Comp News 2019
Saturday Nights Are Alright For . . .
Mid Shropshire bowlers are to get Saturday night qualifying sessions in next year's County Merit and Midland Masters - as well as the traditional Sunday afternoon sessions. Saturday evening sessions are already held in North Shropshire so that their bowlers are free to play in the British Parks county championship. But they are to be introduced in the Telford and Shrewsbury areas next year after delegates at the latest county executive meeting asked comps chief Mike Potter to organise them. The aim is to boost entries by giving bowlers more opportunities to play in the two singles competitions. |
Call To Clubs From County
League clubs who would like to host county association competitions in 2020 have been urged to nominate themselves. That was the message from League president Mike Potter at the latest county executive meeting. Mike, who is county competition secretary, told delegates that any club wishing to host an event next year should contact him before January. |
Junior Joy At The Bayley
![]() 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. |
Junior Doubles GOES AHEAD!
GAME ON! The No.1 green at the Sir John Bayley Club has been inspected by groundsman Arthur Morris and is dry! And he is cutting it as this is being posted. So could all 6 entries for the League's Junior Doubles report by 4pm please! They include Fletcher Trophy holders Joe and Tom Killen of Shifnal. |
Junior Doubles - Entries Needed!
Time is running out for youngsters who want to enter this year's Junior Doubles, which is now being played a day later than first planned. The new date is Sunday 29th September starting at 4pm on the bottom No.1 green at Sir John Bayley. But the key to this competition going ahead is that secretary Malcolm Fletcher needs at least 4 confirmed entries by close of play on Friday the 27th. Entries can be sent to him by phone (landline or mobile), text, on Facebook or via Messenger. If we get more entries we may well play 2 round robin groups, like last year at Donnington Wood, with the group winners contesting the final - it really is a case of the more the merrier! The current holders of the Fletcher Trophy are Shifnal twins Joe and Tom Killen. |
Two Great Finals
Malcolm Fletcher writes:
‘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. |
Ready To Roll In Ashton Finals
2019 ASHTON CUP & SHIELD FINALS On Saturday 7th September at Wrockwardine Wood, 6.30pm starts For the second year running, the League delivers two showpiece occasions for the price of one. The success of playing the finals of the Ashton Cup and Ashton Shield at the same time and venue for the first time last year has resulted in organiser Phil King calling for an encore. And this year's clashes are both ‘Davids v Goliaths’ - pitting a fourth division side against a division five team. Allscott Heath C, Ashton Shield winners in 2017, have the main Cup in their sights on the No.1 green where fifth division Trench - Shield runners-up just last year - look a lot stronger as League President Mike Potter urges them to go one better. Horsehay C are off scratch as division four champions last year, but they know they must not take fifth division Bayley D lightly with the Ashton Shield at stake. Sadly, due tro the growing shortage, there will be no referees for the finals, but here’s hoping for two cracking
finals on a memorable Saturday night!
RESERVES – Allscott Heath: Callum Starling Trench: Ray Hyde & Sandra Wade; captain: Mike Potter
RESERVES – Horsehay: Eth Harris, Jade Evans & Chris Phandal Sir John Bayley: Frank Bowyer & Ken Grove |
Instant Impact On Junior Scene
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Under-15 & 18 Merits
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. This time the big day is Saturday 31st August at Bowring, playing each competition on a separate green. 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! |
Semi-finals At The Double
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. . 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. |