Finals:
Steve Watkins won the 2026 Monday Night Merit going one better than in 2024 when he was runner up. He went 9-2 up on Stefan Whitehouse but Stefan came back to lead 12-11. However Steve pushed on again to go 19-12 up, however Stefan came back to 19-17 in the corners. But Steve got the two he needed.
The Semi Finals saw Steve was 8-0 and 16-2 up on Ben Delves and won 9 and Stefan go 8-4 down to Jamie Pritchard and from 11-9 up he ran out.
Scores are here.
Thank you to Edgmond for hosting tonight.
Pictures will follow.
Quarter Finals:
Jamie Pritchard was 9-2 down to Elaine Hall but then went 20-13 up. Elaine got back to 20 across but Jamie got the one he needed.
Stefan Whitehouse was 7-0 and 19-1 up on Keith Rowley and won 5.
Steve Watkins from 3-1 down to Elsie Pugh to 14-3 up and won 6.
Ben Delves was 17-9 up on Chris Taylor in 2s and won 14.
1st Round:
Jamie Pritchard was 12-10 down to Vinny Kirkland but went 19-12 up. Vinny got back to 19-16 behind but Jamie got the two he needed.
Elaine Hall was only 3-2 up on Bridget Ford but then went 16-2 ahead and won 9.
Keith Rowley was 6-0 up on Graham Strong and then 15-8 ahead. From 17-11 up he ran out.
Stefan Whitehouse was only 6-4 up on Finley Pessall but went 14-5 ahead and won 10.
Steve Watkins was 7-2 down to David Dye but went 17-12 up and won 17.
Elsie Pugh was 9-3 up on Harvey Rudkin and then 14-6. Harvey got back to 16-14 down but Elsie went onto win 18. Ben Delves was 7-1 down to Keith Rowley but then 13-10 ahead. From 13-12 up he won 14.
Qualifiers:
Please find below the report on the Monday Night Merit Qualifying.
Thank you to all five greens for hosting, and to Craig Baugh, Colin Petitt, Matt Parton, Jodie Simmonds, Ben Delves and Stefan Whitehouse for running the qualifiers.
Bylet No.1
A big thank you to Craig Baugh for preparing the below report.
Prelims
Jamie Pritchard (Horsehay) took an early lead over Keane Sutherland (Donnington Wood) using a 3/4 mark through the middle of the green to good effect. Keane got in to score a couple of singles. Jamie maintained his lead to win 21-4
David Hall (Shifnal) started off very well against Les Davies (Much Wenlock) to lead 10-2 and 15-7. Les came right back at Dave though to reduce the deficit and draw level at 17-17. Les managed to get in front at 20-17 only for Dave to claw back to 20-19. Dave led 2x 2 foot bowls with Les’ first bowl in the ditch. Only for Les to draw his last wood inches past Dave’s counting bowls to win the match 21-19
Graham Bleakley (Broseley) and Mark Maddox (Allscott Heath) were locked all the way down the card with Mark keeping his nose in front all the way down. Graham just managed to play 2 very good bowls at the end of the game to edge out Mark 21-20.
Round 1
Les Davies took the early initiative against Jamie Pritchard to lead 10-4 (10 ends) only for Jamie to hit right back and only lose another 3 ends in claiming his place in the qualifier 21-14.
Graham Bleakley was in good form in his game against Cameron Murphy (Allscott Heath) utilising a mark at the side of the green to good effect in winning 21-10.
Eddie Gillespie (Donnington Wood) was slow to start against Lynn Rowley (Bowring) as she opened an early 11-4 lead. Eddie consistently tried to find some momentum but lynn maintained her lead to win 21-14.
Sue Humphries (Bowring) took an early lead against Ellis Reeves (Horsehay) who had to play some very good shots to get on the score board with Sue taking this game 21-5
Qualifiers
Lynn Rowley took an early lead 6-1 (5 ends) only for Sue Humphries to peg her back and trail by 1 chalk 7-6 (10 ends). Lynn then went on a run to score 8 unanswered shots to lead 15-6 (15 ends). Sue scored two singles to trail 13-8. but Lynn took another run of 4 ends scoring 2x 2s and 2x 1s to book her place in the finals night.
The game between Graham Bleakley and Jamie Pritchard ebbed and flowed with neither player holding the jack for more than 2 ends until Graham managed to open up a lead from 9-7 to 15-8. Jamie responded by clawing his way back in to trail 15-10 and 17-12. When Jamie got hold of the jack from Graham he played his favoured 3/4 round peg towards the club and thumb back to the number 2 green to run out and win 21-17.
Bylet No.2
Full results are here.
Keith Rowley qualified after beating Mel Maddox 4, Stuart Sutherland 14 and Luis Reeves 11. Elaine Hall joined him after getting past Charlotte Pritchard and Colin Petitt 11.
Donnington Wood
Full results are here.
Two juniors got through at Donnington Wood as Harvey Rudkin and Finley Pessall qualified. Harvey beat Vivienne Dovey 6 and Helen Wilkes 8, while Finley got past Louie Hill and Chris Sheriff 13.
SJB Bottom Green
Full results are here.
Bridget Ford got through after defeating Paul Kelly 8 and Patrick Evans Jnr 14, as well as Hayden Jones who beat Emma Hayward 10 and John Wright 5.
Albrighton
Full results are here.
Two of the Sir John Bayley bowlers got through at Albrighton. Former runner up Steve Watkins beat Matt Gill 10 and Owen Cherrington 15 to qualify, while Ben Delves beat Dave Evans 8 and Roger Chapman 20. Chris Taylor qualified after getting past John Rawlins 6 and Tim Childs 7. Graham Strong was the other qualifier after beating Phil Atkins and Lee Steadman 11.
Charlton
Full results are here.
Stefan Whitehouse qualified by beating Brian Jacques 15 and Maria Varela 11. Vinny Kirkland got through after overcoming Paul Tanner 19 and Dagan Jaggs 18. Elsie Pugh beat Paul Crossley 9 and Guy Lewis 14 to qualify, and David Dye beat Chris Edwards 20 and Jeanette Kinsey to get through.