In the blink of an eye – or so it seems – we are at the halfway point of the 2022 season and the pace is really starting to hot up.

The venues for the Senior Merit on Saturday 30^th July and the Under-25 Merit on Saturday 20^th August have now been finalised by organiser Phil King and can be found in Competitions News.

Wednesday 10^th August is quarter-finals night in the main Harris Cup and semi-finals time in the Ashton Cup for Monday division teams, with the consolation KO for the Ashton Shield starting on Wednesday 27^th July. And the good news is that new Highley secretary Richard Green has found the Harris Cup lurking in a cupboard in club pavilion and has returned it!

Then, a week after the final fixtures of the campaign are played, Bridgnorth have agreed to host the annual ladies versus gents challenge match for the Dave Ellis Shield. on Friday 30th September.

Dave, who started the computer revolution with regards to bowls results last century (!), was a member of Bridgnorth so it is only fitting that this fun game is played there this time around.

Looking further ahead, make a note of the date of Saturday 21^st January 2023 . . . as that’s when the League’s annual presentation dinner is poised to return!

General secretary Malcolm Fletcher reported to the July executive meeting:  “I have already sent a letter of congratulations to Sinclair but I’d like to place on my record my thanks to that club for all they did to make Mike Potter’s County Senior Merit finals day last month such a special one. Very well done to Dave Evans of Trench too for being named one of two Unsung Heroes on the day.

“The thanks of the League also go to Wrockwardine Wood for acting as the perfect hosts as we staged the Shropshire veterans inter-league championship. Without clubs like this giving us use of their facilities we simply can’t play our part on the county stage.

“On the subject of young bowlers, there are new junior inter league shirts on the way thanks to Sinclair member Kerry Millman, to be first used at the 2022 Shropshire championship on Sunday 11^th September.

 “With no League meeting in August, I am planning to call an officers / sub group meeting to discuss some of the ideas we will be talking about later on the agenda – and Steve Wall’s idea for a new 6-a-side division on Thursday afternoons for men and women of all ages.”

Fixture Secretary John Palmer’s Report to the League’s July Executive Meeting:

We’re almost halfway through the season now and I’d like all clubs to review their player ‘starrings’.

It’s always a bit of a punt to do this before the season starts and I know that circumstances change. Thanks to those that have already done so.

The season has been running pretty smoothly, or it was until  the weather wiped out all last Thursday’s fixtures (30th June).  I’m still waiting for those to be re-arranged.

 A small number of other matches have been postponed, some due to Covid, but all have agreed re-arranged dates.

It’s encouraging to see quite a number of new player registrations, almost 50 since the start of the season – and over 40 have played in the League, even though it’s been keeping me busy.

One further transfer has been agreed – Annette Harding from Hadley USC to Trench. As the ‘transfer window’ has now expired (cut-off date 30th June), the following £5 transfer fees are now due: one from Newport and two from Trench.

Just to remind everyone, tonight’s meeting is the cut-off date after which any new registrations need to be approved by the Management/Executive Committee as per League rule 5. As there’s no August meeting, your options may well be limited.

Unfortunately, two clubs will receive fines this month for walkovers:

• 13th – Monday Division 6. Madeley CC ‘D’ v Newport ‘D’. Madeley fined £5.
• 24th – Friday Division 1. Sinclair ‘A’ v Bylet ‘A’. I played in this match, this was caused by late unavailability due to Covid. Bylet fined £5.

Mike Beckett’s results service seems to have settled down now after his server move and software updates.

I’ve only had to contact him once recently relating to Highley appearing to lose their Monday players after I made a change to their named Premier 12 – at their request. This was due to the unusual situation in that Highley don’t have a Friday team. Mike sorted this out quickly.

Tuesday’s July Executive meeting is vital for this current season – and the 2023 campaign

The gathering at SJBC on Tuesday the 5^th is the cut-off date for the straightforward registering of new players – and fixture secretary John Palmer has informed all clubs that management league rule 5 states:

“No further registration of players shall be made by clubs after the July meeting of the Executive Committee. Clubs may apply for registration in writing after this date, but it must be approved by the Management/Executive Committee.”

And even though the current season is only at the halfway stage, clubs in the League will be asked starting thinking about the 2023 campaign at the meeting, including a possible return to 12-a-side fixtures on Friday nights (see agenda below).

Both Mid Shropshire teams lost their Shropshire senior inter-league championship quarter-finals on Saturday 25^th June.

MSBL A paid for a poor start and lost by just 5 shots to Whitchurch B at Old Shrewsbury (No.2 green) while MSBL B struggled on the newer green at  Donnington Wood and bowed out against Premier League Blue.

