SPBL Merit 2025

Finals:

Callum Wraight retained the John Coxill Trophy with a dominant display in the final. He beat Reece Farr 21-9 after racing 11-0 and 19-4 up to the crown and back. In the Semi Finals he had got past Josh Bradburn after being 6-0 up and holding off any attempt by Josh to come back at him to win 14. The other Semi saw Reece Farr go 12-4 up on Jamie King and hold on to win 19.

The Quarter Finals saw the only time Callum was behind, 6-3 early on against Joe Killen, but recovered to go 10-6 up and win 15. The other three Quarters saw some great bowling by the winners. Reece Farr went 7-2 and 14-5 up on Nick Jones down the edge to win 9, Josh Bradburn from 4-3 up went 20-3 up and won 6 against Cheryl Caswell, and Jamie King from 8-4 and 12-6 up won 7 versus Andy Armstrong.

Callum thanked Sinclair for hosting and thanked Rob Burroughs and Martin Gaut for their efforts in running the competition. Thank you to everyone who entered this season.

Well done to Callum on his success. Thank you to Sinclair for hosting and to Jack Hazeldine and others for measuring and marking.

Qualifiers:

Hanwood

2023 winner Nicky Jones qualified after beating Meole pair Chris Jones 11 and Tracy Bound 12.

1

Nicky Jones

21

12

Tracy Bound

1	Tracy Bound	21	16	Will Tyler
2	Nicky Jones	21	11	Chris Jones

1	Will Tyler	21	9	Clay Flattley
2	Tracy Bound	21	15	Nick Davies
3	Chris Jones	21	0	BYE
4	Nicky Jones	21	0	BYE

Meole Brace

Former Junior Merit winner Andy Armstrong got through at Meole, defeating team mate Tom Palmer 19 in the qualifier. He head beaten last year’s finalist Gary Whitehall 14 and Gary’s son Connor 11 in the first round.

1

Andrew Armstrong

21

19

Tom Palmer

1	Andrew Armstrong	21	14	Gary Whitehall
2	Tom Palmer	21	2	Richard Lawson

1	Gary Whitehall	21	20	Ashley Wellings
2	Andrew Armstrong	21	11	Connor Whitehall
3	Richard Lawson	21	14	Peter Griffiths
4	Tom Palmer	21	0	BYE

Newport

Cheryl Caswell became the first ever women’s qualifier for the Merit after getting past John Roberts Jnr 18, Andy Garbett 9 and Aaron King 15. Joe Killen was the other qualifier, keeping up his fine form by getting past Dan Taylor 7, Josh Cotton 6 and Scott Harries 16 with three fine scalps!

1

Joseph Killen

Cheryl Caswell

1	Joseph Killen	21	16	Scott Harries
2	Cheryl Caswell	21	15	Aaron King

1	Scott Harries	21	2	Pete Grimston
2	Joseph Killen	21	6	Josh Cotton
3	Cheryl Caswell	21	9	Andy Garbett
4	Aaron King	21	18	Thomas Killen

1	Scott Harries	21	11	Michael Cooper
2	Pete Grimston	21	11	Gavin Bridge
3	Joseph Killen	21	7	Dan Taylor
4	Josh Cotton	21	3	Ben Delves
5	Cheryl Caswell	21	18	John Roberts Jnr
6	Andy Garbett	21	17	Jackie Rutter
7	Thomas Killen	21	0	BYE
8	Aaron King	21	10	Lorraine Hancock

Wrockwardine Wood

Please see below a report from the person in charge John Newey!

Wrockwardine Wood was an awkward pace and Reece’s crab like delivery got him a few 2s in the middle of his game against Spencer Clarke. Credit to Jason & Josh Williams who have only just started playing and keen to improve – keep at it guys, you’ll go far! Garry Owen struggled with the Crab and I played well and had the Crab any road up at 14-9, but the Crab found the Jack and made a pair and never looked back playing well for the rest of the game and winning 16! A good night was had by all!

1

Reece Farr

21

16

John Newey

1	Reece Farr	21	9	Garry Owen
2	John Newey	21	6	Josh Williams

1	Reece Farr	21	14	Spencer Clarke
2	Garry Owen	21	5	Jason Williams
3	John Newey	21	0	BYE
4	Josh Williams	21	0	BYE

Hanwood

Jamie King overcame two Castlefields players to get through at Hanwood. He beat Wayne Rogers 18 in the qualifier after overturning the 2014 Merit Final result when beating Mike Beer 14. He had beaten Mel Jenkins 16 first game.

1

Jamie King

21

18

Wayne Rogers

1	Wayne Rogers	21	12	Martin Gaut
2	Jamie King	21	14	Michael Beer

1	Wayne Rogers	21	10	Camilla Parsonage
2	Martin Gaut	21	13	Sarah Weaver
3	Jamie King	21	16	Mel Jenkins
4	Michael Beer	21	13	Gary Neal

Sir John Bayley

Callum Wraight will defend his title on final day after getting through at the Bayley. He beat Steve Reeves 9 in the qualifier after beating Wayne Phillips 12.

1

Callum Wraight

21

9

Steve Reeves

1	Steve Reeves	21	19	Nathan Lacey
2	Callum Wraight	21	12	Wayne Phillips

1	Nathan Lacey	21	19	Will Childs
2	Steve Reeves	21	0	BYE
3	Wayne Phillips	21	0	BYE
4	Callum Wraight	21	0	BYE

Wrockwardine Wood

Another former winner in Josh Bradburn got through at Wrockwardine Wood. He beat another winner in Stuart Rutter 9 in the qualifier, after defeating Sam Mantom 16 and Matt Parton 9.

1

Josh Bradburn

21

9

Stuart Rutter

1	Josh Bradburn	21	16	Sam Mantom
2	Stuart Rutter	21	14	Craig Baugh

1	Josh Bradburn	21	9	Matthew Parton
2	Sam Mantom	21	0	BYE
3	Stuart Rutter	21	0	BYE
4	Craig Baugh	21	0	BYE