Farmer reaps reward with Classic pickings

There was no way Peter Farmer was going to end the 2009 season without a big money title to his credit.

So it was no real surprise when he became the first Shropshire winner of the county's biggest open first prize, the £1,200 jackpot in the Dickie Bond Classic at Donnington Wood.

The four-time County Merit winner may not have won anything with St Georges this year, but individual titles have kept rolling his way.

A first County Handicap triumph was followed by a sixth Premier League Merit success and then £200 from the open at his old club Childs Ercall.

But Farmer - All England runner-up in 2005 - relishes performing on the biggest stage, and they don't come any bigger in Shropshire now than on Saturday.

And his 21-18 triumph over Merseyside crack Matt Gilmore may just make Farmer the first qualifier for the 2010 Champion of Champions in Blackpool.

"It was a final befitting the title Classic as both players tried to out-smart each other on a similar corner-to-corner mark on the old green at Donnington," said referee Mike Potter.

Gilmore had earlier broken the heart of one of the former Bell Boys in the last 16 qualifiers, former captain Dave Rhodes.

Now with Newport in the Premier, Rhodes was 19-17 up and game-on against the Merseysider in the semi-finals. But Gilmore found the resolve to run the block en route to a 21-20 victory from 18-11 down.

Farmer had swept aside former Wrockwardine Wood man Dave Semper to 10 in his last four battle, having seen off Childs Ercall's Brian Short 21-17 in the quarters.

At the same stage Rhodes had rallied from 14-6 down to beat Rich Goddard (Castlefields), Ian Gaut (St Georges) - watched by his father Nev - had bowed out 19 against Semper while Gilmore beat Jason Groom.

Delighted Donnington chairman Steve Cooper said: "We are trying our best to promote the game of bowls within the community and reaching out beyond the county to advertise what we and Shropshire has to offer.

"We have for the last two years invested in our greens to make them possibly the best in Shropshire and have spent money on the seating and shelters to make the club a possible choice for the All England finals 2011."

• Peter Farmer's fantastic feats continued on Sunday at the £1,000 Burway Open. Full story in tomorrow's paper.

By Malcolm Fletcher