With Spring still a few weeks away, the 2008 crown green bowls season kicks off with the second running of the Antony Pagett Open at Cradley Liberals Bowls Club.

Tony Pagett was tragically killed in a work accident in 2006 and was an enthusiastic and well known player and supporter of bowls in the local area.

The first weekend sees many of the leading bowlers from the Midlands bowls scene taking part including Craig Barker (M&B Cheslyn Hay), Gareth Herbert (Acocks Green), Ant Bracken (Greville Arms), Peter Farmer (St Georges) and Andy Moss (Chester Road). 

Barker faces a tricky opening game against top Warwick and Worcester bowler Martin McGuinness, and may also face Gareth Herbert in the following round. 

Pick of the opening clashes, however, will be the game between Ant Bracken and last season’s winner of the Tipton and Coseley event at West Bromwich Supporters Club Carl Fielding.

Today, morning Session: M. Kelly (Belvedere Park) v G. Herbert (Acocks Green), C. Barker (M&B Cheslyn Hay) v M. McGuinness (The George), D. Taylor (Belvedere Park) v I. Booth (Chester Road), M. Drury (Belvedere Park) v E. MCGuinness (George). Afternoon session: A. Bracken (Greville Arms) v C. Fielding (Kings Heath Park), G. Picknell (St Georges) v A. Duckett (Chester Road), T. Langford (Childs ERcall) v J. Waldron (Stourbridge Labour), G. Cooper (Woodfield) v D. Sherwin (Derby).

Sunday, morning session: M. Webb (Penn) v C. Weaver (Chester Road), P. Farmer (St Georges) v G. Davies (Penn), C. Pugh (Woodfield) v M. Stevens (Penn), C. Cartwright (White Horse) v C. Webb (Penn). Afternoon session: B. Rudge (Cradley Cons) v S. Broome (Sir John Bayley), C. Taylor (Greville Arms) v P. Clinton (The George), S. Taylor (King’s Norton) v S. Dicken (Woodfield), A. Moss (Chester Road) v L. Cavil (Windmill).

The AVH industries Indoor Pairs League season has reached its conclusion with Mel Evans and Lynn Pritchatt successfully retaining their crown. 

The title was firmly in their own hands from the mid-point of the season and a record streak of 20 successive wins stretching back to the 2006/7 season gave them a well deserved success.

Runners up for the second year running were Craig Barker and Keith Carter who at least had the distinction of being one of only two pairs to defeat the champions during the season. 

Alan Parsons and Keith Anderson took the Division Two title and despite a last  game defeat for Dave Semper and Dave Taylor their nearest pursuers Dave Goddard and Gary Cooper surprisingly crashed to defeat against bottom pair Fellows and Wilson, thus handing them runners up spot.

Lee Cavill and Mick Bardsley comfortably took the Third Division crown with only a single post Christmas defeat and a record aggregate of 146.