Callum aims for TV role

Callum Wraight is enduring a run of big tournament near-misses since becoming British Merit champion - and he hopes it does not stop him appearing on TV overseas next week.

The Shrewsbury ace, now 23, flies out to Portugal on Saturday for the £10,000 Oceanico Champions Event eager to fulfil an ambition of doing his stuff on television.

He is one of 16 big title winners invited to take part at the leisure resort, along with 48 who have paid for the privilege, in round robin groups early next week.

As a seeded player he is guaranteed a place in the last 32 on Thursday, needing to win two games to feature in the last eight for Friday's finals day - which will be filmed by Sky TV.

"If I can just win two games it would be great because I've always wanted to be on TV - and the same goes for Graeme Wilson (the Britsh No 1)," said Wraight.

First he will try to qualify for the finals of the Congleton Open tomorrow, a title he won last year, and then there's the Premiership Pool A final for Castlefields against Chester Road at Bylet on Friday (7.15pm).

But Wraight is currently struggling with a heavy cold - and the disappointment of losing in the semi-finals of the £4,320 Coors Pudsey Classic in Yorkshire.

Having lost in the last eight of the Autumn Waterloo and then round one of the Champion of Champions, Wraight was looking good at Pudsey as he swept past local star Peter Jagger 21-19 in the quarter-finals.

But his reaction to winning that game angered "four or five lads" who took great delight in his 21-19 semi-final exit against Simon Coupe, who then lost by the same score to Chris Mordue in the final.

"I got loads of abuse off the side and the group of lads got chucked out by the organisers before the final.

"It's something I have got to deal with, and it did not bother me during the game.

"It was such a good chance for me. I was 9-2 up on Simon but I could not shake him off," added Wraight.

"I was two-on twice late on but he fired me off and then drew two good bowls - but at least I'm playing well."

By MALCOLM FLETCHER