Ladies off to a flyer in the British County Championship - bowls round-up

Shropshire’s super bowlers delivered 21 winners out of 24 as they started their British Ladies County Championship campaign in stunning style.

A home and away victory over South Staffs by 178 shots overall was the perfect boost in their qualifying section one opener after last year’s near-miss in the bid for a hat-trick of titles.

But it was more of a sorry Sunday for North Shropshire Ladies as they began their President’s Cup programme by losing by just 20 chalks to Cumbria to extend their winless run.

“Shropshire made an emphatic statement in their clash with South Staffordshire, producing one of the strongest performances of the opening round,” said BCGBA spokesman Steve Clamp. “On home territory at Allscott Heath, Shropshire gave a superb display on the challenging (artificial) surface and at Penn they gradually built control.”

Jamie Phillips and Jackie Rutter were 21-4 winners at Allscott but Jodie Taylor won the home player of the match award for her 21-6 card, while player of match prize away went to Emily Cunningham (21-5), with the county’s award going to Kerry Dance.

North Shropshire will count themselves unlucky to lose to Cumbria, only beaten by 20 after the long trek to King Alfred in Barrow, where Olive Pass (21-5), Molly Harris (21-7) and Tina Ralph (21-8) all shone.

But back at Chester Road in Whitchurch the Cumbrians enjoyed seven winners to keep things tight, meaning fine performances from Amanda Hare (21-3), Jessica Marshall (21-5) and Colleen Harding (21-8) only produced a one-shot home margin.

Oswestry League

Cynwyd bowlers Eleri Arbon and Colin Jones were all smiles after being crowned the mixed pairs champions of the Oswestry League.

A clear-cut victory over Graham Rogers and Michelle Nolan in the final took the title as nine partnerships contested it on Sunday at Chirk AAA.

The Division Two duo beat first-team homester Rogers and Nolan of Johnston’s sixth division side 21-11 to earn the congratulations of the league’s competitions chief Roger Candlin, who is also serving as county deputy president this year.

After opening with a 21-17 win, Arbon & Jones beat Meurig Davies & Becky McNay 21-12 in their semi-final as the eventual runners-up saw off Dilwyn Edwards & Paula Worden 21-14.

Baron Cup

Shrewsbury’s Jack Cooke couldn’t have wished for a much better start to his 2026 bowls season.

The Monkmoor talent won his third junior competition of the year when Castlefields hosted the Baron Cup with a full house field of 32 under-18s on Sunday.

Cooke, a key part of Shropshire’s fine win over British junior champions Yorkshire earlier this month, beat Jacob Wall 21-9 in the final while the consolation KO honours went to Holly Hotchkiss thanks to a 21-11 card against Ellis Reeves.

“Well done to all the juniors - it was a great day of bowling with good weather and I hope they all enjoyed it,” said organiser Rob Burroughs.

“To see 32 juniors out there playing is fantastic, and really there are probably at least another 32 out there that couldn’t make it on the day,

“The win over Yorkshire should only be the start for the next few years of more and improved junior bowls.”

The day started with age-based round robin groups to produce the line-up for the latter stages, the semi-finalists in the main KO being Harvey Rudkin and Jamie Pritchard.

Molson Coors Mid Shropshire League’s Under-25 Merit

He’s won British Parks titles, plays in big competitions and is now a Shropshire senior team regular - but Tom Killen has not forgotten his bowls roots.

And the Wrockwardine Wood star returned to them on Saturday to win the Molson Coors Mid Shropshire League’s Under-25 Merit for the second time.

Killen added to his 2023 success by beating 12-year-old clubmate Rowan Fuller 21-13 in the final on Wood’s No.2 green.

Shifnal-based Killen race 9-0 up but Fuller, the youngest ever winner of the league’s Dixon Driscoll Doubles with Sian Skelton last month, got back in it at 16-12 adrift.

“Rowan was then on with a foot wood full corners, but Tom beat it and ran out to win 13,” said organiser Rob Burroughs.

“In the semi-finals Tom beat Ellis Griffiths 18 after going 19-14 up while Rowan defeated Logan Church 20, coming back from 12-8 down.

“Thank you to the 10 who entered and a big thank you to Brenda Slingo for running it and Wrockwardine Wood for hosting.”