Archived League News 2024
Knockout Cup Finals
The final two matches of the 2024 season were played at Bridgnorth B.C on Sunday 29th September. In the division 1 K/O final, Horsehay A narrowly defeated division 1 champions Highley A and in the division 2 K/O final division champions Stockton A beat Bridgnorth B. Details here.
29Sep24 by John Palmer
Knockout Cup Finals and League Prize Presentation
The finals of the Knockout Cups will be played at at Bridgnorth Bowling Club on Sunday 29th September. The Division 2 final will be played at 1pm, followed by the Division 1 at 3pm. Dress code will apply. Bridgnorth B's handicap will be reduced to +4 due to their home advantage.
The finals will be followed by the League Prize Presentation at approximately 5pm. A buffet will be provided and all league bowlers are welcome. Donations of prizes for a raffle on the day would be much appreciated.
13Sep24 by John PalmerDoubles Finals
Many thanks to Highley for hosting the doubles finals.
The division 1 trophy was won by Simon Madeley & Nigel Evans (Madeley) who beat Gavin Bridge & Peter Burd (Horsehay) 21-20 in the final.
Both finalists in the division 2 trophy were from Broseley. Gail Hall & Neil Bowen beat Mick Rhodes & Kev Carter 21-18.
More details here.
8Sep24 by John Palmer
Knockout Cups - Semi-Finals
Ties in the semi-finals of the league knockouts take place on Tuesday 10th September, 7pm start. Note that a green fee of £8 per team is payable to the host club.
Details are on the results service: Division 1 Division2 and copied below.
7Sep24 by John PalmerDoubles Finals
The finals of both the division 1 and division 2 doubles will be played at Highley on Sunday 8th September, 1.15pm scratch. The draws will be made on the day. Qualifiers:
Division 1
Gavin Bridge & Peter Burd Horsehay
Emma Duncan & Nathan Lacey Shifnal
Simon Madeley & Nigel Evans Madeley CC
Richard Simmonds & Dave Brown Horsehay
Division 2
Gail Hall & Neil Bowen Broseley
Guy Lewis & Mick Davies Stockton
John Pritchard & Steve Bishton Stockton
Mick Rhodes & Kevin Carter Broseley
Knockout Cups - Quarter Finals
Ties in the quarter finals of the league knockouts take place on Tuesday 20th August, 7pm start. Note that a green fee of £8 per team is payable to the host club.
Please note that I've had to move the division 1 match between Horsehay B and Highley A to Cleobury Mortimer due to Worfield's green being unavailable.
Details are on the results service: Division 1 Division2 and copied below.
4Aug24 by John PalmerLeague Doubles Qualifying
Eighteen pairs entered the division 1 competition and ten the division 2. Qualifying took place on Tuesday 6th August, 6.45pm scratch. Entry fee £10 per pair. Details with qualifiers highlighted below.
31Jul 24 by John PalmerDivision 1 at Bylet No.1
Martin Beddow/Roger Jones-Highley
Gavin Bridge/Peter Burd-Horsehay
Lesley Burnside/Liam Williams-Mortimer
Lauren Burnside/Joe Burnside-Mortimer
Emma Duncan/Nathan Lacey-Shifnal
Luke Fearnall/Des Conneely-Horsehay
Michael Furness/Dave James-Shifnal
David Hill/Brian Durnall-Highley
Paul Powell/Richard Jones-Horsehay
Tony Swales/Peter Gyldard-Much Wenlock
2 to qualify, John Palmer I/C
Division 1 at Broseley
Akeel Duncan/Maziah Taylor-Shifnal
Stuart & Sharron Duncan-Shifnal
Nick Flatters/Jane Flatters-Mortimer
Andy Garbett/Craig Baugh-Horsehay
Simon Madeley/Nigel Evans-Madeley
Steve & Beth Reeves-Horsehay
Robert Renke/Brian Walters-Islanders
John Roberts Jnr/Gareth Jones-Horsehay
Loll Russon/Robert Parry-Highley
Richard Simmonds/Dave Brown-Horsehay
2 to qualify, Rob Renke I/C
Division 2 at Much Wenlock
Gail Hall/Neil Bowen-Broseley
Tony & Debbie Jones-Worfield
Vinny Kirkland/John Roberts-Stockton
Guy Lewis/Mick Davies-Stockton
Christine Massie/Brian Homer-Bridgnorth
Matthew Pritchard/Peter Jackson-Broseley
John Pritchard/Steve Bishton-Stockton
Mick Rhodes/Kevin Carter-Broseley
Robert Weir/Martin Bennett-Stockton
Tony Roche/John Clarke-Stockton
4 to qualify, John Pritchard I/C
Singles Finals Sunday 21st July at Stockton
Congratulations to home bowler Rob Weir on winning the Mark Bennett Memorial Trophy and Broseley's Matthew Pritchard winning the Division 2 Trophy.
Scores are on the results service here and here and more details here.
