Leagues set to be run by a single body in shake-up

Following this year’s launch of joint administration of the Whitchurch and Market Drayton evening leagues, two veterans’ leagues in the area plan to join forces. Statements on the websites of the Barlows Whitchurch Over-60s and Market Drayton Senior Citizens leagues confirm the move to unite in time for the 2024 season.

The Market Drayton-based league held its end-of-season meeting on Thursday and its statement said: “Both executives, at our meeting and the Barlows league, voted to go ahead with the joint administration committee for both leagues.

“The constitution has already been written and approved at committee stage and the combined rules will be sorted over the next 10 days.

“Both documents will then be circulated to the secretaries of member clubs for comment back to the leagues secretaries by the end of November. A timetable of following events/meetings will also be circulated at this point.

“It is vitally important that the documents are read by club committees and also players involved in the leagues so that a consensus is reached that can be taken forward.”

The Market Drayton seniors league has been struggling to find a successor to long serving secretary-treasurer Wendy Icke, who announced early this year that she would be standing down.

Shropshire’s proud record in the British junior county bowls championship is about to come to an abrupt end. The withdrawal of Staffordshire from the under-18 championship next season means the organising British association look set to do away with the competition due to lack of teams.

Shropshire, who last won the title in 2006, have been competing with Yorkshire, Wales and Staffs in a 12 home-12 away premier division.

But the withdrawal of Warwick & Worcester after the 2019 campaign and now the demise of Staffs looks like being the end of British level competition, forcing Shropshire’s officials and junior selectors to devise a new programme for 2024.

Meanwhile, Shropshire’s senior team have had their group fixtures confirmed for 2024, the matches being against Wales on May 5, W & W (June 2) and the Potteries (July 7).