The League have been asked by Sinclair club officials to make the local bowling world aware of the funeral details of Lynn Irvine, following her sad passing earlier this month.

Her funeral service will be on Thursday 7th December at Telford Crematorium, starting at 2.30pm.

Lynn played for Trench Ladies first when she took up bowling in the early 1980s and then GKN Sankey, where she also worked.

Then when Sankeys’ Social Club finished she move to play for Sinclair – and did so until last season. Lynn also worked at the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall.

The wife of former Wellington Town and Telford United goalkeeper Bobby, Lynn played throughout the 2022 season.

She won 11 out of 18 games for Sinclair in the Shrewsbury Ladies League – including two 21-1 wins – and played twice for the club in Mid Shropshire divison three and 17 times for the C team in the fourth division.

Sinclair secretary Kevin Hall said: “She was a long standing member of Sinclair and will be sadly missed.”

The planned recruitment drive for 2024 has started!

All 26 member clubs have now received an official email from the MSBL asking them to consider a couple of things over the winter . . .

1 The League aims to re-launch the Saturday Division next year.

It had a unique format of 4 singles and 2 doubles, so a minimum of just 4 bowlers are needed to make up a team. It was a 2pm start to fixtures in the last season it was played in 2019. There were 8 clubs that competed that year . . . before Covid intervened

2 Just 1 more side is the minimum goal for the Afternoon Division that was launched this year.

Matches are 6-a-side and start at 1.30pm. They are played predominantly on Thursday afternoons, finishing before August – but there is the odd Tuesday too to avoid clashing with the Mid Shropshire Senior Citizens League’s main competitions from late July onwards.

League general secretary Malcolm Fletcher said: “I appeal to all clubs, on behalf of the officers, to give these two requests serious consideration over the closed season as a final decision on entries and re-launches etc does not have to be taken until the March executive meeting.”

In addition, the League has contacted specific clubs to stress that it is eager to see the top 3 divisions on Friday nights return to as near to 14 teams per division as possible next year.

“This year we have been 5 short of that number – so that is the ideal number of new recruits we are aiming for,” said Malcolm.

“And the reason for this email is to ask your club to at least consider fielding an extra 10-a-side team in division 3 in 2024.

“Green availability is the reason your club has been identified as a possibility but, obviously, membership numbers are the key factor.

“But your club would not have to make a final decision on making a formal application until the March executive meeting, so there is time to give this request full consideration at club committee level and attempt to sign a few more bowlers to achieve the goal.”

The latest meeting of the county executive heard that Tanners Shropshire League chairman Andy Jones is the new vice-chairman of the SCGBA, succeeding our own League chairman Sean Round, who resigned earlier this year.

There is about £28,000 in the bank over the 2 county accounts. Honoraria to rise by 6.7 per cent next year and, with such a healthy balance, grants to clubs look set to re-start in 2024 to give something back.

DBS checks will be going back to face to face next year, in February / March – so MSBL clubs are urged to check on the expiry dates of the 3 year certificates of their safeguarding officers and coaches etc.

County Registrar had dealt with 278 new registrations so far this year – 265 in total in 2022.

Dennis UK is sponsoring the best kept green competition again next season and will increase their sponsorship again. They are also looking to promote pre season and post season greens seminar in the county.

Sadly, Pauline Wilson is standing down as County Development Officer (but is to carry on coaching!). Her brainchild, Roll Up Shropshire, saw 27 affiliated clubs hold 44 sessions. There were 314 people that attended and 65 of these have signed up as club members. This recruitment drive will be done every one or two years.

There are 2 newly qualified referees and nominations are sought for County Deputy President in 2024 . . .

The 2024 SCGBA Competition dates are to be finalised at the January Executive Meeting, but the Dave Card Memorial Rosebowl and Centenary Mixed Pairs competitions will be run together again next season.

There will be changes to all three inter league competitions, whether it be in the format or the number of players in each team.

Besides that, there are several rule changes for the 2024 AGM, but mostly tidying up.

Greens outside the clubs who entered will be used for the County & Shropshire Cups.

With regards to the sport’s governing body, the BCGBA is down to just 3 officers as others have resigned, there’s only 1 sponsor left and the  county chairman said the situation was an “absolute mess”.

There are still issues with the BCGBA open certificates an d there have been discussions about respect from players towards officials at county matches.

The 2024 BCGBA Competition dates are to be finalised at the November Meeting this coming weekend.

Staffordshire are withdrawing from the Junior County Championship, meaning just 3 counties are left. These will arrange to play amongst themselves . . . all being well!