For full scores see: https://bowlsresults.co.uk/competitions/results.php?compid=13&yearid=2022&web=scgba&if=0&ret=0&qual=0&ord=0

JULY EXECUTIVE AGENDA

1  Chairman’s remarks to open the meeting

2  Apologies & In Memoria

3  Minutes of the June Management Committee Meeting

4  Matters arising

5  General Secretary’s report & Correspondence

6  Fixture Secretary’s report

7  Competition Secretary’s report

8  Treasurer’s report – £15 raffle prizes for annual dinner?

9  Inter-league round-up

10 Best Kept Green competition

11 County matters – report from executive meeting on 4^th July

12 Preparing for 2023 – letter from John Lumsden

13 Any Other Business

14 President / chairman to close the meeting

Please note Management Rule 6 (e) Any Club failing to send a representative to the Annual General or Executive Meeting shall be fined £5.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING – management on Tuesday 6^th September at SJBC at 7.30pm

Plotting a route to the semi-finals – that’s the League’s 2 teams who will go into battle in the Shropshire senior inter-league championship on Saturday 25th June.

MSBL B will play their quarter-final in the 8-a-side knockout in Telford when they take on the Premier League’s Blue side on Donnington Wood No.2.

It’s a 6.30pm start, with another last eight tie on the other green at the same time, and any support the team receives would be much appreciated.

Meanwhile, MSBL A will be taking on Whitchurch B on Old Shrewsbury No.2 with Michael Cooper skippering a strong team with high hopes of making the semis.

All players representing the League are asked to wear their club colours and the the finalised teams (not in playing order) are:

MSBL A – Michael Cooper (captain), Paul Beer, Lee Parton, Nick Mullinder, Aidy Ashley, Joe Killen, Alison Cotton, Tom Killen

MSBL B (non-playing captains Sean Round & David Evans) – Les Mumford, Peter Millington, Tony Garmson, Tony Roche, Pauline Wilson, Will O’Hara, Rob Clarke, Steve Downs

For full details go to https://bowlsresults.co.uk/competitions/results.php?compid=13&yearid=2022&web=scgba&if=0&ret=0&qual=0&ord=0

And finally, the updated draws for the Harris Cup round of 16 to be played on or before 6^th July; the Ashton Cup round of 16 to be played on or before 6^th July; and the quarter-finals of the Ashton Shield on 27^th July have been completed by organiser Phil King

To see them please go to https://bowlsresults.co.uk/competitions/results.php?web=midshrop&yearid=2022

Mid Shropshire’s over-60s team is still coming to terms with missing out on a record-extending Shropshire veterans inter-league championship success in agonising circumstances.

Captain Peter Spragg’s team went into the last of their four round robin games knowing that victory over Whitchurch on Wrockwardine Wood No.1 would clinch a sixth triumph in the 8-a-side one-day competition that was launched in 2011.

It was effectively a final at teatime on Saturday 11^th June, a winner-takes-all clash that could not have started any better for the host league.

A clean sweep of the first four, featuring 21-12 wins by Ian Evans and homester John Clarke, took Mid Shropshire into a seemingly unassailable 27 shot lead.

But, led by unbeaten duo Derek Wright and Cedric Bancroft, Whitchurch rallied in superb style, enjoying their own clean sweep of the back four to snatch victory and the trophy by two chalks, 141-139.

It meant they had won all their four games and, as the only unbeaten team out of five who competed, they were clear table toppers in winning the crown for an historic first time.

Their skipper Simon Fullard received the Derek Wright Shield from County President Mike Potter who, is his role as Mid Shropshire President, presented Peter Spragg with a League 90^th anniversary medal as a thank you for his efforts.

Mike thanked host club Wrockwardine Wood for their efforts on the day, the Cotton family and groundsman Tony Garmson in particular, adding it had been a good day which had effectively come down to a last game final.

Mid Shropshire had lost to the last winners of the vets, Tanners Shropshire in 2019, on the No.2 green early in the day but recovered well to defeat Shropshire Ladies by 44 before their last gasp disappointment.

The competition was sponsored for the first time by Shropshire Vertidrain & Turf Services Ltd, thanks to Mike Humprhies and Paul Beer.

 SO CLOSE – Mid Shropshire veterans who were pipped at the post in the decisive last game: Back (from left) Kevin Carter, David Brown, Norman Harvey, Ian Evans, Les Mumford, front, John Clarke, Dave Price, Peter Spragg, Tomny Roche

For full results please see https://bowlsresults.co.uk/competitions/results.php?compid=17&yearid=2022&web=scgba&if=0&ret=0&qual=0&ord=0

The League will host the Shropshire veterans inter-league championship tomorrow – Saturday 11^th June – at Wrockwardine Wood from 10am.

Five teams will contest the Derek Wright Shield, using both greens, with the Mid Shropshire squad captained by Peter Spragg.

The format will be one round robin group with each team playing four games (two on each green) with the usual start on each card and the eventual table toppers declared the 2022 champions.

Alongside Mid Shropshire there will be Shropshire Ladies, last winners in 2019 Tanner Shropshire, Market Drayton and just one team from Whitchurch (after a late withdrawal of their B team) taking part.

