Junior selectors bow out on a high after British title triumph

Two selectors of the Shropshire bowls team that ended the 20-year wait for another British Junior County Championship triumph are bowing out on a high.

Brenda Slingo and Richard Carr have decided not to stand for re-election after this year’s wins over reigning under-18 champions Yorkshire and Wales secured the title for the first time since 2006.

Mid Shropshire nomination Slingo has served since 2019 while Carr, from Shrewsbury, had the pleasure of seeing his son Ben lifting the main trophy as a captain of the county team.

But Slingo has opted to stay on as a Mid Shropshire selector as she hopes to see the league continue to dominate the annual Shropshire junior inter-league championship.

Slingo and Carr received thank you awards from County President Andy Jones when the Shropshire association held a special day to celebrate the British junior triumph at Wrockwardine Wood.

British Parks

Shropshire bowls chief Phil Scott has taken on a third role with the British Parks association.

Scott, the chairman of the county association, was appointed Parks' development officer at its AGM at Houldsworth Park in Stockport on Saturday.

Malpas-based Scott is already the chief executive officer and secretary of the body that North Shropshire Parks affiliates to – and is proud of it, saying: “The AGM proved to be a positive and productive meeting.

“Alongside important discussions regarding the future governance of the sport, delegates endorsed the organisation's financial position, welcomed a respected new president, confirmed the officer team for another year, and looked ahead to an expanded and exciting championship programme in 2027.

“British Parks remains committed to promoting and developing crown green bowls at every level and providing opportunities for players and communities throughout the country.”

He confirmed that a “significant portion” of the AGM was dedicated to discussion surrounding the ongoing disagreements within the BCGBA and the implications for Saturday’s Special General Meeting, recognising the importance of the decisions to be made for the future structure and governance of the sport.

North Shropshire will host next year’s junior five-a-side championship and new Beginners and Family Paris competitions will be launched.

Yorkshire’s Howard Broadbent is the new British Parks President, Scott adding: “He has been a tremendous ambassador for junior bowling for many years, working tirelessly to encourage young players and support youth development across the country.”

Junior Bowls Tour

Shropshire competitions guru Rob Burroughs is driving forward plans to launch a Junior Bowls Tour next year.

The aim is to further promote the under-18 scene in Shropshire and introduce a ranking structure from which the top 16 in the points table will contest a finals day.

Burroughs said: “The creation of the Shropshire Junior Bowls Tour will further strengthen the junior open competitions that were successfully run this year and create an umbrella over these comps.

“The objective is to build on our achievements with our juniors in Shropshire in 2027 and keep progressing under-18 bowls without the county.”

The junior scene in the county has grown fast in recent years and Burroughs hopes the tour ,plus Shropshire’s first British junior county championship triumph in 20 years, can help boost it further.