18-25 Merit 2023 Report

Please find a report below from our Competitions Secretary Mike Potter on the 18-25 Merit.

Shropshire 18-25 Merit 2023 – Saturday 15^th July 2023 – Sir John Bayley BC

In response to calls from some for a competition for players after junior county, a new Merit competition run by the BCGBA for players between the ages of 18-25 was launched last year. However, it was decided the top age would be altered to now run as an 18-23 Merit. As Shropshire introduced an 18-25 Merit of our own, we opted to keep it as last year with the two players, going the furthest subject to the BCGBA new age restriction, being nominated to represent the county in the BCGBA event in August.

In the second running of the competition, staged on the bottom green at Sir John Bayley that only attracted 6 bowlers, half as last year, possibly due to the poor weather, to the Wellington venue where they would contest the 18-25 Merit on a very wet and windy Summer’s day that had players seeking refuge from a heavy deluge mid-way through.

Highlights from the Pre-lims

Joe Killen turned a 5-7 deficit in to a strong 16-7 & 18-9 lead before his brother, Tom got the jack to close to trail 14-19 until Joe ended it 21-14.

Matt Farmer after 16 ends held an imperious 20-2 lead over Harry Parsonage, who rallied well to get in to double figures before Matt got the single chalk needed for a 21-10 win.

Highlights from Semi-finals

Joe Killen from 6-5 against, on more than one occasion, the unlucky Matt Farmer, allowed him to win one more end before Joe ran out 21-6.

Meanwhile

From a 6-6 even start by Ed Proudlove and Will Childs, Ed pushed ahead, winning 9 of the next 10 ends to take a strong 15-8 lead that was soon to be converted to a 21-12 win.

The Final

Joe Killen powered his way to lead Ed Proudlove 8-0(5 ends) after which neither could hold the jack for 9 consecutive ends, but counting 2’s to Ed’s 1’s, Joe had stretched his lead to 16-5(14 ends) and once he made it back on to a favoured 25 metre straight mark up and down the green, from 16-10(17 ends), he quickly finished off Ed’s hopes and ran out with a winning 21-10(21 ends) card.

Competition Secretary, Mike Potter thanked Sir John Bayley BC for their hospitality and staging the event before presenting the worthy players their prizes. He also announced finalists, Joe Killen & Ed Proudlove will be representing Shropshire when they take their places on finals day of the BCGBA event and but due to the age restriction preventing Matt Farmer & Will Childs going forward, as a reserve nomination we may also see Tom Killen join Joe & Ed.

2023  Shropshire 18-25 Merit Champion – Joe Killen

Congratulations

MP

Results