The draw for the Shropshire Vertidrain & Turf Services Ltd-sponsored event was conducted on Thursday evening by County President Mike Potter and is as follows

Matches 1 – Green 1: Shropshire Ladies v Tanners; Green 2: Market Drayton v Mid Shropshire (Whitchurch will have a roll up on Green 2)

Matches 2 – Green 1: Market Drayton v Whitchurch; Green 2: Tanners v Mid Shropshire (Tanners will have a roll up on Green 2)

Matches 3 – Green 2: Whitchurch v Tanners;  Green 1: Shropshire Ladies v Mid Shropshire ( Mid Shropshire will have a roll up on Green 1)

Matches 4 – Green 2: Whitchurch v Shropshire Ladies;  Green 1: Tanners v Market Drayton (Shropshire Ladies will have a roll up on Green 2)

Matches 5 – Green 1: Whitchurch  v Mid Shropshire; Green 2: Shropshire Ladies  v  Market Drayton

Mid Shropshire bowlers are asked to be present by 9.30am and League tee shirts will be handed out at 9.45. The squad is:

Sinclair – Peter Spragg & Dave Brown

Sir John Bayley – Tony Roche & Norman Harvey

Madeley CC – Les Mumford & Ian Evans

Hadley USC – Dave Price

Wrockwardine Wood – John Clarke

Broseley – Kevin Carter

A bowler with a top class pedigree put the icing on the League’s 90^th anniversary cake.

David Wolverson, representing Much Wenlock, won  the special singles knockout at St Georges on Saturday 4^th June as the League celebrated being established in 1932.

David, a regular in Warwick & Worcester’s senior county team until 2013, defeated Hadley USC stalwart Dave Price 21-18 in a high class final on the original bottom green at St Georges to bring the curtain down on eight hours of action.

Having taken a break from the game, David – now living in Wenlock – decided to start playing again for his new local club and is unbeaten to date this season for their second division team.

His reward for Saturday’s success was the lion’s share of £90 in prize money and a trophy dating back to the 1940s that had been donated to the league.

A total of 32 bowlers nominated by clubs present and past battled it out and in the semi-finals the eventual winner defeated Stuart Gittings (Highley) 21-16 while Dave Price was ending the fine run of Broseley’s Tony Pritchard 21-10.

League secretary Malcolm Fletcher said: “It was good to see so many people there and, despite a bit of rain, most stayed to watch a brilliant final played in super sunshine.”

A fun challenge match on the top green in the afternoon ended with a team representing 1935 champions Duke of York Trench (captained by Paul Beer) beating Royal Exchange Dawley (Alison Cotton) – the inaugural league winners in 1933 – by more than 30 shots.

Commemorative medals were presented to all 32 bowlers who contested the MSBL @ 90 Singles and thanks were given to Phil King for running that knockout and to the host club’s members, led by Paul and Alison.

“There were losts of smiles and friendly faces and I just hope people think we did the League proud and gave it the kind of 90^th birthday it deserves,” added the secretary.

PICTURED – The semi-finalists who were in the money at the MSBL @ 90 Singles (from left) Stuart Gittings, eventual winner David Wolverson, league chairman Sean Round, competition secretary Phil King, Tony Pritchard, runner-up Dave Price.

For the full results see Competition News

A minute’s silence in memory of a past chairman will be observed at the League meeting tonight – Tuesday 7^th June – at the Sir John Bayley Club.

Bridgnorth stalwart Gerald Penny was chair of the league between 1994 and 1996 and tributes will be paid at the management committee meeting.

Fixture secretary and fellow Bridgnorth resident John Palmer said: “League officers are saddened to hear of the death of Gerald Penny, who bowled in the Mid Shropshire and Highley leagues for many years and wish to send their condolences both to Gerald’s family and to Bridgnorth Bowling Club.”

Officers hope that the meeting will end with the draw for the round robin groups for the Shropshire veterans inter-league championship, to be hosted by Mid Shropshire on Saturday 11th June at Wrockwardine Wood from 10am.

TONIGHT’S AGENDA

1  Chairman’s remarks to open the meeting

2  Apologies & In Memoria

3  Minutes of the May Management Committee Meeting

4  Matters arising

5  General Secretary’s report

6  Correspondence

7  Fixture Secretary’s report

8  Competition Secretary’s report  – including cup news

9  Treasurer’s report 

10 90^th Anniversary Celebration – review of Sat 4^th June @ St Georges

11 MSBL hosts veterans inter-league – Sat 11^th June @ Wrockwardine Wood

12 Senior inter-league update – 2 teams in last 8 of 8-a-side KO on Sat 25^th June

13 Best Kept Green competition

14 County matters – report from executive meeting on 16^th May

15 Any Other Business

15 President / chairman to close the meeting

DATE OF NEXT MEETING – executive on Tuesday 5^th July at SJBC at 7.30pm