The trophies were presented by League Treasurer Jeanette Bennett. League Chairman John Palmer thanked everyone for supporting the competitions, those who had measured and marked cards and Stockton Bowling Club for hosting the finals. John also congratulated Stockton on the condition of the green and surrounds which were a credit to the club.
21Jul24 by John Palmer
Knockout Cup Draws
The draw for the two knockout cups are available on the results service division 1 & division 2 and copied below.
The preliminary round for division 1 will be played on Tuesday 16th July and division 2 on Wednesday 17th July.
Please note that due to Harris Cup matches being moved because of the England football match on 10th July, the division 2 match between Bridgnorth B & Broseley which was originally to be played at Bylet No.1, then moved to Highley will now be played at Cleobury. Apologies for the confusion and many thanks to Cleobury Mortimer Bowling Club for agreeing to host the fixture at short notice.
The quarter finals of both cups will be played on Tuesday 20th August, semi-finals on Tuesday 10th September and finals day will be on Sunday 29th September.
4Jul24 by John PalmerDoubles Qualifying
Entries are invited for the Division 1 (open to all Highley League bowlers) and the Division 2 trophies (open to bowlers who have played fewer than 2 games in Division 1).
Qualifying (if required) will be on Tuesday 6th August (venues to be arranged depending on the number of entries). Finals will be played on Sunday 8th September, venue to be arranged.
Entry fee is £10 per pair which will be accepted on the day you play.
Entries accepted by email to highleybowlsleague@gmail.com or phone/text/Whatsapp 07460267265 by Tuesday 30th July.
24Jun24 by John Palmer
Ladies Singles
Congratulations to home player Lauren Burnside on winning the Ladies Singles held at Cleobury Mortimer on Sunday 9th June. Details here.
10Jun24 by John Palmer
Mark Bennett & Division 2 Singles Competitions
Entries are invited for these two competitions before 12th June. Qualifying (if required) will be on Tuesday 18th June and you can pay on the day - £5 per entry. The finals will be played at Stockton on Sunday 21st July.
Entries can be emailed to highleybowlsleague@gmail.com or phone/text 07460267265.
Players are reminded that they can only play in only one of these competitions, not both as they are played at the same time.
16May24 by John Palmer
Ron Adams
League officers are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Ron Adams and wish to send their condolences to Ron's family and Madeley Cricket Club.
Ron has been a great servant to this league over many years and will be greatly missed.
RIP Ron.
Ron's funeral will be at 1.30pm on Tuesday 28th May at Telford crematorium followed by refreshments at Madeley Cricket Club.
1May24 by John PalmerOne Day Competitions
Dates and venues have now been confirmed for the two one day league competitions. Both competitions can be entered on the day and the entry fee will be £5.
Ladies Singles
Open to all lady bowlers registered to play in the league.
Venue: Cleobury Mortimer Bowling Club
Date: Sunday 9th June, 1.45pm draw for a 2pm start.
Jim Palmer Memorial Trophy
Open to all league bowlers over the age of 60.
Venue: Highley
Date Sunday 23rd June, 12.45pm draw for a 1pm start.
29Apr24 by John PalmerAGM Update
The proposition from Broseley to play four matches, have a short break then play the last four was accepted in principal provided both captains agree and common sense prevails.
The proposition from Chelmarsh to adopt the Mid-Shropshire League's Thursday division scoring system didn't have a seconder so was defeated.
After match refreshments were discussed and it was agreed that the status quo would remain. I.e it was up to the home club whether they provided them or not.
All league officers were reelected en bloc:
President: Bob Parry
Chairman, Fixture Secretary & Safeguarding Officer: John Palmer
Vice Chairman: Rob Renke
Secretary: Lesley Burnside
Treasurer: Jeanette Bennett
John informed clubs that contact details had been removed from the league's website as they were often out of date. Details are now only held in the Club Contacts page on the Results Service and it's each club's responsibility to keep them up to date.
Jeanette asked if Stockton could hold the finals of the Mark Bennett Memorial Singles for the third year and it was agreed to do so. The location will change in subsequent years.
Stockton confirmed after the meeting that they wish to enter a B team in the league. This with Islanders withdrawing a team gives us 10 teams in division 1 and 11 in division 2 (same format as last year). This means (provided there are no more applications and resignations) that division 2 will start on Tuesday 2nd April and finish on 24th September. Division 1 will start on Tuesday 16th April and finish on Tuesday 17th September. Finals day will be Sunday 29th September. With insufficient Tuesdays now available, the preliminary round of the division 2 team knockouts will be held on Wednesday 17th July. Tuesday 16th July will be a free night in division 1 so they can play the preliminary round on that date.
Competition Dates
Provisional competition dates have now been posted on the Competitions page.
18Feb24 by John PalmerHappy New Year
League officers would like to wish all Highley League bowlers all the best for 2024. The results service database has been switched for the new year but no fixtures have been created yet.
28Dec23 by John Palmer