Past Winners Shine in Singles Championship

The Championship’s first round comprised four groups of ten bowlers, from which just the top six in each group would go through to the quarter finals. And in those groups were nine previous singles champions who would all qualify for the following week’s quarter finals.

Of those four initial groups, group A was the most exciting and high scoring. Although looking good to qualify before bowling his last leg, Bert Clewlow (Engineers) made sure he would progress by then making a 13 stack to top the group with 42 pins. Glyn Morley (Lodge Farmers) and Mick Stanton (Jumbo Jets), both previous champions, made 38 to join Clewlow. The remaining qualifying places all went to a trio of Lodge Farmers bowlers, Frank Morris also making 38, while 37 pins each was just enough for the Chris Prichard and Richard Long. Spare a thought for Mac Eaton (Nomads) failing to qualify with 36 pins, a score which would have seen him easily qualify had he been in any of the other groups.

Group B had the 2019 champion, Craig Ellis (Engineers) looking in good form to lead the way with 36 pins. Following were the Jumbo Jets pair of Rich Johnston and Len Quartly making 35 and 33 respectively and there was also 33 from Rachel Morris (Lodge Farmers) just one of only two ladies to progress. The 2022 champion, Rob Quartly (Jumbo Jets) edged in with 30 pins with Andy Gill-Smith (Bernie’s Bolts) close behind on 29 pins.

Mark Ganderton (Engineers), and the 2017 winner, always looked good to qualify before making a 14 stack in his last leg to cement his qualification and top group C with 42 pins. Bagging the last spot though by a single pin was Tim Jones (Lodge Farmers) with 30 despite a near calamitous leg four score of only two pins. Jones’ hiccup seemed to spook three times winner Alan Cummings (Nomads) who, bowling immediately after Jones, could then only score one pin. But Cummings had already banked three good leg scores including a 14 stack and with a sound fifth leg score finished with a qualifying 36 pins. He was joined, and more sedately, on 36 pins by Ian Greenway (Engineers), champion in 2016 & 2018. Scores of 32 were then comfortable enough for qualification for Maurice Wroe (Engineers) and the 2007 winner Dave Maule (unattached).

James Marshal (Nomads) had a great first ball nine in his opening leg and went on to make a 15 stack in that leg. Marshal’s qualification was never in doubt and led throughout the game on his way to a group D topping score of 40. Dave Orton (C&G Show), Jim Child (Nomads) and Steve Court (The Borough) made 36, 33 & 31 respectively followed by the second lady qualifier, Angela Guest (C&G Show), and the defending champion Scott Few (The Borough) with 29 pins each.

The first round of the Singles Competiton 2024 has finished with the top 24 players qualifying to next week’s finals.

The Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Grand Final will all be played on Tues 6th Feb at Redditch Borough Social Club. Matches will start at 8pm – please arrive early to get a drink and to be present for the draw.

Finals format:

• At the start of the evening the 24 qualifiers will be drawn randomly to determine the four Quarter Final groups.  The top scoring three players from each Quarter Final group will progress to the Semi Finals.
• The Semi Finalists will be drawn into two groups of six, with the top scoring two players from each group progressing to the Grand Final.
• The top scoring player in the Grand Final will be declared Singles Champion 2024.

Spectators are welcome. Players that are eliminated are encouraged to stay to watch the later rounds and the presentation to the winner at the end of the night.

Full details of the first round scores and qualifying players can be found here.

Thanks to all participants and congratulations to the quarter finalists. Good luck in the finals!

Registrations NOW OPEN

The annual Singles Competition returns at the end of this month and will see players competing to be crowned Singles Champion 2024!  If the glory isn’t enough for you, rumour has it there’s a cash prize at stake too…

All players are welcome to join, including those not currently part of a league team.

The competition takes place on Tues 30th Jan and Tues 6th Feb at Redditch Borough Social Club.

For more information and to register please click here.

Good luck to all entrants!

Doubles Winners Crowned

Luke Saunders and Craig Ellis (Engineers) took the doubles crown after coming through the quarter and semi finals by the narrowest of margins before beating Sue and Frank Morris (Lodge Farmers) in the final.

In their quarter final game, Saunders & Ellis were always ahead and lead by six pins going into the last leg against James Marshall & Alan Cummings (Nomads). But the Engineers duo then posted a poor score to leave their opponents wanting 16 pins to force a play-off. And this was nearly achieved as Marshall & Cummings came close with a 15 leg score and the game finished 69 – 68 in favour of Saunders & Ellis.

No such drama for Sue & Frank Morris when beating Rachel Morris and Andy Rumble (Lodge Farmers) comfortably 75 – 51 to progress to the semi-finals. Sue Morris was in good form making a 14 pin stack in the first leg to open up an immediate good lead which was added to in each of the remaining four legs. Sue Morris eventually totalled 40 pins in the game.

Another Engineers pair, Craig Sears & Mark Ganderton saw off Rob & Len Quartly (Jumbo Jets) easily enough by 81 – 62. Sears finished with 44 pins incl a 16 stack in leg three which effectively decided which pair would go on to the semi final.

Dave Orton & Angela Guest (C&G Show) were also dominate in their game with Maurice Wroe & Ian Greenway (Engineers) to win 76 – 64. Orton’s stack of 15, in leg two, on his way to a match total of 43 proving to be decisive.

