Mike Wakelam's Column Latest Press Release 1st September 2008

It’s still all to play at the top of the Osprey sponsored W&W Premier Division One table. George had eleven winners against the Bell winning by 121. Pete Davenport 21/4, Steve Darling 21/5, Dane Hopwood 21/6.

Boldmere St Michaels won away at Drakes Drum by 11 Simon Trentham 21/7 Mick Bardsley 21/8. The Mike’s then secured a valuable home win by 31 over King George V after the latter had sunk the Valley away twenty four hours earlier. Greville lost at Sutton Park by 34.

Kings Norton cruised in by 51 in Division Two over Forget Me Not Matt Ryan 21/11.

Royal Oak kept their promotion hopes on course in Division Three beating Raven by 21 Eric Boscott 21/7.

Sid Price Hunt 21/8 starred for Romsley in Division Six as they beat Olton Tavern by 55. A 21/6 win from Gill Ingram helped Maggies beat Banbury by 68.

There was a good win for Royal Oak in Alliance Division Two who won away at Boldmere St Michaels by 6.

James Seville (Moseley BC) came within a whisker of collecting the £500 first prize in the Shirley Heath Trees sponsored Greville Arms Open.

In his opener the W&W county player beat Nick Newey 21/15 and followed with a comfortable 21/9 victory over Steve Freer. In his quarter final Seville out bowled Paul Gamsby winning 21/6, but was made to fight for a 21/18 win in his semi by Terry Cutting.

Waiting in the final was last years champion Graeme Wilson from Yorkshire who trailed Seville early 6/0 and 20/17 but it was the northern star who retained his composure to win 21/20. 

The £500 first prize in the Black Country Invitation challenge at Cradley was won by Stuart Edwards from the Mitchells & Butlers BC Cheslyn Hay. After a superb 21/8 win in his semi against northern star Lee Lawton Edwards then beat Steve Dicken 21/19 in the final. 

Moseley defeated Kings Norton by 64 in Staffs Bowls League Division One to gain promotion to the Premier League. 

Graham & Malcolm Hussey are the Pat Simpkin Sponsored W&W Mens Pairs Champions. They collected the £320 first prize with wins over Ivan Smout & Alan Bentley 21/17, Ross & Pete Dunkley 21/11, before repeating that score in the final against Anthony Bracken & Richard Dandy. 

The semi finals of the Midlands Super Cup will be between Moseley and Greville and the Potteries twosome of Middleport Park and Birches Head.

The final will take place at the Amery Bowls Club Coppice Lane Willenhall on Tuesday 16^th September start 7-00pm. Winners receive £600

The following W&W players have qualified for the finals of the Midland Masters which will take place at the Meole Brace BC Shrewsbury on Sunday 21^st September the winner collects £500.

Malcolm Hussey, Anthony Bracken, Steve Wallace, Carl Fielding, Paul Shepherd, Craig Round, Mark Denman, John Evans, Paul Asson, Craig Dugdale, Nigel Townsend

There are still vacancies in the Hadley Friday Evening Indoor League at Smethwick contact Don Freeman 0121-601-5458.

Joe Woollard has recently received congratulations from the Heart of England Friendly Bowls League after celebrating his 90^th birthday.

Joe was born in Epping at the height of the first World War and is the oldest member of the Stoke Prior BC.

Joe still plays bowls three times per week and last season he won the clubs K.P. Trophy and it is only five years since he lifted the club championship.