Shrewsbury bowlers rule in Telford - bowls round-up

Shrewsbury bowlers ruled in Telford as Sinclair hosted a hugely successful Millman Junior Open.

Owen Hanmer (Unison) and Jack Peach of Castlefields won the main and consolation titles respectively on Saturday when a full house of 32 under-18s took part and more than £500 was paid out in prize money.

“It all went great – we even had three bowlers from Yorkshire who helped fill it with full 32 entries,” said proud promoter Stuart Church. “And it was great to see so many under-10s bowl and bowl well - they deserve credit the way they all conducted themselves.

“My thanks to the Taylor Foundation for adding £100 to prize money and Kerry Millman for sponsoring the competition."

Round robin groups produced the quarter-final line-ups in both comps and Hanmer beat homester and freshly-crowned Mid Shropshire under-18 champion Jordan Millman 21-16 in the main final.

The beaten semi-finalists were Jack Lawrence and Jacob Wall while the consolation knockout produced a thrilling final with Peach just edging out Ellis Griffiths 21-20, Griffiths also receiving the highest break prize with 12.

Sinclair stalwart Don Hood paid tribute to all involved, saying: “What a fantastic day of junior bowling - well done everyone, especially Stuart Church and Sinclair Sports & Social Club for this great event.”

Tanners Shropshire League Handicap

A busy bowls year for Andy Jones is about to get even more hectic.

The chairman of Tanners Shropshire League is serving as County President and is Shropshire’s current representative to the BCGBA’s National Advisory Council.

But with the Shrewsbury-based league not having a competition secretary in place, Jones has taken on the organising of its Handicap on Bank Holiday Monday at Greenfields.

Entry costs £5 and a consolation knockout means two games are guaranteed, names taken on the day up to 9.45am or in advance to Jones on 07777 653538.

Premier League bowlers must have played at least three Tanners matches on Fridays or Tuesdays to be eligible to take part.

British Club Championship

Welsh bowler Mike Riley’s great memories of playing at Meole Brace were tarnished a little at the weekend.

Riley was the shock winner of the British Senior Merit when it was hosted by the Shrewsbury club in 2011 - but he didn’t enjoy such a winning day there on Sunday.

He was part of the Gladstone team that reached the final of the British Club Championship and won his game in it, but the Hawarden-based side lost out in the eight-aside showdown to King George V.

The Warwick & Worcester club repeated their triumph of 2017 thanks to a two shot victory (143-141), despite Riley having the best card in the final with 21-8.