John Breeze retained the Shropshire Vertidrain & Turf Services Mid Shropshire Senior Merit with a clinical display of bowling in the final against the Over 60s Merit winner Paul Beer. He raced 17-2 up in the final after losing the first end, and despite Paul getting back in he couldn’t get a run going and John won 9. In the Semi Finals John beat Chris Lodge 14 after going 9-4 and 16-7 up. Paul had defeated Simon Madeley 18 in a close game, trailing 8-4 early on and then 16-15.

Please find a report below of the other games tonight.

Thank you to Broseley for hosting tonight.

Well done to John on retaining the trophy, only the fourth person to do so behind Jack Driscoll, Andy Stevens and Jamie King.

Full scores are here.

Quarter Finals:

Chris Lodge was 10-2 down to Roy Bradburn but Chris got back in and went 19-13 ahead. Roy pulled it back to 20 across but Chris beat two one yard bowls in the corners to win the game.

John Breeze was 10-7 down on Sian Skelton but went 14-11 up. Sian got back to lead 17-15 and 20-17 but John came back to run out.

Paul Beer was 13-5 down to Les Mumford but then went 19-13 up on a straight mark and held on to win 15.

Simon Madeley was 9-4 up on Darrell Handley then 13-9 down. He got back to lead 18-17 and won 20.

Last 16:

Chris Lodge went 15-8 up on Kate Wainwright and kept this lead to win 15.

Roy Bradburn was 7-0 up and 17-7 ahead of Rob Clarke and won 9.

John Breeze was 9-5 down early to Dave Price and then 12-10 but went 16-12 up and won 15.

Sian Skelton was 7-3 down to Carleen Doody-Millington but then went 10-7 up. She went 16-10 ahead and then 20-14 before winning 15.

Les Mumford went 11-3 up on Nick Mullinder and then 16-9. Nick got back to 16-14 down but Les kicked on again to win 17.

Paul Beer was 9-4 down to Stuart Church but then 11-9 up. He went 19-14 up before Stuart got back to 19 across, however Paul got out in the next two ends.

Darrell Handley from 5-4 up went 14-4 up and beat Johnny Davies 8.

Simon Madeley was 7-3 down against Harry Church but then went 14-9 up. Harry got back to 20 across but Simon got the one he needed.

The 2024 Shropshire Vertidrain & Turf Services finals today at Broseley has a quality line-up of 16 of our best players, 5 of them previous winners. Reigning champion John Breeze looks to regain the title he won 12 months ago, and faces Dave Price of Hadley USC first game. Former winner, and sponsor of this competition, Paul Beer aims to win it again but has a tough opener against another former champion in Stuart Church. Stuart’s son Harry won the Division One Averages in 2022, and has team mate Simon Madeley first game. Les Mumford is another former winner in the field, and will have some extra green knowledge from playing on Broseley in the Highley league. Les takes on Hadley USCs former County Junior Merit winner Nick Mullinder first game, while his team mate Chris Lodge is against former finalist Kate Wainwright at the top of the draw. Roy Bradburn is yet another former winner in the field, and has Wrockwardine Wood stalwart Rob Clarke first up. There is an all female clash as we look for the first female winner of this competition, with Carleen Doody-Millington taking on Sian Skelton, who was runner up in the Mixed Doubles last Sunday. Two other team mates collide as Staffordshire’s Darrell Handley takes on John Davies, both playing this year at Shifnal.

It promises to be a cracking night at Broseley with a 6.30 start, the first 5 games going on to speed up the night. There will be scores updated here.

Dress code applies tonight.

There will be food after the finals have finished.

The full draw is below.

1	Chris Lodge			Kate Wainwright
2	Roy Bradburn			Rob Clarke
3	John Breeze			Dave Price
4	Carleen Doody – Millington			Sian Skelton
5	Les Mumford			Nick Mullinder
6	Paul Beer			Stuart Church
7	Jonathan Davies			Darrell Handley
8	Harry Church			Simon Madeley