Emmet stars again in Bandit Bowls one-day competition

Shrewsbury’s Emmet McKinley is at it again in the Bandit Bowls winter one-day competitions.

The Oxon star came out on top of a field of nearly 30 in the third one-dayer of the 2026-27 campaign at Allscott Heath.

“It was another solid Saturday with 27 entries and, after three weeks, we have had three different winners,” said promoter Jamie Brookes. “Emmet beat George Thomas 21-15 in the final and this coming Saturday we head to Wem Sports.”

McKinley, who won a BB one-dayer in February, beat Joseph Pullen 21-9 in his semi-final as Thomas saw off last weekend’s winner, Dave James of Shifnal, 21-13.

Meanwhile, Welsh county team man Owen Jackson, who won 20 out of 25 Premier League games for Ifton, went close to winning the Penwortham October Singles at the Preston area club.

He won three games on finals day but then lost 21-16 to local star Wayne Ditchfield and had to settle for the £200 runners-up prize.

Meanwhile, there’s just one player left with three successive group wins after the third round of the Bandit Bowls winter series.

Michael Cooper, who played for Hadnall, Sir John Bayley and Oxon this year, is clear at the top of the formative series points table after starring again on Sunday at Old Shrewsbury.

He was unbeaten as he topped his five-strong table in the morning session, getting the better of BB main man Jamie Brookes in the process.

“We had 56 turn up when we returned to a previous hosting venue at Old Shrewsbury, which is where we go for round four at the weekend,” said Brookes.

There were 13 round robin groups of 13-up matches and the other winners were Chris Dodds, Andy Pullen, Rich Lockett, Val Roberts, Jason Wainwright, Matt Ealey, John Lea, Nick Marshall, Gerald Merry, Daphne Wilkes, Bob Cliffe and Saturday one-day semi-finalist Dave James.

Greenkeepers honoured

The team that looked after the bowling green voted the best in Shropshire in the driest of summers has been officially honoured.

Wrockwardine Wood head greenkeeper Tony Garmson and his assistants received the trophy from representatives of competition sponsors Dennis-Sisis at a special ceremony at the Telford club.

The award-winning No.1 green has seen loads of action in recent weeks with the Mid Shropshire Champion of Champions, part one of the Shropshire Champion of Champions and also Bandit Bowls winter events.

Meole Brace took the runners-up prize in the Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association promotion with last year’s winners Edgmond in third place.

And small south Shropshire club Clun, who have a team in the Marches League, receive the most improve green award.

Telford Ladies Afternoon League

​The Telford Ladies Afternoon League comprises just 18 six-a-side teams, but the end of season prize-giving boasted close to 100 people at the Sinclair Club.

Delighted league secretary Carol Faulkner said: “The presentation lunch went exceptionally well, with 90 ladies attending from all clubs in the league, with the exception of Maddocks.

“Again we were served an excellent buffet and the occasion was enjoyed by all that attended.”

Bowring were crowned division one champions for the second year in a row while St Georges topped division two and all the prize winners went onto the Ketley club's green to face the camera.

Pictured (from left): Jan Hetherington (Chelmarsh captain, third in div 2), Helen Clee (Edgmond, Champion of Champions winner), Georgia Rawlins and Louise Cotton ( Bowring, Grace Howells Doubles winners), Verena Swinnerton and Jane Wherton (Worfield, loosing semi finalists in the doubles), Sylvia Shotton (St Georges, div 2 average winner), Heather Carwardine (St Georges captain, div 2 winners), Carol Faulkner (Bowring captain, div 1 winners), Donna Larke (Charlton, div 1 averages winner), Amanda Hardman and Lisa Wilson (SJB A, loosing finalists in the doubles), Gill Baker (SJB B, div 2 runners up).