It’s a Friday and the late John Lovett – one of the most popular bowlers to have played the game in Mid Shropshire land – would have been eagerly looking forward to having a game.

Tributes poured in as news of his passing earlier this month spread far and wide.

The Horsehay man died, aged 74, and his funeral will be at 3.30pm on Friday 26th at Telford Crematorium.

John Palmer, spokesman for the two Mid Shropshire leagues and the Highley League, lamented: “Officers were deeply saddened to learn of his passing.

“John had overcome a disability caused by a childhood bout of polio to become a top bowler in both the Telford and Wolverhampton areas.

“He played for many years for the Dun Cow (Dawley) and Chubbs in Wolverhampton and later for the White Horse, Bowring and Horsehay.

“His enthusiasm for the game of crown green bowls will be missed by his many friends and team-mates. RIP John.”

It wasn’t all plain sailing but the League’s young bowlers have kept a firm grip on the Shropshire junior inter-league championship.

With Mid Shropshire hosting the under-18 competition at Wrockwardine Wood on Sunday 14^th July, it was a case of home, sweet home for them after it had been cancelled last year.

Captained by Luke Morris, Mid Shropshire A beat Tanners Shropshire A by just eight shots in a final that saw three individual matches on both greens to retain a title they won at Old Shrewsbury in 2022.

But, having won their two group games on the No.1 green in fine style, MSBL A didn’t have it all their own way in the final.

Down on the newer No.2 green, Jarrett Cotterill (21-13) and Jordon Millman (21-17) had to battle hard to earn the hosts an 11 shot advantage there.

Dan Corbett (21-8) gave Mid Shropshire a strong platform on the older No.1 green but the visitors fought all the way and it was left to Luke and young Logan Church to scramble the chalks required to see the holders home.

 “As expected, the crowd of spectators were treated to a show of talented bowling in the final that inevitably gave us a close result,” said organiser and county competition secretary Mike Potter

Six teams from Mid Shropshire, Tanners Shropshire and the North Shropshire association (Whitchurch & Market Drayton leagues) played in two round robin groups on the greens, and MSBL B did superbly to beat North Shropshire B in their first game on the No.2 before losing to Tanners A.

The League’s sincere thanks go to Louise & Roger Cotton and the host club, organiser Mike Potter adn his wife Linda, selectors Brenda Slingo and Derek Killen, and of course the players and parents.

PICTURED is the victorious team with League President Mike Potter and proud manager Brenda Slingo

What would the League do without Wrockwardine Wood this season!

The Wrockites, with club secretary Louise Cotton at the helm, hosted two Mid Shropshire competition last weekend – the Junior Doubles and the Monday Merit finals (see full reports from both on posts below).

And this coming Sunday – 14^th July – Wood’s 2 greens will be the scene of the Shropshire junior inter-league championship, with at least 2 Mid Shropshire sides taking part.

The League was due to host this event last year but it was cancelled at the very last minute due to a lack of entries.

That won’t happen this year with at least 6 confirmed entries – and Mid Shropshire will go into battle as the reigning champions, having won the cup in 2022 at Old Shrewsbury, as the picture above shows.

So the League’s sincere thanks go to Wrockwardine Wood – and on top of everything last weekend, they staged the home leg of Shropshire’s senior county match against the Potteries on the newer No.2 green!

Honouring those who have served the League and its clubs with distinction is high on the agenda of the July executive meeting on Tuesday the 2^nd at the Bayley Club.

Clubs have been asked to nominate people they feel should be awarded life membership of the MSBL at a meeting that will also feature competition and sponsorship updates, a Shropshire inter-league round-up and feedback from the latest county executive meeting (see agenda below).

Meanwhile, all the Senior Merit finals night questions posed in the last News post were answered emphatically by reigning champion John Breeze – see the competition secretary’s report on a separate post below.

John is pictured with sponsor Mike Humphries after a great night at Broseley, watched by a big crowd – even until the 11.20pm finish!

 Agenda for the July 2024 Executive Committee Meeting

To be held on Tuesday 2nd July at Sir John Bayley Club at 7.30pm

1  Chairman’s remarks to open the meeting

2 (a) Apologies

  (b) In Memoria –including Life Members Barry Griffiths, John Hughes & Ron Adams

3  Minutes of the April Management Committee Meeting

4  Matters arising

5  General Secretary’s report

6  Correspondence

7  Fixture Secretary’s report

8  Competition Secretary’s report

9  Treasurer’s report – including Molson Coors sponsorship update

10 Shropshire inter-leagues round-up

11 Life Members for 2024

12 County matters – report of executive meeting on May 20th

13 Any Other Business

14 President / chairman to close the meeting

Can John Breeze retain the title he won last year in such convincing style at Bylet?

Can past winner Paul Beer, a sponsor of the competition, make League history by becoming the first bowler to win both this title and the Over-60 Merit in the same season?

Can the three other past champions in the 16-strong field – Stuart Church, Les Mumford and Roy Bradburn – give a repeat performance?

