Merit (John Coxill Trophy)

The 2026 SPBL Merit will be held as qualifiers with a finals night of 8 again.

The qualifiers will take place on Friday 11th September and Wednesday 16th September at 6.30 p.m.

The final 8 will be on Friday 25th September at 6.30 p.m.

Any player registered with a Premier League club, or with Horsehay or Sinclair, can enter the competition.

Entry is £10, and entries are to be in by Friday 4th September to Rob Burroughs on 07901 229623 or Martin Gaut on 07964 294466, or email spbl21up@gmail.com

1. The competition is open to all bowlers registered with a Shropshire Premier League Bowling Club. Bowlers from other clubs can be invited to take part at the discretion of the Management Committee.
2. It will be run as a qualifier and a finals night of 8, both held on a Friday and/or Wednesday as determined at the March Executive Meeting.
3. The scratch time will be 6.30 or 7 as set by the Competitions Secretary. Any players arriving after the scratch time cannot take part.
4. The draw will be completed by the person in charge at the venue with at least another person present.
5. BCGBA Dress code will not apply in the qualifiers but will in the finals.
6. Prize Money to be determined by the Competitions Secretary once the qualifiers have been completed.
7. The entry fee is £10 payable a week before the date of the first qualifier. Failure to pay before this deadline will mean you are not eligible to play in that year’s competition. We will not accept payment on the night.
8. The venues and fields of players will be drawn and released at least three days before the qualifiers are to take part.
9. Any player not turning up to the finals night, and without a valid reason as determined by the Management Committee, will be banned from league individual competitions for 12 months.