League News

There's just one sleep to go before the 2025 Mid Shropshire Senior Merit finals on Saturday 31st May at Edgmond from 2pm.  Kindly sponsored again by Shropshire Vertidrain & Turf Services Ltd, a last 16 field packed with quality has emerged from a superb entry of nearly 90.. Past winners Paul Reeves, Paul Beer and Peter Farmer – the four- time County …

Newsletter No.5, May-June 205, is now available to read. Please go to Admin and the drop down to League Minutes & Newsletters. Enjoy!

Another slice of League history has been made as some member clubs aim to deliver the goods over the Big Bowls (Bank Holiday) Weekend. Allscott Heath and Broseley held their open sessions today – Saturday 24th May – as part of the nationwide drive to encourage more people of all ages to take up the sport. And tomorrow it’s the turn of  …

The glorious sunny weather of late may have greenkeepers getting concerned but is has been great for the League’s competitions. Entries in the Senior Merit qualifiers and Dixon Driscoll Doubles at Newport were up again – and now organiser Rob Burroughs has set a new target for tomorrow’s (Saturday 17th May) Over-60s Merit. “It's been a very strong start to the season …

After a week without Friday fixtures due to qualifying for the Senior Merit, the action in divisions 1-2-3 resumes tomorrow (9th May) with a top flight cracker. Reigning champions Shifnal entertain arch rivals Sinclair cracker in a game that will be littered with big names. They include four-time County Merit Peter Farmer for the visitors and Shifnal’s closed season signing, Shropshire Ladies …

The old adage that a change is as good as rest is working for young bowler Dan Corbett. Having joined Trench from Sinclair over the winter, the 2023 and ’24 Mid Shropshire Under-18 Merit champion started the season by winning the main title at the County Trials at Old Shrewsbury last month. And this week he added the League’s Under-25 Merit for …

The League’s drive to get a qualified coach at every one of its 28 member clubs is gathering pace fast. Spearheaded by County Development Officer Pauline Wilson, the details of the Level 1 Coaching course have now been released. The Coach Bowls course costs £150 but 50% of that is covered by a BCGBA bursary upon completion, the county association give a …

The weather may have taken a turn for the worse but it was hot stuff on the opening Friday night of the 2025 season in divisions 1-2-3. Reigning first division champions Shifnal made a fine start with an 11-3 win at Bowring with historic double averages winner Sonya Lucas among their new recruits. Arch rivals Sinclair, with four-time County Merit winner Peter …

Not too long to wait until the first fixtures of 2025 in divisions 1-2-3 this coming Friday. But there’s been plenty going on in the countdown to the bi day with action starting in 5 other divisions and plenty of newsworthy items. The League’s revamped annual presentation dinner is now set in stone for Friday 14th November at The Shropshire in Muxton. …

It’s been a sunshine start to the League season – and the Monday divisions spring back into life tomorrow – 7th April. And one of the 36 10-a-side teams in action from 7pm will be one that's packed with junior bowlers. Sir John Bayley E are one of the new sides in division 6 and are full of anticipation for their home …

Two last minute withdrawals but, thankfully, one new addition accepted was the mixed bag of news from the League’s April management meeting. Hadley USC pulled out of division 3 on Friday nights with their club secretary reporting they had lost 7 first team players since the March meeting. Allscott Heath also withdrew their B side from the Dennis Lewis Thursday Division – …

Last minute preparations for a new League season will be made at Tuesday’s management meeting at Wellington’s Sir John Bayley Club on 1st April (7.30pm start). Club delegates will be briefed on the new rules approved for the 2025 campaign by the sport’s governing body so that everyone is clear before the 2025 fixtures start. They will also hear about progress on …

With plans for a coaching-based Development Project gathering pace, the League is delighted that a new team built around junior bowlers will be competing in division 6 this coming season. Sir John Bayley’s burgeoning group of youngsters will be in action with James Blair as their manager and with June Lewis having sponsored new team shirts – SEE PICTURE. Team members were …

It’s not just spring and the abundant daffodils that have returned to Mid Shropshire land – competitive crown bowls is back too! A whole plethora of open competitions locally mean there are loads of opportunities for bowlers to get in some practice ahead of the start of the 2025 League season next month. Today (Saturday 22nd March) and tomorrow there are qualifiers …

As many of you will already know, the 2025 fixtures in the League’s nine divisions are now LIVE! The home page on the results section also includes all the details of the competitions and team knockouts in the coming season so all bowlers get continual reminders of the details and entry fees and deadlines and the known venues. And in an early …

The League has launched a Development initiative aimed at increasing participation in the sport and membership of clubs of juniors – and indeed people from across the whole age range. What is clear from the talk that former County Development Officer Pauline Wilson gave at the League's March executive meeting last week is that clubs having a qualified coach within their ranks …

Stockton are back in the League after a five year absence. Their return for the first time since the 2019 season was rubber stamped at the March executive meeting when the divisional set-ups for the 2025 campaign were finalised. The village club based at Norton beside the A442 to Bridgnorth will feature in division three on Fridays alongside fellow newcomers Donnington Wood …

Two potentially in, two definitely out is the current state of play when it comes to the line-up in the League’s main Friday divisions for the 2025 campaign. Votes to accept a B team from Donnington Wood and the return of Stockton will be taken at the March executive meeting on Tuesday the 4th at SJBC (7.30pm start). But delegates at the …

One of the latest updates on this website – besides this post! – is that all the Rules for 2025 season have now been uploaded under Admin by new webmaster Rob Burroughs. Soon to follow are a number of Harris Cup winners between the years 1950 and 1994 that were missing from the handbook (last printed in 2018) and the website. That’s …

Greenkeepers and the teams that maintain the playing surfaces of member clubs are being urged not to miss out on an ideal chance to get some expert advice. Edgmond, winners of the Best Green in Shropshire title last year, are hosting a Greenkeepers’ Community event on Thursday 27th February , staring at 7.30pm. Sponsored by Dennis-Sisis and organised by the county association, …