Bowlers chasing major prizes

A BUSY weekend of competition finals gets under way at Walmersley Conservative Club, Bury, tomorrow (1pm) when the £2,360 Daniel Thwaites Trophy will be played to a conclusion.

Among the players chasing a first prize of £600 are Failsworth’s Lee Lawton and Tonge’s Gary Ellis.

Draw: Lawton v B Farrell; Charlie Weaver v J Fitzpatrick; P Firth v R Fitzpatrick; A Thornton v P Dudley; J Seeley v D Walker; G Ellis v M O’Neill; A Walker v C Brown; D Twigg v B Lowden.

Ellis is also in action in the finals of the £2,350 Vital Services Classic at New Street, Littleborough, on Sunday (noon).

Others chasing the £600 first prize are Ellis’s Tonge team-mates Matt Gillies and Darren Griffiths, Springbank’s Martin Hodson and Moorside-based Yorkshire ace Graeme Wilson.

Draw: Gillies v C Austin; C Chapman v M Holden; Ellis v M Regan; J Wade v P Firth; P Fielding v Wilson; R Hobson v J Senior; Griffiths v B Lowden; P Craig v Hodson.

Wilson is the hot favourite to win the £600 top prize in the finals of the River Homes (UK) Open at the Nursery Inn, Stockport, tomorrow (6pm).

Draw: A Daykin v R Crawshaw; C Jenkins v Wilson; B Kirk v G Cookson; N Burrows v A Bailey.




TONGE adapted to monsoon-like conditions to beat Lower Hopton 12-1.5 (209-154) in the Manchester Premier League.



Having beaten Hopton by the same score in Yorkshire earlier in the season, Tonge were in tremendous form, only Thomas Dobson (20-21) losing his game.

Tonge winners on a waterlogged green were Matt Gillies (21-9), Jimmy Derby (21-5), Mark Dwayre (21-17), Lawrence Hallett (21-20), Darren Griffiths (21-16), Colin Lane (21-18), Nicky Brooks (21-19), Gary Ellis (21-10) and Barry Walker (21-19).

Tonge’s next game is against title contenders Garswood Hall at home on Wednesday (7.30pm).




THE Oldham Women’s Indoor League, whose matches are played at 7pm on Monday nights, are looking for a new team or players to make up a new team. For more details, contact Christine Griffiths on 0161 624 5915.


THE Oldham Parks League’s Willow Wood mixed pairs competition will be held at Stamford Park on August 17.



Entry fee is £5 and places can be secured by ringing John Fellows on 330 1100.

n PAUL Heap and Ben Stapleton (Springbank) carry local hopes in Norden BC’s Brennan mixed pairs on Sunday (5.30pm).