Thwaites big boost to our bowls scene

BOWLS in Stockport has received another huge boost with a massive open competition launched.

The event sponsored by Thwaites Brewery will take place this Sunday at West Heaton Bowling and Tennis Club in Heaton Moor.

The club has never hosted such an event which has taken nearly 12 months of planning for Eddie Tasker, Jimmy Parker and several others.

The venue is regarded as a bit of a hidden gem which until now has been unseen by the country’s top players.

A high quality field of 32 with some of the country’s big names invited should make for a top days play.

The prize pot on the day is in excess of £1100 with plenty to play for every bowl will count.

The venue will also provide hot/cold food and refreshments all day with a bookmaker and scoreboards in operation.

Many of the players have been invited down by Jimmy Parker who has a reputation as one of the country’s top bowling competition organisers.

Parker ran the Waterloo bowls premier prize for many years and has run many competitions here and abroad for bowls.

The only shame is that Bowls number 1 Gary Ellis is missing from the field with the top jack already engaged elsewhere.

There are many players from Birmingham entered who may not have been so much here in the Stockport area.

Entry is by programme on the day with practice from 9am and play underway at 10am.

The venue itself is located on Princes Road near Tythe Barn School in Heaton Moor and has a car park for those visiting.

The following players are entered up on the day with two representatives from Stockport also involved- Martin Gilpin (Kendal), Ian Nicholson (Kendal), Matt Gatley (Warrington), Chris Livesey (Northern Etchells), Darren Plenderleith (Burton), Suart Meddings (Birmingham), Carl Fielding (Birmingham), Noel Burrows (Sale), Greg Smith (Birmingham), Ryan Prosser (Birmingham), Barry Booth (Potteries), Ben Harris (Birmingham), Tommy Johnstone (Poynton), Elliot Mcguinness (Birmingham), Lee Brown (Stoke), Matt Gilmore (Wirral), Paul Bailey (Sheffield), John Bailey (North Wales), Daniel Jones (North Wales), Carl Armitage (Warrington), Callum Wraight (Shrewsbury), Kerry Morris (Stoke), Dan Petcher (Burton), Michael Heap (Wigan), Craig Rammell (Accrington), Luke Davies (Wolverhampton), Ian Hazelhurst (Tranmere), Jamie Bramley (Stockport), Chris Barlow (Stockport), Mike Tunstall (Richmond), Thomas Dennison (Burton In Kendal), Phil Lee (Richmond), The excellent Navigation and Railway final day took place on Sunday in Woodley.

Dave Leigh from Quarry Bank caused a stir putting out two fancied opponents to reach the semi finals.

Meanwhile, the game’s number 1 player, Gary Ellis ousted Simon Coupe to reach the final by winning 21-13.

Gareth Gwilliam ended the plucky run from Leigh to join Ellis in the final on a beautiful surface.

It was business as usual for Ellis in the final as he always held sway to take home the big cheque and defeat Gwilliam 21-16.