Champion duo are rewriting the record books - bowls round-up

A Shropshire bowling league is having to rewrite its record books after the latest in its burst of early-season competitions.

The Dixon Driscoll Doubles was first played in 1965 and attracted a 37-strong entry to St Georges on Sunday when nearly 10 hours of action ended with 12-year-old Rowan Fuller and Sian Skelton triumphing.

“A great day of bowling finished with history being made by the two winners,” said Mid Shropshire League comps chief Rob Burroughs. “Rowan Fuller became the youngest ever Dixon Driscoll Doubles winner after teaming up with Sian Skelton, who became the first person to hold both this and the Mixed Doubles titles at the same time.

“And they ran out from 18-7 down on Chris Dodds and Emmet McKinley playing some inspired bowls in the final.”

Fuller, winner of the Mid Shropshire Under-15 Merit in 2024 and the county’s Peter Ashton Trophy last year, was a part of the the Wrockwardine Wood side that won the Ashton Cup in September while Skelton, a former Wrockite who is now with Shifnal, is a key part of the hugely successful Shropshire Ladies team.

“It the semi-finals Sian & Rowan went 16-2 up on Lucy Evans & Tony Garmson but then found themselves 18 across before holding their nerve to get a three next end,” added Burroughs. “Chris and Emmet (team-mates at Sir John Bayley in the Dennis Lewis Thursday Division) were 11-6 up on Alan Davidson & Steve Handley but went 20-17 down and then Chris & Emmet ran out to win 20.

“Thank you to St Georges on doing an excellent job of hosting and thank you to everyone who entered to make it four up on last year – showing that changing the rule on Premier bowlers did work and hopefully it works again for the Mixed Doubles.”

British Senior County Championship

Three county bowls champions will miss Shropshire’s opener in this year’s Endsleigh British Senior County Championship.

Andrew Moss, Spencer Clarke and Martin Lloyd – all past winners of the County Merit – are ruled out of the qualifying section three clash with Lancashire on May 3 for personal and injury reasons, while Lee Peate is missing due to a broken ankle bone.

“There are four changes and in comes the returning Pete Farmer, while Andy Armstrong and Tom Palmer have made the switch from Wales and Warwick & Worcester respectively, and Adam Jones comes back in after his fine form reaching two competition finals,” said a county association spokesperson.

Shropshire’s home leg is on their banker green of Newport No.2, where they beat Derbyshire by 63 shots last year, while the away 12 will play at Garswood Hall No.2 in Wigan.