Both semi finals were close. No more so than Saunders & Ellis when overcoming Orton & Guest by a single pin, 72 -71. Saunders & Ellis took a first leg lead of seven on the back of a 14 stack from Ellis who finished with a total of 42. Orton & Guest fought back though and whittled the deficit down to a single pin after leg four. The C&G pair were finally left 15 to tie the game, and set up a sudden death play-off, but fell that vital one pin short and Saunders & Ellis made the final.

The other semi ended 74 – 70 for Sue & Frank Morris over Craig Sears & Mark Ganderton. The Morris duo’s lead of eight pins after leg three, slid to only a three pin advantage following the next leg as Ganderton made a 12 stack. But Sears, finishing with 39 pins, and Ganderton were unable to maintain their recovery posting only a modest last leg score. Left just 10 to win, Sue & Frank Morris eased over the line to book their final place.

Both finalists had scored well in the previous rounds and, having ridden their luck in the previous two rounds, Saunders & Ellis began confidently and were again in good form in the final scoring 37 & 36 respectively. Sue & Frank Morris’s form however deserted them. Saunders & Ellis had a three pin lead after leg one before building that advantage to nine pins after leg four. They then registered a 15 pin last leg score to leave their opponents a massive 25 pins to win. Needing to make big stack scores, Sue & Frank Morris never looked likely to do that and had to be content with the well earned runner up trophy. For Saunders & Ellis, the Doubles Cup was deservedly theirs for good consistent bowling throughout the competition.

Congratulations to Luke Sanders & Craig Ellis from the Engineers on winning the inaugural Doubles Competition!

The pair defeated Frank Morris & Sue Morris from Lodge Farmers in a hard fought final 73 v 61. Well played to both pairs.

Many thanks to all 26 teams who took part in the competition. For a full report of the competition please click here.

See details of the group stage here. See details of the knockout stage here.

League fixtures took a back seat as the Doubles Competition got underway. The 26 pairs entered were formed into 7 groups with games played on a round robin basis. Only group winners and the best runner up would qualify for the quarter finals.

Group A ended with Luke Saunders & Craig Ellis (Engineers) and Tim Jones & Jamie McGill (Lodge Farmers) locked at the top on 6 points each. The Engineers’ pair qualified though having scored  just 6 more pins than the Farmers’ duo.

Frank and Sue Morris (Lodge Farmers) scored consistently well (111 & 110 pins respectively) to win all their games for a maximum return of 8 points and easily qualify for the last eight from group B.

Another Farmers’ duo in group C, Andy Rumble & Rachel Morris, also took maximum points for a comfortable journey into the quarter finals with each of them having a 17 pin stack in totals of 94 and 90 pins respectively. Mick Stanton (Jumbo Jets) also scored well with 92 including two stacks of 14.

Qualifying easily from group D with maximum points were Angela Guest & Dave Orton (C&G Show) with Orton making an 11 stack in a total of 80 pins. Other bowlers in the group making stacks were Jim Child (Nomads) with a 12 and Charlie Few (The Borough) with two stacks of 11.

James Marshal and Alan Cummings (Nomads), won each of their group E games to register maximum points and qualify for the last eight. Marshal and Cummings made stacks of 12 & 10 respectively. Craig Sears, with a stack of 10, and Mark Ganderton (Engineers) also qualified as the best runners up with four points as they had a superior pin total over the group G runners up.

Ian Greenway & Maurice Wroe (Engineers) dropped only one point in qualifying from group F as Greenway scored 129 (14 stack). Farmers’ Richard & Lynne Long (Lodge Farmers) finished a close second but were always behind on pins despite Richard Long scoring 115 (13 & 12 stacks).

Group G was a tight affair with three pairs finishing on 4 points each. But by scoring just 5 pins more,  Rob & Len Quartly (Jumbo Jets) edged through over Paul & John Clifton (Engineers). Both Rob Quartly and John Clifton had a stack of 14 pins.

For a list of full group tables and results click here.

The Doubles group stage has finished with the seven winners of each group, plus the best runner up, qualifying for the finals.

The eight qualifiers are:

• Group A: Inmate & Sunshine (Eng 1)
• Group B: Frank & Sue (LF 2)
• Group C: Rachel & Andy (LF 4)
• Group D: Dave & Ange (C&G 2)
• Group E: James & Alan (Nom 1)
• Group F: Guns & E-Way (Eng 2)
• Group G: Len & Rob (JJS 1)
• Best runner up: Crazy & Goose (Eng 5)

The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will take place at Redditch Borough on Tues 19th Dec.  The evening will begin at 8pm with the quarter-final draw.

Can all quarter-finalists please be ready to play by 8:15pm.  Spectators are welcome to attend the finals night and we hope to have a good audience for some exciting matches.

Congratulations to all the qualified pairs and thank you to all teams and players for your participation.

For details of the completed group stage please click here.  For rules please click here.

The groups for the new doubles compeition was drawn on Tuesday 5th December by League Secretary Glyn Morley and Rob Quartly.

26 teams were placed into 7 groups (5 groups of 4 teams and 2 groups of 3 teams) with fixtures to be played on Monday 11th December and Tuesday 12th December.

For the full list of groups and fixtures click here.

For a full list of rules please click here.

The new Doubles Competition begins w/c 11th December with the Finals played the following week on 19th December.

GROUP STAGE

Four doubles teams will form a group. Each team plays each other once with the group winners proceeding to the finals. Qualifying spaces also available for highest scoring runners up.

FINALS

Qualifying teams will be drawn to form four quarter-final games. The winners go on to contest two semi-finals from which the finalists emerge.

Entrants to contact the League Secretary.

Groups to be drawn w/c 4th Dec and captains notified.

Good luck!