Or can recent runner-up Kate Wainwright and the two other ladies in the line-up – Sian Skelton and Carleen Doody-Millington  –  break the mould and become the first women to win it?

All these questions will be answered on Friday 28^th June, at Broseley BC when the 2024 Senior Merit finals night gets underway at 6.30pm, with a £150 first prize at stake.

And with no fixtures in divisions 1-2-3 on the evening, League officials are hoping for a big turnout to see just who lifts the coveted trophy that was first played for in 1934.

One final question . . . who would bet against John Breeze – seen receiving the trophy last year from sponsors Paul Beer and Mike Humphries – from repeating the triumph?

Competition secretary Rob Burroughs won’t know if he’s coming or going this weekend as he copes with a double header of League events.

First up is the Mid Shropshire Junior Day on Saturday 22^nd June at Albrighton from 10am.

Both the Under-18 and Under-15 Merits will be played and the incentive for the League’s young bowlers to enter is that the host club are generously offering free refreshments for all those that compete.

Then 24 hours later Rob will be in charge of the Mixed Doubles at Bridgnorth – having organised the final qualifier in the new £1,000-plus two- bowler team KO at Donnington Wood on the Saturday night!

Rob is pictured presenting the trophy to last year’s Under-18 Merit winner Dan Corbett – and for full details of how to enter both of the League comps, and the fees involved, please see separate posts below from the organiser.

League life member But Bob Mumford will be almost as busy as Rob as he promotes the Olympian Society’s ladies and men’s singles on Saturday and their own mixed doubles on Sunday, entries having now closed for both.

Unfortunately, the sad news keeps coming on the passing of Mid Shropshire stalwarts, first Sid Poole of Bowring and just this week Donnington Wood legend Graham Gaut, who died in New Zealand aged 87.

 

Congratulations from the League go the member club Edgmond who have been awarded a grant of £24,700 from the Inclusive Communities Fund – a £9 million initiative inspired by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The village club’s mission, aligned with the Commonwealth Games principles, is focussed on bringing people together, improving well-being, fostering growth, and putting our region on the map.

Edgmond spokeswoman Sarah Glenhmoles said: “Our project centres around Physical Activity, Sport, Mental Health and well-being, and aims to create a greater perspective of Crown Green Bowling and its benefits on the body and soul.

“We are focused on raising the profile of our sport in an effort to keep its future relevant to as many participants, of all genres, for many more  years to come.

“With this fund, we will be able to empower our community, address real issues and create a lasting legacy – an incredible opportunity.”

Meanwhile, there’s a big weekend of MSBL comps coming up on June 22 and 23 – see separate posts below from the organiser

It’s a wee bit later than hoped, but MSBL Newsletter No.3 (May/June 2024) is now available to download on here – go to Admin and then League minutes.

It has already been set to club secretaries, who have been asked to circulate it in pdf format to all their members that they have email addresses for.

But this post is a fail-safe to try and ensure that as many as the League’s bowlers as possible get the chance to see it!.

And apparently it is going to stop raining for the weekend!!!!

The League has sadly lost 3 Life Members in very quick succession this year with the sad passing of first Barry Griffiths, then John Hughes and most recently Ron Adams.

But the good thing is that at least the Mid Shropshire family got to honour them while they were alive and show real appreciation for all that they had done for the sport in so many and varied roles.

Now it is time to look ahead and decide of Life Members for this year. The people to be honoured in 2024 in October will be finalised at the July executive meeting.

The League’s officers have a shortlist but if any bowler would like to nominate a person for their services to their clubs, the League and the game then it would be great to hear from them – but via your club secretary please!

Here’s YOUR chance to help the sport’s governing body decide what needs to change so that EVERYONE who plays the sport we all love benefits.

The League has been informed: “The British Crown Green Bowling Association is currently undertaking a period of significant transition to develop the sport to be ‘fit for the future’.

“As a Governing body, we fully accept that there is a need for change, and we want the input of the Crown Green Bowing Community to help us facilitate this.

“Throughout 2024, we will be issuing a series of surveys to get feedback on what clubs, and bowlers, want and need.

“Please support the surveys and be honest with your answers.  The feedback will help drive change and we’ll share this with you along the way.

“Let’s start with where we’re at currently. This survey will remain open until the end of May.”

All League bowlers are urged to take part – and to complete the survey simply paste the link below into your search engine to complete the google form survey 

BCGBA – Bowlers Survey

forms.gle

SHORT MARKS . . .

* It’s now or never if any club wants to join the re-launch of the Saturday Division on 1^st June.  Fixture secretary John Palmer is the man to contact to join the 4 singles-2 doubles action.

* Ron Adams’ funeral is on Tuesday 28th May at 1.30pm at Telford Crematorium and will be followed by a wake at Madeley Cricket Club.

* The MSBL will have 2 teams in the Shropshire veterans inter-league championship at Chester Road in Whitchurch on Saturday 15^th June.

* Wrockeardinr Wood will host the Shropshire junior inter-league for the League on Sunday 14^th July.