Bowls: Vets league to grow even bigger in 2017

Forty teams competed in the Barlows Whitchurch Over-60s League in 2016 and two more are up for election at Tuesday afternoon's AGM at Tilstock BC (2pm).

District and Nantwich's Barony Park both want to enter new B teams which, if their applications are successful, would give the eight-a-side league three divisions of 14 sides on Tuesday afternoons in 2017.

But joining the league could become more difficult after the annual meeting – if one of the rule change proposals is approved.

"Basically the rules are just a tidying up but one proposal is that any new teams must be within 13 miles radius of Whitchurch," said league fixture secretary Mike Beckett.

"The main change is that we now have a management committee made up of officials and four elected representatives – and we did not have elected representatives before.

"Another proposal is changing the division averages award to actual averages and not games won as the league positions are based on points scored per match and not points awarded."

All officers are prepared to stand again, with former chairwoman Ivy Maddox one of those up for election to the management committee, while dates and venues for the mixed doubles and the annual luncheon will be decided.

But the pre-season meeting has been set for Tuesday, March 28.

The full house signs have gone up for the fourth District winter round robin on Sunday - the only outdoor action in Shropshire this weekend.

Janice Broad, organiser of the competition at the Whitchurch club, said: "We have 32 entered, starting at 10.30am, and we are going to be using both greens."

It was the same number and format for the third promotion in January which was won by Carl Preece of reigning Tanners Shropshire League champions Elephant & Castle (Shawbury).

Action in the North Shropshire Parks winter series will resume with round 12 on February 12.