Ellis eyes more joy at Waterloo

NIMBLE Nook’s Gary Ellis is targeting a third straight Waterloo title.

BOWLS: NIMBLE Nook have four players in the last 64 of the Waterloo Handicap in Blackpool tomorrow (10am).

Gary Ellis, champion for the last two years, takes on Stockport’s Matt Jones.

Jimmy Derby plays Yorkshireman Ian Booth, Andrew Buckley takes on Potteries player Barry Booth and Jonathan Copeland faces Bolton’s Geoff Hilton.

Play continues on Monday and Tuesday, with the finals on Wednesday.


IT’S finals day in the Tonge Classic on Sunday (4pm) when a high-class field battles it out for the £600 top prize.

Springbank’s Martin Hodson carries local hopes and opens against Jeff Brown.


MERIT winners in the Chadderton Bowling League were:

Division One: Jack Dyson (Meltham); Division Two: Darren Wardle (Tonge ‘A’); Division Three: Peter Birchall (High Crompton); Division Four: Alan Bidwell (Springbank ‘B’); Division Five: Shaun Rawley (Middleton Cons); Division Six: Alan Dicken (Copster Park); Division Seven: Michael Coleman (Phoenix).


TONGE continued to close in on the Manchester Premier League title with an 11-3 (193-127) home victory over the Railway, Congleton.

Andrew Cairns led the way for Tonge with a 21-3 victory, while there were also wins for Jimmy Derby (21-13), Matt Gillies (21-5), Steve Squire (21-17), Simon Coupe (21-10), Stuart Mort (21-12), Darren Griffiths (21-7) and Gary Ellis (21-18).

Tonge have no game next week because of Waterloo finals day, but play the following Wednesday at Liverpool side Richmond.

Tonge added to their trophy collection when beating Springbank 197-135 in the final of the Greater Manchester Association’s Premier Cup at Moorside.

They will represent the county in the British Team Championship at Todmorden on Sunday, October 3.



ENTRIES are being accepted for the Greater Manchester association’s Blesma Trophy at Tottington Conservative Club.

Heats will be held on Monday to Thursday of next week (6.30pm each night), with the finals on Friday.

Entry details from David Williams (07899 688182).



NIMBLE Nook’s Barry Seville is through to the finals of Norden BC’s Your Choice men’s singles following his 21-17 second-round defeat of Heywood’s Phil Mainwaring.

Another Oldhamer, Don Rae, will bid to emulate him when he takes part in the next heats on Sunday (6pm).


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