Ironically, given that news, Reclaim Tax are to sponsor the Shropshire Junior team as well as the Seniors in 2024.

Two member clubs want to see changes to the points earned from fixtures in the Friday and Monday divisions next year.

Proposals from Hadley USC and Charlton were outlined to delegates at the League’s November executive meeting this week.

Hadley want to see 4 points – rather than 3 – awarded to teams who win away on aggregate while their near neighbours are proposing that the points scoring system used in the Dennis Lewis Thursday Division is introduced in the Monday divisions in 2024.

Both proposals will need to be seconded at next month’s meeting in order to go before the AGM, which is now set for Tuesday 23rd January, using both function rooms at the Bayley Club.

A formal application to join the Dennis Lewis division has been received from Meole Brace and League officers are soon to start moves to try and boost the number of teams in the Friday divisions, find at least 1 more side for the Afternoon Division and try to re-launch the Saturday Division (which boasts a unique format of four singles matches and two doubles).

Colin Rudrum has confirmed he will be continuing for one more year as chair of the disciplinary committee but nominations are still sought for the role of vice-chairman – to succeed Steve Wall – and County Deputy President.

Honoraria will rise by 6.7 per cent – in line with CPI for September – and more than 150 bookings have been received for the League’s Annual Presentation Dinner on Saturday 20^th January at West Stand @ TUFC.

Member clubs will be warned at the League’s next meeting that they are facing a potentially marathon AGM in January.

Two rule change proposals from Charlton and Hadley USC will be outlined to delegates at tomorrow’s (Tuesday the 7^th)  November executive meeting at Wellington’s Sir John Bayley Club (7.30pm).

They will require a seconder at next month’s executive meeting before going before the 2024 annual meeting, but the league’s officers are in the process of conducting a thorough review of all rules which will need approving at the AGM.

TOMORROW’S AGENDA

1  Chairman’s remarks to open the meeting

2  Apologies & In Memoria

3  Minutes of the October Executive Committee Meeting

4  Matters arising

5  General Secretary’s report

6  Correspondence

7  Treasurer’s report  – including honoraria proposal for 2024 AGM (based on CPI for Sept)

8  Competition Secretary’s 2023 report

9  Fixture Secretary’s report

10 Dave Ellis Shield review & venue for 2024

11 Rule Change Proposals for 2024

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

13 County matters –report from executive meeting on 9^th October at Bridgewater

14 Any Other Business

15 President / chairman to close the meeting

FAILURE to send a representative to this meeting will result in a £5 fine

VITAL REMINDERS

COMPLETED ANNUAL DINNER FORMS should be returned at this meeting. Bookings for EXTRA PLACES (and there are no limits), with their menu choices, are needed at this meeting too. Clubs then need to pay for extra bookings, by cheque made payable to the Mid Shropshire Bowling League, by the December meeting at the latest.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Executive on Tuesday the 5^th December at SJBC at 7.30pm

Bowlers who want to celebrate the 2023 season in style by attending the League’s annual presentation dinner need to act fast!

They need to book places with their club secretaries this week – ahead of the League’s November executive meeting on Tuesday the 7.

Clubs with trophies to pick up and bowlers who have won titles are expected to dominate the turnout on SATURDAY 20th JANUARY 2024 at The West Stand @ TUFC.

A full list of everyone who is to receive prize money on the night can be seen under the ‘2023 Prize Winners’ post in Competition News

But all bowlers and their families and friends are welcome to be part of what is firmly established as the biggest bowls prize-giving function in Shropshire, coming at a time of year when many people want something to look forward to.

As per league rules, all member clubs have been allocated and charged for 2 places for the dinner  – but lots of extra places are available at a cost of £26 adults and £15 juniors, the League sponsoring each adult place to the tune of £2.

 The function starts at 5.30pm and the meal will be served at 6.30 and, to whet your appetite, here’s the 2024 MENU:

^,STARTERS –  HOMEMADE MINESTRONE SOUP (with croutons)

Or  ROSE OF MELON (served with mango coulis & berries)

MAINS – ROAST BEEF (with Yorkshire Pudding, roast potatoes & seasonal vegetables)

Or  MUSRHOOM & SPINACH WELLINGTON (with rich tomato sauce)

SWEETS – BREAD & BUTTER PUDDING & CUSTARD

Or  TOFFEE CHEESECAKE & CREAM

PLUS – COFFEE & MINTS

SPECIAL DRINKS PRICES

WINE £15 a bottle ORDERED IN ADVANCE – red, white or rose – payable on collection. Please note a bottle of wine will cost £25 on the night!

