Busy few days for county’s bowlers

The second day of qualifying in the £7,300 St Georges Open and round 22 of the North Shropshire Parks winter series at Old Shrewsbury take centre stage tomorrow. (SUN)

And it’s Shropshire bowlers who will look to dominate at the Telford club when the action starts at 10am, led by county No.1 Callum Wraight as he looks to put a largely inactive winter behind him.

There’s also Derek Wright (Wem USC), Martin Lloyd (Chester Road), Scott Harries (Bylet), Sam Millard and his new Newport clubmate Josh Bradburn, plus new Wrockwardine Wood recruit Jamie King and team-mate Dan Taylor among those flying the flag for the locals.

And all are capable of booking a place in the last 32 for finals day on March 30, despite the presence of big name visitors like Wayne Ditchfield, Leighton Roberts, Kevan Shaw, David May, Scott Simpson and Steve Freer tomorrow.

“Those names give you just a flavour of the class of bowlers that will be taking part on the second day of the first weekend of qualifying,” said organiser Graham Turner.

It’s a 10am start at Old Shrewsbury too where winter series chief Jamie Brookes hopes the two green venue will attract another 50-plus field as the race to secure points and place in the top 24 for finals day on March 24 comes to the boil.

Bowlers can enter on the day at 9.30am (£7 adults and £4 juniors) and 13-up round robin games, with handicap, determine the last 32 for the knockout stages.

Brookes and his fellow North Shropshire Parks officials then face the association’s AGM on Monday at Whitchurch’s District Club (7pm).

There’s also the Flowfit Ludlow League’s pre-season meeting at Burway BC that night, but the most decisive gathering will be at the Allscott club , near Telford, also from 7.30.

That’s where Shrewsbury Ladies League officers will hope to secure its future at an EGM when member clubs will re-consider a proposal to cut fixtures to eight-a-side from 10, having rejected it by a an 11-9 vote at last month’s AGM.