Wilson storms Champion of Champions title

Moorside-based Yorkshireman Graeme Wilson picked up £1,000 and landed one of crown green bowling’s most prestigious prizes when he won the Champion of Champions tournament at the Waterloo Hotel in Blackpool on Saturday.

Wilson was in imperious form all day, starting with a 21-7 destruction of British junior merit champion Greg Smith and following up with a 21-9 win over former Waterloo Handicap winner Andrew Moss (Shropshire).

Isle of Man’s Colin Kelly went the same way, (21-7) and although recent Waterloo title winner Gary Ellis (Nimble Nook) looked likely to provide a much sterner challenge for Wilson in the semi-finals, he was readily brushed aside 21-11.

Wilson was a hot favourite to beat Midlands player Anthony Aldridge in the final and he duly landed the odds, winning 21-12 to complete a sensational performance.

Springbank’s Steve Copeland, who qualified for the competition by winning the Hill Crest Classic, went out 21-19 to British Merit winner Matt Bower (South Yorkshire) in the first round.