Brotherly love at the Shifnal Spring Open - bowls round-up

Four brothers, who all now bowl for the same club, add extra intrigue to a fascinating line-up for tonight’s finals of the Shifnal Spring Open.

Jamie and Aaron King, and twins Tom and Joe Killen are joined by Wrockwardine Wood team-mates Josh Cotton and Clay Flattley in a last 16 who will contest a £300 first prize from 5.30pm.

There’s also Stuart Rutter, a double title winner already this month, and his Sir John Bayley colleagues Josh Bradburn, Peter Grimston and Scott Simpson, plus big hitters like Rich Goddard and Martin Gaut to whet the appetite.

The Bayley Boys and Goddard with Castlefields will then head to Derbyshire tomorrow for the regional qualifier of the British Club Championship at Littleover BC.

Premier League champions Castlefields have been drawn in a group alongside Willenhall Nordley, Boldmere S&S and Copsewood while County Cup winners SJB will play on the adjoining No.2 green against Dudley Dell, Atherstone Cons and King George V.

Back in Shropshire, the main finals of the Bandit Bowls winter series promises a feast of action at Bicton tomorrow with a £4,300 prize fund at stake and North Shropshire Ladies have their season-opening triples at Nantwich Park Road from 10am.

Then at 8pm the Shropshire Premier League have a virtual EGM to approve a new code of conduct, a spokesman saying: “It will take only five minutes just to nod it through, hopefully, but it's important we do it the right way.”

Do you measure up?

Do you measure up when it comes crown green bowling?

That’s the question bowlers in Shropshire are being asked before the 2026 campaign in all affiliated leagues gets into full swing.

And they have the perfect chance to get the answer by attending a BCGBA Measuring Course that is being run by North Shropshire association officer Jack Hazeldine at Adderley BC on Saturday, April 18, from 12 noon.

“There seems to be a lot of interest for this course,” confirmed North Shropshire secretary Leah Marshall, stressing that the chance to win a BCGBA certified measurer certificate needs to be booked with Hazeldine on 07972 300524.