How ironic that, having finally got a spell of sunny and dry weather, the 2024 season is fast drawing to a close.

But not before two big events – the League’s executive meeting on Tuesday 1^st October and the ladies v gents challenge match for the Dave Ellis Shield 24 hours later.

Edgmond will host the traditional fun night that brings the curtain down on the campaign on Wednesday 2^nd October with a 6.30pm start.

And ANY bowler from ANY club that plays in the League can take part in the match, drawn against a bowler of similar ability on the night. All they need to do is to call or text Malcolm Fletcher on 07890-856525 to let him know they want to play and then turn up at Edgmond!

The general secretary and his fellow officers will be meeting in advance of the executive gathering to consider a number of items to go on the October 1^st agenda.

First there is the menu options for the annual presentation dinner, which is now booked for Saturday 25^th January 2025 at the West Stand @ TUFC – and there’s also a proposal for prize money levels to be paid out that night to finalise.

Two clubs that will definitely be in the money that evening will be Sir John Bayley, winners of the Harris Cup for the first time in over 60 years, and Shifnal after making history as the first ever winners of the new Harris Shield. Full stories, reaction and pictures from finals night at Bowring can be seen below in separate posts.

Shifnal have sights set on a double as they lead the way in division one going into Friday’s (20th September) tricky test at Wrockwardine Wood while main title rivals Sinclair travel to play on the carpet at Allscott Heath.

Trench look home and dry in division two but Bowring B and Albrighton A are locked in a tense battle for promotion from the third division behind Newport C.

It’s been 5 long years since Stockton BC featured in the League – but that could be about to change in 2025.

The village club alongside the A442 Bridgnorth road in Norton boasted a first division side in 2019, when fixtures were still 12-a-side.

Then the Covid pandemic, falling membership and the sad passing of the much missed Stockton stalwart Mark Bennett, saw the club withdraw.

Now Martin Bennett, son of Mark, is working hard to return the club to the Mid Shropshire fold.

“We are hoping to put a Stockton team back on a Friday night next year in division 3,” he said.

“We would be looking to see if anyone knows of anyone that maybe interested in joining us in bringing back Stockton Bowling Club to where it belongs to be.

“Most of you will know the long history of Stockton in the Mid Shropshire League and my dad’s involvement in the League.

“Since we had to pull out I’ve been fighting for a way back in to the Mid Shropshire and next year we’re in the best position since then.

“If you’d like to be a part of it, or know anyway that would, please get in touch with myself (via the league’s Facebook group). Hope to hear from you.”

Finally, for this post, congratulations to Newport D on retaining the Ashton Cup and to Highley for winning the Ashton Shield for the first time – full details below.

Also below is the story of how County Merit champion Josh Bradburn won the Thursday Merit.

As the 32-year-old said: “I hadn’t won a comp for eight years and now I’ve won two in the same season – I’m looking forward to the Champion of Champions now!”

It’s a massive 3 days for the League this weekend with crunch fixtures tonight (Friday 30^th August), the Ashton Cup and Ashton Shield finals tomorrow evening and the Thursday Merit at Donnington Wood on Sunday.

Topping the bill tonight is the first division clash between leaders Sinclair A and their main title rivals, visiting Shifnal A, who won so impressively at Hadley USC recently.

Second division pacesetters Trench A host third-placed Bridgnorth A in what should be a tasty encounter while third division Albrighton A will aim for a big win at bottom of the table Chelmarsh A to try and close the gap on leaders Newport C.

Tomorrow holders Newport and their main rivals in division 4, Allscott Heath, do battle for the Ashton Cup on WW’s No.1 green from 6.30pm while Much Wenlock will hope to go one better in this season’s Ashton Shield final when they take on Highley on the newer bottom green from 7 o’clock.

Sunday’s Thursday Merit at the ‘Wendy House’ will see entries (costing £10) taken up until the 10am start time – and sponsorship of £100 from June Lewis will boost the prize money, promoter Rob Burroughs being confident of having a field of 16 plus.

Read all about it! Newsletter No. 4, covering the August and September 2024 period without League meetings, is now available.

For all the news from your officers and dates for the diary please go to Admin on this site and then League minutes and you will find it there available to peruse or download.

And the key date to note is Saturday 25th January 2025 . . .

Title races and promotion pushes are hotting up in divisions right across the League – but congratulations for being the first confirmed champions go to Wrockwardine Wood.

They finished top of the re-launched Saturday Division by winning all their 10 fixtures – but it was Chris Hayward, chairman of Allscott Heath BC, who finished top of the singles averages.

Congratulations also go to Stuart Rutter (Sir John Bayley) and Peter Grimston (St Georges) on winning the County Doubles at Old Shrewsbury, both being regulars in the Denis Lewis Thursday Division. They are pictured after receiving the trophy from County President Brenda Slingo.

A very well done too goes to Jordan Millman of Sinclair who reached the semi-finals of the British Junior Merit in South Yorkshire. Aged 16, he has another 2 years to do even better!

Here’s hoping all the above named book their places at the League’s annual presentation dinner, which will be on Saturday 25^th January 2025 at the West Stand @ TUFC. Book the date in YOUR diary!

Before then, the Bank Holiday weekend means a burst of open competitions with finals night in the first Sinclair Open on Saturday (6pm), the County Mixed Doubles at the Bayley on Sunday and the American Mixed Doubles at Wrockwardine Wood on Monday.

