Star-studded duo team up to triumph in Bridgewater Open Pairs

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

A star-studded doubles partnership that blossomed at the Colwyn Festival delivered again in the £800 Bridgewater Open Pairs.

Potent pairs power – winners Callum Wraight and John Bailey with (left) Bridgewater promoter Rich Proudlove | Contributed

placeholder image — Potent pairs power – winners Callum Wraight and John Bailey with (left) Bridgewater promoter Rich Proudlove | Contributed

Shropshire No.1 Callum Wraight and Welsh ace John Bailey won the men’s pairs at the Festival in July, a poignant occasion for the Welshman as it was the first time he had won that title.

And on Saturday they combined again to take the £360 first prize at the Whitchurch club after promoter Richard Proudlove filled all 32 places.

Their final victims were Martin Gaut (St Georges) and Matt Beeston (Hanmer) 21-18 after a 21-14 win over Mike Riley & Neil Snodgrass in the semi-finals.

Gaut & Beeston beat Cedric Bancroft & Jan Wakefield 21-16 at the same stage, the veterans having ended the hopes of husband and wife, Steve and Kerry Dance, in the last eight.

North Shropshire Ladies

The message was loud and clear all season from the North Shropshire Ladies hierarchy and the reward was to finish it on a high.

And tonight the Whitchurch- based bowls association will reflect on 2026 at its joint AGM and presentation evening at Bridgewater BC.

The undoubted high point was the four-shot win over Greater Manchester in July in the President’s Cup, which was North Shropshire’s first victory in a British Ladies county match win beating Staffordshire by 60 in May 2022.

“NS Ladies selectors have used this season in the President’s to help grow the team and the win meant the world to us as we were finishing the season on a high,” said the body’s secretary Leah Marshall.

The selectors up for re-election are Marshall, Amanda Hare, Janet Powell, Elaine Jones and Tina Ralph with Gillian Edge the current president and Chris Sayers the chairperson.

Tina Ralph will be the centre of attention when it comes to the prize-giving as she won all the competitions run by the association during the campaign as well as being the beaten finalist in the Shropshire Ladies Champion of Champions earlier this month.