Carling, Worthington & Thatchers all £4 a pint (pitchers £15)

VITAL CAR PARKING INFORMATION

People attending are to park on the football club car park, entering from Haybridge Road and then walking round to the West Stand entrance. They MUST enter their car’s registration on the ipad by the door. Failure to enter the correct registration will result in a parking fine and West Stand will not be able to help.

If it’s change you want to see in the League next season then there is a key deadline approaching.

Member clubs have until October 31st to get any rule change proposals to the general secretary – in writing and in the exact wording they want them voting on.

That will be done at the League’s 2024 AGM – which is now booked for Tuesday 23 January at the Sir John Bayley Club at 7pm – BUT only if the proposal receives a ‘seconder’ at the December meeting.

Two proposals have already been received from clubs and the League’s officers are currently conducting their own thorough review of all the rules.

One consequence is that completely revamped Competition Rules will go before the annual meeting, at the instigation of comps secretary Rob Burroughs after his first year in the role.

Memories – good and bad – have been sparked for many players by the end of competitive bowling on one of the oldest greens in Mid Shropshire

Allscott Heath brought the curtain down on their 92-year-old green with a new open competition that was fittingly won by a legendary figure of the sport in the county.

Peter Farmer, the four-time County Merit winner and 1990 Mid Shropshire Merit champion made the short journey home to Bratton £500 richer while Allscott members were left with their memories – and the exciting prospect of moving ‘over the road’ to a new two-green facility.

And the old green and clubhouse are pictured, along with a glimpse of the new facility literally just over the road.

Bowls club chairman Chris Hayward ran the open and a club spokesman for the former British Sugar club said: “The club started with just one team in 1931 and we now have eight teams competing in various leagues throughout Shropshire.

“When British Sugar decided to close the factory and sell off the site where the club was located there were grave concerns.

“However, with the new housing development on the old factory site and the securing of a 99-year lease and grant from Sport England for the bowling greens, the club’s future is now secured.

“Part of the new facility, with clubhouse on the opposite side of the road, is the laying of two new bowling greens – one of which is artificial, the first in Shropshire we believe, which is causing great interest amongst the bowling fraternity.”

There’s rules and there’s rules . . .

The ladies of the League ruled at Trench to win back the Dave Ellis Shield on Saturday night – and 48 hours later the officers held their first rules revision meeting of the autumn.

The winners of annual challenge match against the gents are pictured celebrating after a five shot victory in the 14-a-side match.

Six winners from the 14 games were enough to give the ladies a second success in the end-of season challenge that has now been played five times.

Lucy Evans (21-4), Georgia Rawlins (21-8), Pauline Roden (21-10) and Linda Potter (21-11) were the key winners for the ladies as the curtain came down on a fine season for Trench, who marked their centenary year by winning the Best Green in Shropshire title.

For the full Dave Ellis results please see Competition News

The next day it was Allscott Heath in the spotlight as bowling officially ended on their 92-year-old green with the finals of an open competition, the £500 first prize being won by 1990 Senior Merit winner Peter Farmer (St Georges).

Bowls club chairman Chris Hayward was at the reins and members now look forward to moving across the road next month and playing at a two green facility next season.

It’s going to be an emotional weekend for member club Allscott Heath with the last ever matches on its old green.

The village club is marking the end of its long history alongside what was once the Sugar Beet Factory with an open competition that has qualifying sessions on Saturday 14^th October and a finals day on the Sunday.

Then the old green will disappear under a massive housing development on the former factory site and the club will move ‘over the road’ to a brand new two-green base, one of them having an artificial surface.

 “The final of the competition on Sunday will be the last competitive game on the green, an event to do down in history and to be remembered as we look to host the competition annually going forward on our new facilities,” said bowls club chairman Chris Hayward.

Qualifiers at 10am and 2pm on Saturday will cater for 32 entries – home bowlers entered will be handicapped – and the last eight will battle it out for a £500 first prize from 12 noon on Sunday.

County President Mick Jones, his deputy Brenda Slingo and Mid Shropshire League officials led by President Mike Potter have been invited as guests to witness the historic occasion.

And it means Allscott Heath will play their League matches in 2024 on a new green!

Meanwhile, there’s still time for bowlers to sign up to play in the annual ladies versus gents challenge match for the Dave Ellis Shield at Trench on Saturday 14^th October (6pm start).

To take part in the match – and the more the merrier – simply contact general secretary Malcolm Fletcher by text to 07890-856525 ASAP.