Take-off time for Aerospace ace
Reporter: Keith McHugh
Date published: 20 July 2010
BOWLS:
RAY Tracey (British Aero-space) won the Chadderton Bowling League’s President’s Handicap with a 21-12 defeat of Paul Heap (Springbank) at North Chadderton Social and Bowling Club.
Tracey’s excellent leads were a feature of his finals night performance and deservedly earned him the trophy and £100 top prize.
He booked his place in the final with a 21-12 semi-final verdict against home green man Peter Duce, while Heap had a ding-dong battle against Mark Dwayre (Royton) before progressing.
Heap opened a 20-14 lead on a short mark in front of the club, but Dwayre hit back in the corners to level at 20 across before a slack lead proved costly.
The final was played in testing conditions, but Tracey’s consistent leads over 45 yards saw him cruise to a 21-12 success.
THERE is simply no stopping Gary Ellis.
The Nimble Nook and Tonge star has been in terrific form this season, winning the Waterloo Spring Handicap, Sowerby Bridge Invitation event and Sandal Classic in Wakefield.
And he added another major prize to his collection when landing the Complete Packaging Services Classic at Hill Crest Bowling Club, near Halifax, on Saturday night.
This prestigious event always attracts a top-class field, but Ellis proved unstoppable on finals night, clinching the top prize of £1,200 with a 31-21 defeat of Ian Nicholson (Kendal).
Earlier, he had beaten Peter Wilcock (Leeds) 31-23 and Gerwyn Davies (Wrexham) 31-16.
Springbank’s Steve Copeland, a past winner of the competition, went out 31-21 to Richie Goddard (Shrewsbury) in the quarter-finals.
Ellis and his brother Greg are on the bill when the Moorside Classic gets under way on Thursday (6.30pm).
Draw -
Gary Ellis v T Morris; G Hilton v G Cheetham; A Aldridge v S Trewartha; J Bennett v C Brown; L Lawton v R Dandy; Greg Ellis v J Farraday; J Hambleton v D Sillitoe; A Ferris v C Brooks.
REIGNING British Parks champions Central Lancs and Pennines cruised into the semi-finals of this year’s competition with a 27-4 demolition of Cheshire.
Local players Steve Copeland, Colin Lane, Paul Heap, Alan Hodson and Mark Dwayre were among the winners at the away venue of Victoria BC, Stockport.
Results:
At New Street BC, Rochdale (Central names first): A Cairns 21, S Robinson 11; P Craig 21, I Stokes 8; P Stott 21, B Pownall 5; P Fielding 21, D Fox 7; A Lowe 21, J Bramley 10; J Taylor 11, J Chapman 21; T Holt 20, D Flannery 21; N Brooks 21, B Hamnett 13; T Dobson 21, T Hester 19; J Wade 21, S Wooding 12; B Collinge 21, T Johnson 12; D Holt 21, J Chapman 11. Central 241, Cheshire 150.
At Victoria BC: S Copeland 21, S Waterhouse 9; S McHugh 21, R Brown 16; C Lane 21, I Dunbar 19; K Howarth 21, H Thomas 11; D Scott 21, J Wrigley 5; M Holden 13, D Higginbottom 21; P Heap 21, S Smith 10; B Stapleton 21, M Millen 20; A Hodson 21, P Wrigley 18; G Hickey 21. A Smith 11; M Dwayre 19, B Holbrook 21; G Gwilliam 21, J McGurk 8. Central 242, Cheshire 169.
Overall: Central 483, Cheshire 319.
FAILSWORTH Bowling League delegates meet tonight (8pm) at Stanley Road Conservative Club when the main item on the agenda is the individual merit draw.
Also tonight (8.30pm), Chadderton Cot Winter Bowling League representatives meet to plan the 2010/11 season. Individual and team knock-out prize money will be up for discussion.
