SCGBA Senior Merit Preview

The 2024 Shropshire Senior Merit takes place at the Bowring at 11 a.m. later today. We look at the 16 matchups for the first round.

Peter Farmer v Harry Parsonage

Pete has won this competition four times, and has appeared in six other finals, while Harry has been runner up in the Junior Merit in 2019 and is now a mainstay in the Burway Premier League team.

Mark Shore v Michael Cooper

Mark Shore has been a perineal qualifier lately, this is the 10th time in 14 years he has qualified. He has reached the Quarter Finals before, while Michael, plying his trade on a Friday at Horsehay now, qualified for the first time last season and will be aiming for his first win on finals day.

Rich Goddard v Josh Cotton

Rich has won this twice before in 2003 and 2014, while Josh has improved to become a key part of the Wrockwardine Wood team, and has joined the competition circuit this season.

Steve Faulkner v Ashley Wellings

Steve has recently returned to the game and was a finalist in 1991 against Alan Jones on Severnside. He reached the final of the Veterans Merit just two weeks ago. Ash got to the Semi Finals last season, and made the move to Castlefields this season.

Adrian Rowe v Dan Taylor 

Adie has won the County Handicap in 2012 and has settled now at Castlefields. Dan won the Staffordshire Merit in 2016, and joined Sir John Bayley this season, winning the 2 man team competition at Donnington Wood just last night.

Harry Church v Sam Millward

Harry was the surprise of last year’s merit reaching the Semi Finals after beating Rich Goddard and Callum Wraight. Sam has shone at Wrockwardine Wood and regained his county place this season, and is another who plays in plenty of competitions.

Alan Purcell v Gary Beff

Alan won the County Handicap in 2022 and has returned to playing full time at Chester Road. Gary is now full time at Woore after skippering Chester Road, he has been part of the county side recently.

Chris Grocott v Nick Davies

Chris has returned to playing full time at Horsehay and now at Wrockwardine Wood, which has earned him a place back in the County side. Nick qualified for the Jack & Jean Isherwood Veterans for next week, as well as helping the Shropshire Premier League side win the Veterans Inter League just a few weeks ago.

Martin Lloyd v Mark Thomas

Martin won this in 2010 and is now full time at Woore. Mark has been a mainstay of Meole Brace’s team for a long time now, and captained the Shropshire Premier League team to the Veterans Inter League title two weeks ago.

Jordan Millman v Tony Rhodes

Jordan won the Mid Shropshire Under 25 Merit this year and has won the Under 15 Merit in that league too. Tony is a former Semi Finalist in this, as well as being a winner of the Premier League Merit.

Will Childs v Simon Madeley

Will has impressed this season in the Meole Brace and North Shropshire Parks teams. Simon moved to Sinclair this season and got to the Semi Finals of the Mid Shropshire Merit just two days ago.

Wayne Rogers v Hayden Lewis

Wayne won this in 2016 and is now a key player for Castlefields. Hayden moved to Castlefields which has improved his game and has earned him a spot in the county squad.

Jamie Brookes v Dave Lloyd

Jamie has settled down at Adderley and is more known for his excellent organisation in the Winter Series and other competitions. Dave won this competition two years ago, and captained Sir John Bayley to the quadruple recently.

Dave Nicholls v Josh Bradburn

Dave has been entering many of the local competitions and reached the last 16 of the Bylet Open last season. Josh is a former Bowring player and reached the Semi Finals of the Newport Open last season, and is now captaining St Georges.

Derek Wright v Chris Jones

Derek won this back in 1994, and has moved to Woore recently after being at Wem USC for many years. Chris beat the favourite Callum Wraight in the qualifiers and has improved since moving to Meole Brace, earning a call up to the County squad.

Richard Lawson v Rhys Marshall

Rich won this competition last year after being third time lucky in the final. Rhys won the Junior Merit last year and has recently moved to Castlefields.

Good luck to all 32 players, the full draw is below.