Ange and Martin Gaut retained the Mixed Doubles after beating Beth & Steve Reeves in the final 15. The main difference was that they scored two fours and a 3 in the game, while they limited their opponents to just singles and doubles. They had gone 8-4 up and then 15-10 before Beth & Steve got back to 15-13 down. A 4 though took them further ahead before two singles got them back to 19-15 down, however they got the two they needed next end.

In the Semi Finals and both games ended 21-15. Beth & Steve beat Louise & Josh Cotton after going 10-3 up. Louise and Josh got back to 15 across but Beth & Steve ran out. Ange & Martin went 6-0 down versus Shavorne Osbourne and Pete Millington, but hit back to go 8-6 up. They then went 17-10 and 20-13 up and held on to win.

In the Quarters Beth & Steve got past Denise Tonks & Dave Evans 20. They raced 11-3 up before Denise & Dave went 14-12 ahead. From 19-16 down Beth & Steve then got back to win 20. Louise & Josh went 15-0 up on Kerry Drew and Logan Church and won 4. Ange & Martin Gaut were always in control against Ann & John Rawlins when going 13-4 up and won 7. Shavorne Osbourne & Pete Millington were 11-7 up on Helen Clee & John Clarke but then went 17-11 down. But they managed to come back with the help of a 4 to win 18.

In the Prelims, Denise & Dave were 14-8 down on Shirley Hadley & Peter Leath but then only conceded one more. Beth & Steve went from 9-5 down against Emma Duncan & Nathan Lacey to lead 12-9. It went to 18 across but then they won 19. Louise & Josh went 13-2 up on Georgia Rawlins & Richard Scane before conceding a 4, but only conceded one more to win 7.

Thank you to Edgmond for doing a great job at hosting and providing a tricky green and excellent refreshments.

Well done to Ange and Martin on retaining the trophy.

The Under 25 Merit takes place on Sir John Bayley bottom green on Saturday 10th June at 6 p.m.

You can enter on the night or can enter with Rob Burroughs on 07901 229623 or on Facebook.

There is no dress code.

The Mixed Doubles takes place on Saturday 3rd June at 10 a.m. at Edgmond.

Entries can be taken on the day. But entries can be made before with Rob Burroughs on text or Whatsapp to 07901 229623.

The entry fee is £10 per pair. This does not need to be paid yet as it will be invoiced by your club later on in the season.

There has been 5 entries so far.

Well done to Ian Gaut on winning the Over 60s Merit today.

Ian Gaut won the 2023 Over 60s Merit after beating Pete Spragg 21-13 in the final. He always led after going 7-0 up and Pete tried to fightback but couldn’t put two ends together as Ian kept finding bowls to halt any momentum. From 13-4 up they traded ends till Pete scored two singles to make it 19-13 but then Ian found the two he needed next end.

Thank you to Donnington Wood for use of their green and for the support of their members measuring and marking, as well as everyone who helped do those two jobs.

Please find below the reports of the previous rounds.

Pictures are to follow later on another post.

Semi Finals

Ian Gaut was 4-2 down early against Steve Faulkner but then went 9-4 and 15-6 up. He went on to win 9.

Pete Spragg from 6-1 up on Louise Cotton was always in control to win 10.

Quarter Finals

Steve Faulkner went 13-8 down on Ian Evans and then 16-12 adrift. But then he ran out.

Ian Gaut raced 13-1 up on Steve Hendy and despite Steve scoring two singles he ran out to win 3.

Pete Spragg trailed Keith Pessall 12-6 early on but then went 14-12 up. It was close until 16 across when Pete ran out.

Louise Cotton was 7-0 up on Bill Grainger but Bill got back to 10 across. She then went 20-10 up before Bill got back to 15 but she then finished it off.

1st Round

Ian Evans found himself 11-5 down against Helen Clee and stayed behind until he went 16-15 up. It was nip and tuck then until he scored a two at 20-19 down to win 20.

Steve Faulkner had a close game early on against Dave Price but then went 15-11 down. He then scored four 2s to help him got 20-16 up and win 18.

Ian Gaut was behind early on against Kevin Hall until he went 11-9 up. It was then close till he went 20-15 up before winning 18.

Steve Hendy was 9-3 up on Graham Bleakley but then went 15-10 down. From 20-12 down he managed to run out.

Pete Spragg was 8-2 down on Dave Langford but then went 13-10 up. He then trailed 15-13 but managed to then run out.

Keith Pessall was 10-3 down against John Clarke but battled back to be 13-10 behind. John then went 17-14 up but Keith ran out.

Bill Grainger was 5-0 down early on against Dave Kilford but got back to 12 across and ran out.

Louise Cotton was always ahead on Mick Thompson racing 18-5 up and winning 9.

