One of the premier men’s bowling competitions starts on Saturday. The 2018 WIGAN SUBSCRIPTION MEN’S CLASSIC attracts players from across the country to this famous venue.
Nestled next to Wigan Cricket Club, and close to the town centre, Wigan Subscription Bowling Green Ltd has seen some of the finest the game has to offer.
Although Wigan is known as a Rugby League town, the sport of the funny shaped ball, it is an area steeped in the game of crown green bowls.This is an area that lives and breathes the game, a contest. Great games and players from yesteryear are told in stories over a drink at the green side. It remains an area to learn and hone the skills needed to be a top class player.
This club, the venue for last year’s BCGBA Junior Merit, was featured in an article last year when the Bowling Green Services team was brought in to provide their expertise on the playing surface. A patchy unevenly paced green and scarified, spiked and top dressed and is now delighting its club members.
They, and visitors to the green, are all agreed that the green has improved this year thanks to their work and advice. It was certainly money well spent.
This year’s principal sponsors are: DGLWindows, Wigan Honda, SFConsulting, Grayway, Cheese Cabin and The Wigan Beer Company and the club, and this game of ours, are grateful for their support.
For those intending to visit this green, and enjoy the barbeque, the address is Wigan Subscription Bowling Club, Park Crescent West, Wigan, WN1 1SA and the action starts at 6:15pm
The draw for the first two rounds of the 31up Wigan Subscription Men’s Classic was made by one of the main sponsors, Mr Stuart Goulding of DGLWindows (DGLWindows.co.uk).
Highlight of the first night has to be the clash between two Yorkshire legends as Graeme Wilson plays Chris Mordue and the winner could play Fred.Olsen Cruises Champion of Champions winner Michael Beer in the second round.
The following day sees reigning BCGBA Senior Merit winner Darren Plenderleith make the long journey up from North Midlands. Reigning Waterloo Handicap Champion and also last year’s runner-up, Wayne Ditchfield, is on the third session whilst Callum Wraight is the star name on the first session in June.
The penultimate session sees last year’s winner, John Crossley, start the defence of the title he won so impressively last year.
The third and fourth rounds are on Saturday 23rd June and Sunday 24th June and the semi-finals and final are on Sunday 1st July.
The full draw is:
| Sat 19th May Josh Mordue v Danny Ferris Danny Sillitoe v Gary Ellis Michael Beer v Danny Miller Graeme Wilson v Chris Mordue |
Sun 20th May Lee Johnstone v Chris Ward Darren Plenderleith v Jack Marrow Simon Brown v Lee Heaton Josh Hale v Tommy Johnstone |
| Sat 26th May Wayne Ditchfield v George Chadwick Craig Gant v William Griffiths Alan Manuel v Kevan Shaw Neil Slattery v William Simms |
Sun 27th May Neil Jolley v Simon Coupe Mick Prescott v Paul Winrow Danny Barwise v Martin Ogiliev Neil Grant v Robert Hitchen |
| Sat 2nd June Duncan Watkins v Thomas Dennison Callum Wraight v Steve Davies Phil Cookson v Andy Moss Matt Gillies v Darren Allsopp |
Sun 3rd June Mike Tunstall v Carl Gregson Chris Bly v Ged Smedley Ian Penzer v Michael Leach Ben Brookes v Alan Broadhurst |
| Sat 9th June Ashley Daykin v Dave Higginbottom John Crossley v Ian Grady David Molyneux v Graham Law Dean Butler v Jack Dyson |
Sun 10th June Ian Young v Michael Heap Chris Cooke v Mark Britton John Brown v Harvey Birch Nicky Shaw v Dave McDermott |