And the following weekend the League is set to have 2 teams in the new-look Shropshire senior inter-league championship at Meole Brace, with six-a-side teams captained by Michael Cooper and former League comps chief Phil King.

Four League clubs are through to the final judging for this year’s Shropshire Best Kept Green accolade.

Worfield, Wrockwardine Wood’s No. 1 green, Edgmond and Trench were all successful in the area judging and will hope to take the 2024 crown come September.

And if Trench come out on top then it would be two years in a row for groundsman David Evans (pictured) and a club that celebrated its centenary last year.

But the competition is getting tougher as the best greens in Shropshire are getting better every year.

So much so that 10 of them have qualified for the final judging in September for the Dennis UK /SISIS-backed honour.

County chairman Phil Scott – an area judge alongside Shifnal bowler Steve Burmingham and Tanners Shropshire League chairman Andy Jones – said: “This year’s regional judging proved greens around the county are getting better every year.

“As we had three different regional judges, who all might have different views on scoring, we have decided the greens with scores of over 60 points will go forward to the finals this year.

“Finals day judging has not yet been confirmed but will definitely be in September, when the likely expert from Dennis UK SISIS will gaze a critical eye over the greens and relay any advice to all the greenkeepers before declaring a winner.”

Also in the hunt for the title are Bicton, Whixall, past winners Cleobury Mortimer, Burway No. 1, Victoria and Tilstock.

It’s top of the table clash time tonight – Friday 8^th August – in the division one championship chase.

And Hadley USC will make the short trip up the Waterloo Road to face leaders Sinclair as new holders of the Shropshire Cup.

A strong start and a remarkable recovery were the key factors as HUSC won the 2024 KGJ Insurance-backed title last Saturday night.

The Premeir League hopefuls scored a 20 shot victory over Bridgewater at Bicton after reeling off the first five winners, skipper Nick Wyer starring with a 21-8 card at No.1.

The Whitchurch club refused to go down without a fight and when captain Matt Blackhurst won 21-15 and Mark Harris raced 18-3 up on Ian Pessall 18-3 it really was game on.

“But Ian somehow dug in and won 20 and, despite Tom Cooper winning 21-13 at No.9 for Bridgewater, it was Hadley who lifted this trophy for the first time after seven winners from the 10 games,” said a county association spokesperson.

Hadley USC are pictured celebrating their success at Bicton. Full scores:  

KGJ Insurance Shropshire Cup Final Review

Former League competition secretary Phil King (pictured) and his Hadley USC team-mates are wished the best of luck as they try to win the Shropshire Cup for the first time tomorrow – Saturday 3^rd August.

The division one title chasers take on Bridgewater at Bicton (6.30pm) after both stunned semi-final opponents in the KGJ Insurance-backed 10-a-side knockout for the first time.

Hadley got the better of cup holders Castlefields by three shots at Childs Ercall – despite having two single figure losers – while Bridgewater edged Whitchurch League rivals Woore on the best winner rule after they finished locked on aggregate with five winners apiece at Nantwich Park Road.

The 2024 final is expected to be pretty close too with Hadley, with Nick Wyer at the helm, having a strong first four while the Water Boys look strong at the back.

Hadley have won the trophy as recently as 2011 in its previous guise as the County Consolation Cup and their club secretary is current League comps sec Rob Burroughs!

One thing is for certain, the final rivals should not have any complaints about the Bicton venue as it won lots of plaudits after hosting the recent County Cup semi-final between Sir John Bayley and Wem USC.

Bayley vice-captain Tom Roden said: “Credit to Bicton, the green was double cut on the day, lots of members turned up to support and the club, green, and surrounds made it a great cup venue.”

KGJ Insurance Shropshire Cup Final Draw

Four bowlers who play in the League are wished the best of luck in the British Senior Merit finals tomorrow – Saturday 27^th July – just down the road in Wolverhampton.

County Merit winner Josh Bradburn is a regular in St Georges’ Dennis Lewis Thursday Division side, Peter Farmer plays for Allscott Heath B in the same division and Sam Millward has made 1 appearance for Wrockwardine Wood on a Thursday evening.

Darrell Handley, who joined Shifnal in division one this year and qualified for the Mid Shropshire Senior Merit finals at Broseley, is another contender in a 64-strong field that will go into battle on the two greens at Pennfields from 10am.

But it is 2013 British champion Greg Smith, who is a team-mate of Sam Millward’s in the Wrockites’ Premier League team, who is the overwhelming 3/1 favourite to triumph.

The current league season is only just past the halfway mark but one Mid Shropshire club is already planning for winter.

Allscott Heath aim to make full use of their new home, which includes an all-weather artificial green at the new sports complex, by launching a closed season league for bowlers from the Mid Shropshire area.

“Our new facilities include an all weather green and to take advantage of this – and to offer an opportunity to bowlers to bowl through the winter – we intend to set up a winter league that would start shortly after the close of our current season,” said club chairman Chris Hayward.

“We hope to have games being played throughout the week, on Monday through to Friday evenings, but this will depend on the level of interest we receive.”

Club delegate Bob Kendall outlined the plan at the League’s July meeting and Allscott Heath have circulated all clubs in the MSBL with a questionnaire to gauge interest and have asked for replies to be back with Chris by July 31.

He is also looking for bowlers interested in helping to launch the league as part of a committee, and for someone to be responsible for running it, and can be contacted on 07815-683302.