Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
The Flowfit Shropshire Premier League had its first ever winner of the Champion of Champions, also sponsored by Flowfit today as Castlefields’ Callum Wraight won the title, on his birthday! Despite admitting himself that it’s not his favourite green Callum was awesome today in brushing aside the field to be Shropshire’s first winner since Brian Shore in 1987. He started his campaign brushing aside Steve Barber 21-10, then beating former winner Graeme Wilson 15, the player he beat in the final to seal his place in this competition last week in the Brighouse Classic. He saw off another previous winner in Chris Mordue in the Quarter Finals 10, then played former team mate and Sir John Bayley player Craig Barker in the Semis. He won this close game 17 to play Gary Ellis, a former twice winner of the championship. But Callum was not to be denied as he stormed to another 21-10 win, playing some superb stuff up to the crown and back and stopping Gary getting a run in the corners. This win at the sport’s pinnacle competition adds to his 2009 All-England triumph as well as numerous other titles he has won this and previous years, including the County Cup and Feeder B of the Summit League with his side Castlefields this season.
Unfortunately only one of the other League’s players got through their first round tie, Andy Hughes beating Conor Chamberlain from Derbyshire 10 before getting beat by runner-up Ellis 15 next round. Rob Roden lost 11 to Semi-Finalist Barker, while Leighton Roberts dipped out 18 against Lancashire’s Billy Speed. Russell Pegram lost to All England winner Tom Vickers from Cheshire 6, while Glyn Picknell was a late call up to replace Ben Stanway and despite fighting back from 10-1 down and leading at 20-19 dipped out 20 to last year’s winner Simon Coupe. Hanwood’s Greg Smith, one of the favourites for the title, lost out Andy Hayes first round 18.
But it was Callum’s day, on and off the green, and the first ever winner from the Flowfit Shropshire Premier Bowling League, the first of many we hope! And everyone from the league congratulates him and wish him a very happy 29th Birthday!