Emmet steps out on his own to become county champion

All the latest action from across the county’s bowling greens.

Shrewsbury’s Emmet McKinley has won another county title – only this time in his own right.

Final rivals in the 18-25 Merit (from left) Ed Proudlove, Tasha Hart (host club secretary), winner Emmet McKinley | Contributed

placeholder image — Final rivals in the 18-25 Merit (from left) Ed Proudlove, Tasha Hart (host club secretary), winner Emmet McKinley | Contributed

The Oxon bowler, who won the County Father & Son with dad Martin last year, is the new Shropshire 18-25 Merit champion after triumphing at Donnington Wood.

McKinley, who has such a great record in competitions run as part of the Wenlock Olympian Games, beat Adderley’s Ed Proudlove 21-14 in the final and received the trophy from host club secretary Tasha Hart.

From 11 across, a burst to 19-13 ahead put McKinley in charge of the key tie and he completed his success in 26 ends.

Entries dropped by 20 per cent to just six players on a boiling hot day, during which McKinley beat the first lady to enter the comp, Harriet Simmonds, 21-9 as Proudlove saw off Rhys Bradley 21-112.

Federation bowls

Whitewash winners at home – the Oswestry Federation team, at Criftins | Contributed

A clean sweep of the home leg and a massive overall points haul has put jubilant Oswestry in pole position for promotion in their first season of Federation bowls.

All 12 winners at Criftins, near Ellesmere, against River Trent, plus an amazing nine more away at Eureka Park in Swandlincote added up to a stunning 29-3 points success that puts Oswestry top of division 10.

And they know victory over South Staffs on August 9 would see them finish No.1 in the final table to head for division nine.

“Fantastic results for both home and away teams for Oswestry Fed!” said Rhys Griffiths, the driving force behind the launch of the team.

“An amazing 12-0 win on a screamingly quick Criftins and a big shout out to Kara Badwick of Johnstown on winning player of the match for the home leg (with a 21-8 card).

“Honorable mentions go to Ambrose Mochan of Criftins for an amazing performance and to Jamie Waugh (Chirk AAA) and James Ashton (Llangollen) for winning on their debuts.

“The away team showed strength and class going to a very interesting green and picking up a very solid 9-3 win – big congratulations to Kelly Richardson of Johnstown on winning player of the match for the away leg.”

For the record, Oswestry won by 130 shots at Criftins to bag all 14 points and by 34 away on a day they will remember for a long time.