From ovation to desperation – it was an emotional weekend for All England winner Callum Wraight.

Shropshire’s first winner of the British Merit title in 22 years was one of the main guests at the Tanners Shropshire League’s presentation.

And he received a standing ovation from a near-200 attendance at Shrewsbury’s Lord Hill Hotel.

But 24 hours later the Castlefields star was coming to terms with a heart-breaking 21-20 defeat in the final of a big money competition that is on the reserve list of qualifiers for next year’s Champion of Champions.

Having left home at 7.15am on Sunday, the 23-year-old won three games at Clowne in north Derbyshire – scene of his 2003 British Junior Merit triumph – to reach the last 32 of the Arthur Johnson Memorial KO.

Wraight then saw off Andy Hodgson (Yorkshire) 21-17, Aaron Harrison (South Yorkshire) to 10, Jamie Wilcox – the man Clay Flattley beat at Meole as Shropshire won the Crosfield Cup – 21-12 and semi-final opponent Andy Whitaker (South Yorks) 21-15.

He was 16-12 up in the final against Kevin Nixon of South Yorkshire too, and lying one, when a fluke fire left him two down, what was to prove a “big swing” in the game.

A super draw at 19-19 took the Shropshire star to the brink and, when he led a foot bowl, he looked home and dry.

But Nixon drew it, went full corners and played a toucher to win, Wraight declaring: “It was devastating to lose like that – I was gutted.”

Prizemoney of £440 was some consolation, clubmate Flattley having bowed out 21-17 in his first game against Rob Thompson of Yorkshire.

But Wraight is not finished with 2009 just yet, he has a one-dayer at Florence on Sunday, an invitation 32 at Congleton the weekend after and then the Lew Page.

He’s already entered 50 competitions next year and, despite feeling a bit unlucky not to have had more open success this summer, there’s no denying his pride at being reigning British champion.

“It was overwhelming the reception I got on Saturday night, but winning the All England has still not really sunk in yet – it’s quite surreal,” admitted Wraight.

“I learned to play bowls in the Tanners league so it meant an awful lot to me.”

Gary Neal (division two averages and Handicap) and David Payne (youth singles & doubles) were other individuals in the spotlight.

Greenfields Social bounced back from a tough winter to win division four, Bishop’s Castle marched on through division three and Dorrington won their first ever promotion – as runners-up in reserve division five.

By MALCOLM FLETCHER