Not long to wait now . . . the League’s annual presentation dinner is just two nights away with more than 150 booked in to attend on Saturday at the West Stand @ TUFC, starting at 5.30pm and with the meal served from 6.30.

It’s going to be a big night for Newport and Donnington Wood with both having won two divisional titles.

And Newport bowler John Breeze will also be celebrating his own personal and memorable double after winning the Senior Merit at Bylet early in the 2023 season and then topping the first division averages in style.

Castlefields marked their first year in the League by winning the Dennis Lewis Thursday Division championship and the winners of two new competitions, the Thursday Night Merit (Peter Farmer) and Monday Night Merit (Ellie Wall), will be present to collect their prizes.

The presentation part of the evening will end with County President Mick Jones – himself a MSBL title winner last year – asked to officiate at the handing over of a number of special prizes . . .

CAR PARKING INFORMATION – VITAL FOR ALL PEOPLE ATTENDING THE MSBL PRIZE GIVING DINNER ON SATURDAY 20^th JANUARY, starting at 5.3Opm at the West Stand @ TUFC:

Guests attending are to park on the football club car park, in any colour bay, entering via Haybridge Road (TF1 2NW) – near the Fire Station – and walk around the stadium down the slope to the West Stand.

Car registrations are to be put into the Ipad on arrival which is located at the top of the stairs.

Failure to enter correct registration will result in parking fine and the West Stand are unable to assist with parking fines.

Please also be aware that there is no longer any access to the West Stand car park via the Whitehouse Hotel’s car park from Regent Street.

The route into the venue via Haybridge Road also applies to anyone being dropped off or picked up.

As the events booker, it is the League’s responsibility to pass this information to guests attending on the night.

The brand new clubhouse at Allscott Heath – pictured – will play host to an important pre-season meeting.

A meeting of the county executive will be held there on Monday 11th March 11, after a request from Shropshire association chairman Phil Scott.

Chris Hayward, the Allscott Heath bowls chairman, said: “We would be more than happy to host this meeting at our new facilities . . . and look forward to welcoming everyone.”

Before then, the AGM of the SCGBA is on Saturday 3^rd February at the Salop Unison Club, which is by the Shirehall in Shrewsbury, starting at 11am.

Meanwhile, the situation regarding DBS renewals and applications for bowls this year was finalised at this week’s county executive meeting.

They are going to be done in person this year but, as DBS checker Phil Scott is so busy, he is only going to be doing one session.

That is on Saturday 17th February from 8am in the community room at the big Tesco supermarket in Battlefield, Shrewsbury (the room is at the far end of the store, beyond the checkouts)

He told the meeting that clubs would be able to book people in for appointments by logging into their club page on the SCGBA website.

Messages of congratulations have flooded in from all over the crown green world after Telford’s Mabel Finnigan was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to bowls.

The proud pensioner from Madeley has been overhelmed by the number of phone calls, cards and messages received following the announcement in the King’s New Year Honours list.

Widely saluted as the rock of women’s bowling in Shropshire, Mabel has devoted much of her adult life to promoting and organising the sport she still loves to this day.

Her daughter, Deena Woodhall, said: “So proud of Mom – 88 and still going strong.

“She is so thankful for all the hard work certain folks have done for her – and so grateful for all the phone calls and messages.”

Her nephew and God son, St Georges star Tony Rhodes, added: “To be recognised, at this stage in life for what, at the end of the day, has been a passion of hers, is truly humbling for her.”

Shropshire Ladies president and County Development Officer Pauline Wilson led the tributes, saying: “I know many will want to join me in offering our heartfelt congratulations to Mabel for this once in a lifetime award – what a fantastic achievement.

Mabs was the founder and sole secretary of the Telford Ladies Afternoon League for 30 years; treasurer of the Shrewsbury Ladies League for 27 years; and county team captain and official of the Shropshire Ladies association, including the figurehead role of president.

Before taking on such high profile roles, she was a high class bowler in her own right and has treasured memories of her time at Dun Cow Bowling Club in Dawley with her late husband Jim.

She bowled for Madeley Court and, when that green closed, she moved to nearby Madeley Cricket Club BC and also to Broseley – and she is still an active and dedicated member of both those bowls clubs today.

Mid Shropshire League secretary Malcolm Fletcher said: “Mabel was the first female recipient of a life membership from the league in January 2020 – for if anyone deserved such an honour for all she has done for the sport then it was her.

“Her desire to promote the game and all that is good about it is infectious.

“And her determination to do things in the right and proper way is admirable.

“I am sure all the bowls clubs, leagues and bodies she has served over the years would whole heartedly agree.”

Mabel is PICTURED when receiving her MSBL Life Membership in January 2020

Out with the old . . . in with the new – here’s to 2024!

The officers of the League would like to wish all its bowlers, club officials and their families a very happy New Year and a coming season full of matches played in a competitive but sporting spirit.

As already reported, the early signs for 2024 are positive with new team applications already confirmed, others in the pipeline and one sponsorship deal renewed.

More than 150 people are booked in for the League’s annual presentation dinner on Saturday 20th January, at the West Stand @ TUFC, which will be followed by the Mid Shropshire AGM on Tuesday 23rd January at the Bayley Club.

And bowls in Mid Shropshire land has already received a brilliant boost going into 2024 in the New Year’s Honours List – but more of that soon . . .

The officers of the League would like to wish all its bowlers, club officials and their families a very happy and healthy Christmas – and a 2024 season full of jack touchers!

All the early signs are positive for next year with new team applications already confirmed, others in the pipeline and one sponsorship deal renewed.

More than 150 people are booked in for the League’s annual presentation dinner on Saturday 20^th January, at the West Stand @ TUFC, which will be followed by the Mid Shropshire AGM on Tuesday 23^rd January at the Sir John Bayley Club.

