Bowls: Will Colin Beaman be champion of champions

Colin Beaman is banking on the happy memories flooding back when he aims to end 24 years of Shropshire hurt at the Champion of Champions on Saturday.

Beaman heads to Blackpool on Saturday and the scene of his famous Spring Waterloo triumph earlier in the year for one of the flagship days on the British bowling calendar.

Not since Brian Shore hoisted aloft the trophy in 1987 have Shropshire enjoyed victory in the Champion of Champions – but Beaman heads north in high spirits.

"They are all good players but the one thing in my favour is that I know I can win on the green," said Beaman, who reached the quarter-finals on his only previous Champions appearance in 1995.

"That has to help my confidence a little bit."

"A lot of the Meole Premier team, a handful from St Georges and some family and friends are coming up so it should be a good day."

Saturday's £3,580 event –from which the winner collects £1,000 – starts a major fortnight in Beaman's bowling career as he heads off to Portugal seven days later for the Oceanico Masters.

"That should be a great week so I'm going to enjoy it– and if I can win a couple of games then all the better," added the 42-year-old.

Eye in

Beaman begins the big tournament double-header having regained the winning thread at the £1,000 Bowring Open on Sunday, a competition he only entered to "keep his eye in" ahead of the next two weeks.

The county star took the top prize witha 21-16 final victory over Jason Groom from Penn, a late replacement for Anthony Aldridge.

Beaman beat his Midland Super League team-mate at St Georges, Glyn Picknell, 21-15 in the semi-final while Groom was ending the super run of Steve Burroughs.

The Sir John Bayley captain lost 21-10, having just beaten Stewart Meddings (George) 21-20 in a stunning quarter-final.

Another excellent game in the earlier rounds saw Alison Cotton (St Georges) beat Wayne Phillips (Meole Brace) 21-20.

While Beaman opens up against Yorkshire's Scott Fisher on Saturday on the Waterloo, Callum Wraight begins his fifth successive Champion of Champions campaign with a clash with Isle of Man June Festival winner Jack Hargreaves.

A meeting with old adversary Graeme Wilson could follow in round two for the Pudsey Classic champion while Ifton's Mike Riley, winner of the All England at Meole Brace in July takes on Castlefields ace Craig Barker in a first round tie.