Preliminary Round

Helen Clee was 10-3 ahead of Tony Roche and then 17-11 up. Tony did get back to 19-16 down but then Helen got the two she needed.

Ian Evans was 14-4 up on Dave Oldcorn and maintained this lead to win 8.

Steve Faulkner raced 16-0 up on Mick Jones before Mick did get some shots back but Steve won 10.

Dave Price was 7-2 up on Dave Brown and then 14-4. Brown tried to come back but Price finished it off 14.

The draw for the Harris Cup is below. It is drawn straight through now.

Preliminary Round on Wednesday 21st June

1	Castlefields(P)(-27)					Newport A(+4)	At	Castlefields(P)
1	Newport A(+4)					Castlefields(P)(-27)	At	Newport A
2	Bowring A(+7)					Worfield A(+30)	At	Bowring A
2	Worfield A(+30)					Bowring A(+7)	At	Worfield A
3	Allscott Heath A(+13)					Highley(P)(-17)	At	Allscott Heath A
3	Highley(P)(-17)					Allscott Heath A(+13)	At	Highley(P)
4	H U S C A(+6)					Hadnall(P)	At	H U S C A
4	Hadnall(P)					H U S C A(+6)	At	Hadnall(P)
5	Wrock Wood B(+34)					Horsehay A	At	Wrock Wood B
5	Horsehay A					Wrock Wood B(+34)	At	Horsehay A
6	Charlton A(+17)					Madeley C C A(+8)	At	Charlton A
6	Madeley C C A(+8)					Charlton A(+17)	At	Madeley C C A
7	Shifnal A(+12)					Wrockwardine Wood(P)(-29)	At	Shifnal A
7	Wrockwardine Wood(P)(-29)					Shifnal A(+12)	At	Wrockwardine Wood(P)
8	SJ Bayley A(+5)					Sinclair A(+3)	At	SJ Bayley A
8	Sinclair A(+3)					SJ Bayley A(+5)	At	Sinclair A
9	Wrock Wood A(+1)					Bye(+3)	At	Wrock Wood A
9	Bye(+3)					Wrock Wood A(+1)	At	N/A
10	St Georges A(+2)					Bye(+3)	At	St Georges A
10	Bye(+3)					St Georges A(+2)	At	N/A
11	Prince of Wales Hotel					Bye(+3)	At	Prince of Wales Hotel
11	Bye(+3)					Prince of Wales Hotel	At	N/A
12	Trench A(+9)					Bye(+3)	At	Trench A
12	Bye(+3)					Trench A(+9)	At	N/A
13	Bylet(P)(-16)					Bye(+3)	At	Bylet(P)
13	Bye(+3)					Bylet(P)(-16)	At	N/A
14	Shifnal B(+25)					Bye(+3)	At	Shifnal B
14	Bye(+3)					Shifnal B(+25)	At	N/A
15	St Georges(P)(-28)					Bye(+3)	At	St Georges(P)
15	Bye(+3)					St Georges(P)(-28)	At	N/A
16	Sir J Bayley(P)(-26)					Bye(+3)	At	Sir J Bayley(P)
16	Bye(+3)					Sir J Bayley(P)(-26)	At	N/A

1st Round on Wednesday 26th July

1	Winner of Castlefields (P)/Newport A					Winner of Bowring A/Worfield A	At
1	Winner of Bowring A/Worfield A					Winner of Castlefields (P)/Newport A	At
2	Winner of Allscott Heath A/Highley (P)					Winner of Hadley USC A/Hadnall	At
2	Winner of Hadley USC A/Hadnall					Winner of Allscott Heath A/Highley (P)	At
3	Winner of Wrock Wood B/Horsehay A					Winner of Charlton A/Madeley CC A	At
3	Winner of Charlton A/Madeley CC A					Winner of Wrock Wood B/Horsehay A	At
4	Winner of Shifnal A/Wrock Wood (P)					Winner of Sir John Bayley A/Sinclair A	At
4	Winner of Sir John Bayley A/Sinclair A					Winner of Shifnal A/Wrock Wood (P)	At
5	Wrock Wood A(+1)					St Georges A(+2)	At	Wrock Wood A
5	St Georges A(+2)					Wrock Wood A(+1)	At	St Georges A
6	Prince of Wales Hotel					Trench A(+9)	At	Prince of Wales Hotel
6	Trench A(+9)					Prince of Wales Hotel	At	Trench A
7	Bylet(P)(-16)					Shifnal B(+25)	At	Bylet(P)
7	Shifnal B(+25)					Bylet(P)(-16)	At	Shifnal B
8	St Georges(P)(-28)					Sir J Bayley(P)(-26)	At	St Georges(P)
8	Sir J Bayley(P)(-26)					St Georges(P)(-28)	At	Sir J Bayley(P)

Please find below the Ashton Cup Draws. These are drawn straight through now until the final.

