Decision time over Shropshire bowls split plan

To split, or not to split, into two separate leagues – that is the question to be answered at the Tanners Shropshire League's AGM at Bagley BC in Shrewsbury (7pm).

The league's officers have been working on the split project for the best part of a year, but it will all come down to a vote that needs to be at least 2-1 in favour for the scheme to be implemented.

"There have been no rule changes received but, as previously discussed at length, the proposed change of structure of our league needs to be decided upon at this meeting," confirmed secretary Andy Price.

If approved, the Tanners Shropshire League would continue on Friday nights with a new and more localised Tanners Shrewsbury League launched on Tuesdays, allowing all bowlers to play on both nights if they wish.

The resignation of Preston Brockhurst leaves the Friday set-up with 46 teams which Price wants to accommodate in a 12-team divisional grid structure with a later start date to the season.

That has delayed the production of fixtures for two other Friday night leagues – the Shropshire Premier and Mid Shropshire – as their officials wait to see if they can work out a schedule without any green clashes.

Price is hoping to have 60 teams in five divisions on Tuesdays, last year's figure of 54 being boosted by newcomers should the proposed split go ahead.

Treasurer Paul Adams will report a profit of £385 on the 2013 season, despite the income from match fees falling £600 to £7,740.

But two new sponsorship deals and a rise of £180 to £426 in fines helped to produce a league balance sheet that remains more than healthy.

The mainstay of North Shropshire's biggest veterans league has called it a day.

Geoff Bishop has been secretary of the Barlows Whitchurch Over-60s League since it was launched in 1996, the brainchild of Neville Edwards.

But Prees-based Bishop stood down at the league's AGM on Tuesday afternoon at Tilstock BC – and the post of secretary was retired with him too.

"It's due to ill-health that Geoff has decided he does not want to carry on, and we don't feel we can replace him," explained chairperson Ivy Maddox.

"He's going to be sadly missed because he was the person who did everything when the league started – fixtures, everything.

"But times have changed now and we have Mike Beckett as fixture-results secretary and a minutes secretary in June Davies, so we can carry on."

Bishop, a stalwart member of Prees BC, was formerly an official of the SPS Whitchurch League.

More bad news for the league was the withdrawal of three teams – Bridgewater B from division two and Wem Albion B and Ercall Magna from the third.

Newport C were the one new team voted in and Beckett said: "Consequently the first and second divisions will now consist of 14 teams (starting on Tuesday, April 8) and the third of 12."

Re-elected treasurer Les Johnson reported a £300-plus profit on 2013 and clubs who finish third will receive prize money in future.

The annual mixed doubles is to be moved to June to try to boost entries and the league has decided not to enter the Shropshire veterans inter-league championship.

Maddox concluded: "The AGM went fine and we have elected a vice-chairman for the first time, Reg Cartlidge, as we need people in place ready to take over roles."

Cartlidge, who bowls for Tilstock, is already chairman of the Market Drayton Senior Citizens League.