Waterloo returns to TV

Mark Audin: welcoming TV cameras back to Blackpool

BOWLS: CROWN green bowls is to return to terrestrial television. A £50,000 sponsorship deal with Co-Operative Funeralcare will put the sport’s biggest event, the Waterloo Bowling Handicap, on live ITV4 for its final two days, September 15 and 16 (10am-5pm).

Crown green bowls has slipped off the television radar since the 1980s when the BBC used to screen the Waterloo and Champion of Champions tournament at the Blackpool venue, and ITV televised the now-defunct Bass Masters.

The sport’s promoters are hoping to attract newcomers to the sport. Mel Evans, the British Crown Green Association’s commercial officer, said: “This is the best news crown green bowling has received for many years. It’s been 26 years since the sport has been on terrestrial television.”

Mark Audin, the Waterloo manager, said: “We need the crown green fraternity to come along and support the Waterloo. Let’s get a big crowd in the stadium to show the public what a unique atmosphere the sport can generate.”



TONGE clinched the Manchester Premier League title with two games to spare thanks to a 13.5-3 (196-152) victory at Tottington. Winners for the champions were Gary Ellis (21-4), Jimmy Derby (21-17), Nigel Greenhalgh (21-15), Darren Griffiths (21-12), Nicky Brooks (21-14), Donny Wilkinson (21-15) and Steve Squire (21-12). Tonge are away to the King and Queen, Warrington, in their penultimate fixture next Wednesday (7.30pm).