And by then 2022 division one champions Horsehay will know if their bid to take the vacant 14^th place in the Shropshire Premier League next year has been successful . . .

The League’s champions of 2022 have been confirmed as sole bidder to take the vacant place in the Shropshire’s Premier League next year.

Horsehay are the only club that applied to succeed Chester Road as the 14^th team in the 12-a-side Premier for the 2024 season following the Whitchurch side’s resignation.

League officers have spent the week since news of the application broke considering all possible scenarios, but the ‘Hoss’ – who finished fifth in division one this year – won’t know their Premier fate until January.

“We have had one application of interest for the 2024 season from Horsehay BC,” confirmed Premier chief Rob Burroughs, who is also Mid Shropshire’s competition and minute secretary.

And he explained the timeline for the application by saying: “As agreed at the October meeting (of the Premier League), the current 13 clubs will firstly vote at the AGM (on January 16) if they want to have 13 or 14 clubs for the 2024 season.

“If they vote to have 14, then Horsehay will be the 14th club.”

The Mid Shropshire’s AGM follows on Tuesday 23^rd January but the League’s divisional structure will not be settled – as is usual – until the March executive meeting.

PICTURED is Andy Garbett receiving the first division trophy for 2022 champions Horsehay

A total of 5 applications to enter new teams in the League in 2024 have been received already.

That was the positive news reported to delegates at this week’s December management committee meeting, the bulk of which was spent discussing the rule change proposal to go forward to the AGM on Tuesday 24^th January – and with plenty of hoped-for feedback.

The applications are for the Monday divisions (2), the Dennis Lewis Thursday Division (2) and the one-year-old Afternoon Division (1).

“I can’t remember receiving so many applications for new teams by this time of year in all of my 12 season tenure as general secretary – and that’s before most clubs have had a chance to officially consider the emails I have sent them in order to try and recruit more teams for next year,” said Malcolm Fletcher.

Plans for an extra pre-season meeting were announced to explain any rule changes made at the AGM, bowler conduct, safety issues and safeguarding to new team captains and club officials in general.

Treasurer Celia Miles reported all annual club accounts had been settled on time and that an early draft of the 2023 balances show the League is set to make a £361 loss on the season.

Prize money to be paid out at the annual presentation dinner on Saturday 20th January at the West Stand @ TUFC is up £1,100 on the 2022 season so match fees – currently 50p per bowler in all divisions – might have to be adjusted for next season.

And finally, the minutes of the November executive meeting are now available to read under Admin.

The positive signs are growing for the League and its bowlers that that they can look forward with confidence to 2024.

Details of a number of applications from teams to join the League next season will be revealed at the December management committee meeting on Tuesday the 5^th at Wellington’s Sir John Bayley Club (7.30pm start).

There could also be completely revamped rules in place for the next campaign now that the league’s officers have carried out a full review of the rules, which will be explained in depth at the meeting.

Plans for the annual presentation dinner in January will also be progressed at what is set to be the last meeting before the AGM, to be held three days after the prize-giving function on Tuesday, January 23.

DECEMBER AGENDA

1  Chairman’s remarks to open the meeting

2  Apologies & In Memoria

3  Minutes of the November Executive Committee Meeting

4  Matters arising

5  General Secretary’s report

6  Correspondence

7  Fixture Secretary’s report – early team applications

8  Rule Change Proposals for 2024

(a) from member clubs (attached – needed to be seconded)

(b) from League officers(attached)

9  Treasurer’s report

10 Competition Secretary’s report (2023 entries list, attached)

11 Annual Presentation Dinner – on Saturday 20^th January at West Stand @ TUFC

12 Plans for 2024 pre-season meeting (s)

13 County matters – news from latest BCGBA management meeting?

14 Any Other Business

15 President / chairman to close the meeting

VITAL REMINDERS

Payment for all extra bookings at the annual presentation dinner MUST BE PAID FOR BY THIS MEETING (£26 adults, £15 juniors). This meeting is also the last chance to pre-order wine at the discounted price of £15 a bottle, to be paid for on the night.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING: TBC, probably AGM on Tuesday 23^rd January at SJBC, 7pm

The League’s clubs have been urged to sign up to look into one way of getting funding for their improvement projects – starting as soon as next week.

“Crowd Funding is the Sport England route to match funding grants now,” explained County Development Officer Pauline Wilson, who is encouraging club officials to look into it.

“There’s another chance to attend a free online course for your club – so why not sit at home and listen to how it works? You just sign up using the link (Crowdfunder Sports: Train the Trainer).

“The next ‘Crowdfund Sport: Train the Trainer’ event will be held on Tuesday 5^th December  12 noon to 1.30pm) and would be really beneficial for anyone involved in club development and funding.”

The session will incorporate live discussion, video content and activities including an introduction to Crowd Funding, how to plan a project and running a campaign.

Meanwhile, Bridgnorth BC is setting the example for other Mid Shropshire clubs to follow when it comes to raising funds during the closed season.

They have signed up for ‘easyfundraisng’ and benefited to the tune of £157 this year, with £30 of that in the past month.

The sport’s governing body, the British Crown Green Bowling Association, has partnered with easyfundraising, which turns everyday online shopping into free donations for clubs.

“You first need to register your club for free (at easyfundraising.org.uk/crown-green-bowls) and then encourage your members and their families to sign up to support your club,” said a spokesperson.

“When you are ready to shop online, first go to the easyfundraising website or app, and then you can shop as normal at over 6,000 retailers. The retailer will then send a percentage donation to your club at no extra cost on a regular basis.”

Pauline Wilson added: “It costs the club and the individual nothing – it really is a no brainer and couldn’t be easier!”