A new singles champion and all the weekend action - bowls round-up

A Shrewsbury bowler is the new singles champion of the Mid Shropshire Senior Citizens Bowling League.

Nick Davies, a key man at Meole Brace BC, has been playing for Sir John Bayley in division one of the Telford-based over-60s league for three years.

And now he’s been rewarded for making regular trips over the River Severn with an individual honour.

He won the Merit crown by beating clubmate Malcolm Tibbett 21-7 in the final played on the Bowring green with the big crown.

That followed victories over two past winners of the title, Davies starting the afternoon by edging out 2025 hero and competition organiser Rob Renke 21-19 before a 21-16 semi-final success over John Clarke as Tibbett was claiming the scalp of Cliff Johnson 21-12.

British Parks Senior Merit finals

Shropshire senior team bowler Tom Killen will aim to shrug off some indifferent form of late tomorrow and retain a British title.

The Wrockwardine Wood man is the defending champion in the British Parks Senior Merit finals at Leek Beggars Lane BC where the potential opponents include big guns Gareth Coates and Jon Palmer.

North Shropshire Parks is also represented by Will Childs and Richard Proudlove while it is hosts North Staffordshire who have biggest number of contenders.

Up in Fleetwood, Bylet’s Cheryl Caswell leads the Shropshire hopefuls in tomorrow’s £1,520 Ladies Waterloo, having previously won the Spring Waterloo on the same greens.

Entered to join her in the pursuit of seaside success are North Shropshire Ladies’ star of the season Tina Ralph, Louise Cotton, Lisa Wilson and young Welsh ace Jess Lacey.

Meanwhile, this year’s Shropshire senior team recruit, Andy Armstrong (Castlefields) is a 9/2 shot to win the £600 first prize at the Wharton Open finals in Northwich tomorrow afternoon.

Hanmer Open

The great and good of Shropshire bowls will grace the new Hanmer Open on Bank Holiday Monday.

Three-time County Merit winners Rich Goddard and Callum Wraight, Champion of Champions Ash Wellings and the in-form Scott Harries are the headline acts as the Matt Beeston one-day promotion boasts a fine 32-strong field.

Add in the likes of Peter Farmer – four times the Shropshire champion – Stuart Rutter, Clay Flattley, Sam Millward, Chris Stretch, Sarah Weaver, the Killen twins plus Andy Armstrong and it’s clear the pursuit of a £700 top prize makes for a magic Monday from 10am.

But Wraight may opt out as he is through to Monday’s finals of the £4,000 Golcar Classic in Huddersfield where last 16 rivals for a £1,100 jackpot include Matt Gilmore, Ashley Daykin and Bob Hitchen.