Reigning Under-18 singles champion Ed Proudlove and Susie Lawson are the 2019 winners of the League's Junior Doubles.

The Elephant & Castle (Shawbury)-Bowring partnership got their hands on the Fletcher Trophy by beating the holders in the final on Sir John Bayley's No.1 green on Sunday 29th September.

Shfinal twins Joe and Tom Killen, winners at Donnington Wood in 2018,  were soon 5-0 down but were in the game at only 8-6 adrift under the floodlights after the rain that had threatened the cancellation of the competition had finally stopped.

But a three shot haul at the 10th end, soon followed by a full house four, put 17-year-old Ed and Susie (16) in control as they ran out 21-12 winners.

The Killens had survived a tough semi-final before beating Will Thompson (SJB) and Thomas Oare (Sinclair) 21-16 after 28 ends, but Ed and Susie were always in control in defeating Joe Dorricott & Byron Fletcher (Sinclair) 21-6.

Seven pairs entered and the League would like to pay special thanks to the Bayley and their groundsman Arthur Morris for his willingness to cut the green when the weather forecast did not look very promising.

 

  

‘Two great finals’ was the proud verdict of Mid Shropshire President Mike Potter on the league’s Ashton trophy showdowns. Trench C lifted the main Ashton Cup for Monday division sides on Wrockwardine Wood  No.1 while Horsehay C edged a nail-biting Ashton Shield final on the adjoining No.2 green at the same time on the night of Saturday 7th September.

And Potter was doubly proud as the non-playing captain of the Trench side who did not need their 13 shot handicap start to beat Allscott Heath C by 18 shots after their near-miss in last year’s Shield final.  Lucy Evans (21-8) and Pauline Roden (21-10) were Trench’s leaders of the pack in a tie that finished with five winners apiece – Carl Starling a 21-5 winner for Allscott after Les Pritchard’s 21-8, but it was not quite enough.

There was only one shot in it as Horsehay C, the reigning fourth division champions, overcame a 20 chalk deficit on the handicap to pip plucky fifth division Sir John Bayley D. The final totals were 186-185 as Patrick Evans (jnr) with 21-6 and last man Guy Lewis with 21-8 just about got Horsehay over the line, the Bayley’s best being William Thompson with 21-9.

Organiser Phil King said: “It was a really good night, both finals played in a good spirit and both very well supported."  For full final scores go to Competition 2019 under the Results tab.

Just like last year, the early rounds of the League's Under-15 and Under-18 Merits will be played on the same evening this season.

It's enter on the  day - free of charge - and bowlers are asked to  report by 5.15pm at the latest (or let organisers Malcolm or Sean know they will be arriving a little later so they can be entered into the draw) - with play due to start at 5.30.

Refreshments will be available and action in both singles comps will be progressed as far as possible . . .

And it is vital as many youngsters enter this year as the League will are using Bowring's greens to host the Shropshire junior inter-league championship on Sunday 8th September - for which practice could be the key to success!

Two of the League's three team knockouts reach the semi-final stage tomorrow - Wednedsay21st August.

The main Harris Cup sees division one rivals Sir John Bayley A and Newport A collide in one of the six home-six away ties.

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And the other features Premier new boys Highley  against their new league rivals Wrockwardine Wood.

Mid Shropshire's Monday teams are also to the fore in the Ashton Cup semi-finals, the five home-fix away showdowns being: Allscott Heath C v St Georges C, Much Wenlock B v Trench C.

A triples competition that is open to bowlers from all over Shropshire is going ahead in the Shrewsbury area on Sunday 18th August.

The Tony Poole Charity Triples is being run by the Tanners Shropshire League and the last eight will play in the finals at the county legend's home of Old Shrewsbury.

  

Entry is £10 per team and qualifiers will be played on Shrewsbury area greens in the morning, bookings to Graeme Wornell on 07974-623822.

Don't worry if you have yet to enter the St Georges Mixed Doubles this Sunday (11th August ).

It's not too late to book a place with Tony Rhodes on 07843-868606 and the forecast is decent.

Entry is £8 per pair (one home bowler allowed per pair) with qualifying sessions are at 9.30an and 1pm.

The last eight will then battle it out for the Nicholas Rhodes Memorial Trophy from 4.30pm with £750 prize money on offer with a full house.

And a donation from the day's proceeds will be made to the charity Bloodwise.