High class bowls field for Chadsmoor

The hugely prestigious Les Evans Memorial Classic takes place on Easter Monday, with its usual star-studied line up of the cream of the crown green bowling world.

The action commences at 10.30am at Chadsmoor Progressive, Burns Street, Chadsmoor, Cannock and sees reigning champion Lee Lawton defending his  crown. 

In his opening game he will face the 2000 winner Kerry Morris, while crowd favourite Peter Varney, looking to make it third time lucky after losing in the last two finals, faces a testing first game against Mike Tunstall. 

The 2007 Staffordshire Merit champion, Ian Whitehouse, faces Ant Bracken.

Graeme Wilson bids to add this title to his illustrious collection, and is joined at the Midlands venue by Gary Ellis, Glyn Cookson and without doubt one of the finest exponents of the game Noel Burrows.

Draw: S.Coupe (Preston) v M. Ferris (Stoke), A. Bracken (Birmingham) v I.Whitehouse (Wolverhampton), S. Rutter (Wolverhampton) v G.Ellis, P.Gamsby (Kings Heath) v C. Mordue (Bradford),  D.Ferris (Stoke) v T.Johnstone (Warrington), G.Cookson (Winsford) v R.Fitzpatrick (Wirral), C.Fielding (Kings Heath) v W.Ditchfield (Chorley), D.Plenderleith (Tamworth) v A.Cairns (Rossendale), N.Burrows (Stockport) v D.Barwise (Liverpool), G.I.Wilson (Oldham) v C.Beaman (Shrewsbury), P.Bailey (Birmingham) v M.Leach (Preston), A.Roberts (Lancaster) v J.Bailey (Llanrwst), D.East (Wolverhampton) v S.Freer  (Birmingham), K.Morris (Stoke) v L.Lawton (Failsworth), C.Brown (Sheffield) v C.Barker (Cheslyn Hay), M.Tunstall (Liverpool) v P.Varney (Coventry).

The Antony Pagett Open competition reaches the end of its qualification stage this weekend and a few more Staffordshire bowlers will be looking to join their compatriots for the finals on Sunday 30th March. 

Ian Whitehouse shrugged off the effects of a recent fall as he produced three excellent performances to qualify, edging out Woodfield’s Ant Aldridge 21-18. 

Also through to the finals is Penn’s Paul Butcher who produced a first class performance on the Cradley Liberals green to defeat Chadsmoor’s Alan Parsons 21-13. 

The other two weekend qualifiers were Dave Semper from Woodfield and Dave Smith from Moor Lane.

Results: I. Whitehouse – G. Peniket 21-13, R. Prosser 21-16, A. Aldridge 21-18; P. Butcher – A. Tapper 21-18, P. Evans 21-17, A. Parsons 21-13; D. Smith – G. Jones 21-10, A. Sprason 21-20, J. James 21-13; D. Semper – K. Anderson 21-19, I. Porter 21-18, I. Daly 21-10.

Success for Staffordshire bowlers has been thin on the ground recently at the Tipton & Coseley Centenary Trophy, held at West Bromwich Supporters Club. 

But one of Staffordshire’s best made it through to the  April 13 finals with a display of quality bowling. Dave East, is beyond doubt a hugely talented bowler and proved this by defeating Peter Farmer (St Georges) and Mike Geraghty (Lloyds) to qualify. 

Joining Dave East are Chris Morrison, Stuart Perry and Darren Wood from Sunday’s round and Matt Bower, Ernie Wearing –who will be east’s opponent on finals day – Gary Morton and Paddy McGuinness from Saturday’s round.

Results: M. Bower – J. Rawlinson 21-8, E. McGuinness 21-12, P. Bound 21-14; E. Wearing – P. Thomas 21-9, M. Plenderleith 21-19, C. Brown 21-15; P. McGuinness – M. Evans 21-18, D. Clarke 21-18, G. Dulson 21-10; G. Morton – M. Kelly-Wally 21-11, C. Ward 21-16, R. Broadfield 21-20; C. Morrison – N. Dawes 21-4, C. McDonald 21-8, K. Pessall 21-16; D. East – A. Howard 21-18, P. Farmer 21-16, M. Geraghty 21-15; S. Perry – P. Owen 21-14, S. Williams 21-19, J. Williamson 21-15; D. Wood – K. Perry 21-10, A. Bailey 21-18, A. Hill 21-20.

There are still places available at the Oaklands Spring Open competition for next week on Tues 25th, Weds 26th, Thurs 27th, Fri 28th. For details contact the club on 01902 423910.