Facts

It’s the League’s 2023 annual presentation dinner on Saturday 21st January to celebrate the 2002 season.

The doors at The West Sand @ TUFC will open at 5.30pm and the meal will be served by the caterers at 6.30.

All PAYMENTS on the night are CASH ONLY and last orders at the bar will be at 11.30pm before the function ends at 12 midnight.

Wrockwardine Wood will have the biggest club representation with 32 people attending, closely followed by second division champions Shifnal with 25.

There are 4 guests of honour – Mike & Linda Potter, June Lewis and Brenda Slingo.

There will be 1 game of Irish Bingo and it will be £1 for those wishing to take part, with half the proceeds going to the winner.

That game will be played before the 1 speaker for the evening – County & League President Mike Potter – who will propose a toast to the Mid Shropshire League.

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Time To Talk

There’s a flood of club annual general meetings in the countdown to the League’s AGM on Monday 30th January.

They start on Sunday 15th January as Hadley USC get the bowls rolling with theirs at 6pm in the conservatory in the main building, one of the club’s aims b being  to launch a second Friday team.

And they are followed by Madeley CC BC who have their AGM on Friday 20th January, at 7.30pm in the Cricket Club. Secretary Terry French said: “We run indoor bowls in the winter and new members are most welcome.”

The annual gathering of village club Chelmarsh is on Wednesday 25th January starting at 7pm in the Sports & Social Club.

Two clubs with first division teams then have AGM nights on Friday 27th January – Sinclair and Trench – and both starting at 7.30pm with potential new members urged to attend.

Reigning League champions Horsehay then wait until after the MSBL AGM to have their annual meeting on Tuesday 7th February inb the village hall.

Other clubs who wish to publicise their 2023 annual meetings on the League’s website should email general secretary Malcolm Fletcher with details.

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Club Calls

On a light background, a white notebook with are words AGM Annual General Meeting and a pen.

The League’s AGM may not be until Monday 30th January, but a number of member clubs are already busy preparing for their annual meetings.

Hadley USC get the bowls rolling with theirs on Sunday 15th January at 6pm in the conservatory in the main building.

And they are followed by Sinclair who have their AGM on Friday 27th January 27, at 7.30pm at their Ketley base, secretary Kevin Hall adding:  “New members will be most welcome.”

Hadley’s meeting comes with new secretary Rob Burroughs sensing a new feeling of optimism as the club looks forward to launching a new big money open competition just before the 2023 league season starts.

“Everything is fine with regards to the social club and we are looking forward to the season ahead and hopefully pushing for a return to the Premier League,” said Rob, who is also minute secretary of the MSBL.

“We have one team in Mid Shropshire division one and are hoping to enter another team on a Friday in division three (as well as having a side in the Monday divsions).”

Clubs who wish to publicise their 2023 annual meetings on the League’s website should email general secretary Malcolm Fletcher with details.

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Hello 2023!

It’s nearly time to wish goodbye to 2022 and say hello to 2023 and the officers of the League would like to wish all of its clubs, bowlers and their families the very best wishes for the New Year.

It’s a busy start to 2023 in Mid Shropshire land with the finals of the £1,300 Edgmond Winter Shield on Monday (11am start), the return of the League’s annual presentation dinner on Saturday 21st January and then the AGM on Monday the 30th.

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Shield Shot?

Entries will be taken on the day – if there are spaces – to make sure the big festive open bowls competition in Mid Shropshire land is full to the brim.

The £1,300 Edgmond Winter Shield has 64 slots in qualifying sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, December 28-29, starting at 10am and 1.30pm.

“The last few spaces are available now and we will take entries on the day if there are spaces,” said joint promoter Sarah Glenholmes.

It’s a £20 entry fee and the last 16 will feature on the finals day on Monday, January 2 (11am start) to play for a £500 first prize – all dates being weather permitting – late vacancy details from Sarah on 07792-428685.

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Best Wishes!

The officers of the League would like to wish all bowlers, club officials, greenkeepers and helpers and all their families a very happy and healthy Christmas!

And if any bowler is looking for a slice of action over the festive period please take a look at the post in Competition News . . .

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