Final line-up for our event
Date published: 10 July 2009
THREE former champions will be bidding for more Oldham Evening Chronicle Bowling Handicap glory tomorrow night (6 o’clock) when this year’s finals take place at North Chadderton Social and Bowling Club.
Peter Craig, the winner three times, Alan Jackson (twice) and Mark Dwayre are among eight finalists aiming to follow in the footsteps of last year’s champion, Alan Hodson.
But it is anyone’s guess who will come out on top as the draw for the quarter-finals has thrown up some fascinating ties.
Leading the way will be Jackson (Chadderton Cot) and Paul Heap (Springbank), both having appeared on finals nights in recent years.
Jackson receives two chalks start from Heap, who broke into the Greater Manchester team last season and who qualified for the finals with some fine play at Delph.
Jackson came through his heats at Nimble Nook and this match is one of four which are difficult to predict.
Many pundits will fancy Craig (Syke) to go all the way once again, but his opponent, Bob Nisbet (Nimble Nook), will surely have other ideas.
With green knowledge to call upon, Nisbet - who knocked out Hodson at Royton on the way to North Chadderton - has a chance of causing an upset, but Craig has so much finals-night experience that he will be the slight favourite with the bookies.
Nimble Nook’s Darren Griffiths, one of the area’s top players and a Greater Manchester stalwart for years, has qualified for the Chronicle finals on many occasions, but - surprisingly - has yet to lift the trophy.
Perhaps this will be his year, although Nicky Brooks, his team-mate at Tonge in the Manchester Premier League, will have other ideas.
Brooks, winner of the valuable Hopwood Unionist Club Handicap last year, is enjoying another good season and is sure to take advantage should Griffiths fail to deliver his usual consistency.
The last of the quarter-finals sees Dwayre (Royton) take on competition chairman Keith McHugh (Hopwood).
Dwayre, the anchor man for the Greater Manchester home team, will be determined to win the competition for the second time and his awesome striking could be a powerful weapon.
McHugh will be competing in his fifth finals-night and will be aiming to go one better than two years ago when beaten in the final by Craig.
Play gets under way at 6pm, with practice from 5.30.
Entry costs £1 and all proceeds from gate money, donations and a raffle being held on the night will go to the competition’s charity fund.
TONGE BC strengthened their position at the top of the Greater Manchester Super League with victory at home to Richmond by 189 (10) to 143 (4.5).
Their seven winners were: Matt Gillies (21-19), Jimmy Derby (21-10), Mark Dwayre (21-11), Colin Lane (21–4), Gary Ellis (21-12), Stuart Mort (21-17) and Darren Griffiths (21-7).
Next up is a trip to Pierpoints next Wednesday.
THE Thwaites Men’s Pairs event continues at Norden on Sunday (practice 5pm, start 5.30) when the draw is:
J Barlow & partner (Wigan) v M Connolly/E Davies (Wigan); F Jolly & partner (Preston) v R Stott/J Grey (Healey); A Roberts/D Crabtree (Tonge) v B Oakes/G Thompson (Whitworth); K McHugh (Hopwood)/G Gwilliam (Dukinfield) v R Lorrimer/A Shackleton (New Street).
Latest winners and through to the August 16 finals night are: T Holt (New Street)/M Clough (Wardle) who beat A Lowe/T Dobson (Healey) 21-20.
At the same time, the AC Ventilation Ladies Pairs takes place and features:
L Connelly/D Dwyer (Royle) v M Hancock/A Haye (Burnley); J Jolly/K Garnett (Preston) v K Johnstone/L Smith (Warrington).
Latest winners: M Lyons/V Lyon (Liverpool) beat B Davy/E Ginnevar (Birches) 21-14.
THE draw for the next round of Peter Wild Cup matches in the Oldham Women’s Bowls League (to be played next Tuesday) is:
Delph A v Coalshaw Foxes (at Werneth Ckt), Uppermill A v Royton Ckt A (Failsworth Libs), Werneth Ckt A v St Paul’s A (Diggle), Moorside B v Nimble Nook (St Paul’s), Diggle B v Royton Ckt B (Friezland), Crompton A v Springbank A (Moorside), Uppermill B v Grapes (Crompton), St Paul’s B v Dunwood (Delph).
LATEST scores from the Oldham Veterans Indoor League are:
Bank Top 11, Wobblers 7, Moorside 9, Drifters 14, Hr Failsworth 14, Firth Steel 8, British Aero 17, The Green Team 7, Simpson Memorial 4, Graduates 19, Lr Failsworth 14, Lazerlites 5.25.
Simpson Memorial 12, First timers 8, Lazerlites 11, Graduates 13, Lr Failsworth 22, Wobblers 2, The Green Team 9, Drifters 13, Bank Top 7, Hr Failsworth 19, British Aero 6, Firth Steel 11.