The losers of their first game in either round will go into the Ashton Shield.

Preliminary Round on Wednesday 7th June

1	Newport D(+26)					Allscott Heath C(+2)	At	Newport D
1	Allscott Heath C(+2)					Newport D(+26)	At	Allscott Heath C
2	Shifnal C(+9)					Sinclair C(+10)	At	Shifnal C
2	Sinclair C(+10)					Shifnal C(+9)	At	Sinclair C

1st Round on Wednesday 28th June

1	Winner of Newport D/Allscott Heath C					Winner of Shifnal C/Sinclair C	At
1	Winner of Shifnal C/Sinclair C					Winner of Newport D/Allscott Heath C	At
2	Much Wenlock B(+13)					St Georges C(+1)	At	Much Wenlock B
2	St Georges C(+1)					Much Wenlock B(+13)	At	St Georges C
3	Wrock Wood C(+3)					Donn Wood B(+7)	At	Wrock Wood C
3	Donn Wood B(+7)					Wrock Wood C(+3)	At	Donn Wood B
4	Shifnal D(+29)					St. George’s D(+24)	At	Shifnal D
4	St. George’s D(+24)					Shifnal D(+29)	At	St. George’s D
5	H U S C C(+20)					Madeley CC C(+5)	At	H U S C C
5	Madeley CC C(+5)					H U S C C(+20)	At	Madeley CC C
6	Bowring C(+12)					Trench C(+6)	At	Bowring C
6	Trench C(+6)					Bowring C(+12)	At	Trench C
7	Horsehay C(+16)					Charlton B(+17)	At	Horsehay C
7	Charlton B(+17)					Horsehay C(+16)	At	Charlton B
8	Highley(+18)					SJ Bayley D(+19)	At	Highley
8	SJ Bayley D(+19)					Highley(+18)	At	SJ Bayley D

The deadline to enter the Ashton & Harris Cups is end of the day on Friday.

Please see below the entries so far. There are 18 in the Ashton Cup and 23 in the Harris Cup.

Ashton Cup

Allscott Heath C
Bowring C
Charlton B
Donn Wood B
H U S C C
Highley
Horsehay C
Madeley CC C
Much Wenlock B
Newport D
Shifnal C
Shifnal D
Sinclair C
SJ Bayley D
St Georges C
St. George’s D
Trench C
Wrock Wood C

Harris Cup

Allscott Heath A
Bowring A
Bylet(P)
Castlefields(P)
Charlton A
H U S C A
Hadnall(P)
Highley(P)
Horsehay A
Madeley C C A
Newport A
Shifnal A
Shifnal B
Sinclair A
Sir J Bayley(P)
SJ Bayley A
St Georges A
St Georges(P)
Trench A
Worfield A
Wrock Wood A
Wrock Wood B
Wrockwardine Wood(P)

The venue for the over 60s merit has changed from Allscott to Donnington Wood due to the green condition of Allscott.

It takes place on Saturday 20th May at 2 p.m.

Entries can be taken on the day. But entries can be made before with Rob Burroughs on text or whatsapp to 07901 229623.

The entries so far are below:

No	Player	Club
1	Dave Brown	Sinclair
2	John Clarke	Wrock Wood
3	Keith Pessall	SJ Bayley
4	Tony Roche	SJ Bayley
5	Peter Spragg	Sinclair
6	Graham Turner	Shifnal

Ellie Wall marked her return to bowls by winning the Monday Night Merit Finals after an excellent display in the final winning 21-6 against Steve Hendy of Bowring. She was 4-1 down early on, but from 5 across, only conceded one more chalk in a very consistent display. In the Semi Finals, she had to come back against Ian Bates from 9-4 down early on, running out from 18-16 down. Steve also had a tough game against Emma Chetwood, being very close until Steve went 19-14 up and won 17.

In the Quarter Finals Ian had a very close game with Leila James until he went 20-15 up and won 18. Ellie raced 11-1 up on Patrick Evans Jnr, and kept this lead to win 8. Steve was 9-8 down early on against Michael Furness, before he surged ahead to win 12. Emma was 8-0 up on Paul Mills, and then 14-4, before Paul got back to 18 across. But Emma then ran out.

Thank you to the Bayley for hosting and to Celia Miles for doing the food. Thanks to Denise Tonks for doing the raffle. Thank you to Steve Wall, Dave Evans and Louise Cotton for running the qualifiers. Thank you to Sinclair, Madeley Cricket Club and Trench for hosting the qualifiers. Thank you to Malcolm Fletcher and Sean Round for helping me run the finals night.