Bowls round-up: Jamie is Wrockites' King as top players get their diaries out

County man Jamie King was a 21-2 winner as the Wrockites eased to a 16-13 victory on points (78-59 on aggregate) over Telepost in the sole four-a-side fixture played last week on the artificial green.

And King & Co have the ideal chance to climb up from third place in the 18-strong table when they take on lowly Allscott Executioners on Friday.

Bylet hit top spot by beating Allscott Dynamos 20-2 (84-21) with four single figure winners on Monday but Shifnal, with games in hand, look title favourites ahead of their clash with Telepost tonight.

Up in Whitchurch, Malpas Sports are up to third in the District Invitation Winter League thanks to an 8-2 (108-88) success over Elephant &Castle last week  - but the cold weather  now looks set to disrupt the fixture schedule.

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The 2025 diaries are out for bowlers in Shropshire and Wales now entries are now being accepted for the prestigious ‘Waterloo’ competitions and various festivals.

Colwyn – increasingly popular with county players – the Isle of Man, Fleetwood and Whitby are among the week-long festival taking bookings  

And January 1 saw the books open for the Waterloo comps now played at Fleetwood, with the finals of the Spring Waterloo set for  May 5 - 24 hours after the Ladies Spring Waterloo is played as a one-dayer – and the main Waterloo finals weekend being on September 13-14.

Bylet’s Cheryl Caswell won the Ladies Spring Waterloo last year and Chris Stretch and Jo Killen, team-mates at Adderley in the Whitchurch League, won the men’s open pairs at Fleetwood in June.

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Common sense prevailed as the Bandit Bowls winter series in Shropshire was forced into hibernation by the current bad weather.

Promoter Jamie Brookes took the decision to call off round 10 on Sunday - which was scheduled for Shifnal but had been hastily switched to the artificial green at Allscott Heath - the night before.

“As forecast, it was starting to snow around Allscott at 9.30 on Saturday night and, with heavy falls expected before dawn, the winter series was cancelled,” said Brookes. “As much as I don’t like cancelling the winter series, I felt that travelling in possibly dangerous conditions, and with paths around the green probably being slippery, it was probably the best decision.

“Hopefully I’ll see all bowlers next weekend.”

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Four open bowls competitions run by Shropshire clubs now have coveted ‘champion’ status.

The long established Coors Meole Brace Open has been joined by three successful applicants as new Champion of Champions qualifiers now that the tournament has been doubled in size to 64 places.

A new £4,000 early season open at Premier League club Adderley is joined by the Dennis Lewis Open at Sir John Bayley and the Bridgewater 64 in being approved for its winner to head to Owley Wood on September 27.

“This event will showcase a field of 64 'Champions' for the very first time!” said a spokesman for the organising British Crown Green Bowling Association.

And five county comps – at Burway, Edgmond, Bicton, Bylet and Newport – are on the qualifying reserve list.

“If anyone would like further information on qualifying criteria, or if you would like to add your competition to the reserve list, please drop an email to Phil Scott (the Shropshire association chairman) at Region5@bcgba.org.uk,” added the spokesman.

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No new clubs, but more teams competing is the good news for the North Shropshire bowls association as it prepares for the 2025 campaign.

December 31 was the deadline for applications from newcomers to join either the Whitchurch or Market Drayton evening leagues that the single administrative body runs.

Chairperson Christine Sayers said: “There are no more clubs wanting to join, but we are expecting at least two more teams. 

“The deadline for extra teams is mid-March.”

AGM time for the association is Wednesday, January 22, with a crucial pre-season executive meeting set for Wednesday, March 12.