Bowlers success at World Champs

Five short mat bowlers from Montgomeryshire represented Wales at the World Championships in Belfast, Northern Ireland at the weekend.

Aled Humphreys, Andrew Jones, Chris McWhinnie, Liam Farrington and Peter Rees, all of Castle Caereinion SMBC, made the trip over to Belfast for the three-day event to compete against the best players from around the world.

Despite wins over Belgium and Norway, defending triples champion from 2023, Jones was unable to progress through the group stages.

In the pairs, Farrington and Rees went through the group stages unbeaten, with convincing wins over India, Scotland and Germany. However, a defeat in the semi-finals to England and then in the bronze medal match meant the pair finished fourth.

In the triples, Humphreys, McWhinnie, together with Nick Evans of Swansea (pictured above), also topped their group, winning all their games in the process against Netherlands, Canada and Sweden.

However, they also fell one step short of the final with a defeat in the semi-finals, although they did secure a victory in the bronze medal match against Ireland to bring some silverware home.

In other news, six junior short mat bowlers from Montgomeryshire represented Wales U21s in their annual test match against England U21s, held in Carmarthen.

Carys Birch (Trewern), James Bumford (Tregynon), Will Rowlands (Guilsfield) along with Vaughan Jones, Harry McWhinnie and Isaac Taylor (Castle Caereinion) were all involved in a variety of pairs, triples and fours games throughout the day.

This year, Wales took the spoils over their neighbours, the first time in seven years that the Bill Jenkins Trophy will remain in Wales. A big well done to the team pictured right with team manager, Nick Evans.

The sport continues to go from strength to strength within the county. Following a victory in the Border Shield and a second place at the Welsh Counties Championships, the pair of Jac Edwards (Dolfor) and Chris McWhinnie (Castle Caereinion) have also recently been crowned Welsh Pairs Champions and will now go on to represent Wales at the British Isles Championships in November (pictured below).

The season is drawing to a close and the Montgomeryshire League, sponsered by Harrisons Solicitors, was won this year by Castle Athletic who will go on to represent the county at the Welsh Club Championships in April.

The Challenge Cup, sponsored by Nigel Pugh Car Sales, has reached its final stages and this year will be contested between Castle Rovers and Castle Athletic, with the Plate competition being contested between Dolfor and Whitton.

The finals night is being held at Trewern Community Centre on April 10, starting at 7pm. Spectators are welcome.

The final event of the season is the newly formed Montgomeryshire League Knockout Singles, where it is hoped there will be a bumper entry.

Organisers are looking for a local business to sponsor this event, therefore please get in touch via the Montgomeryshire Short Mat Bowls Association Facebook page, if this is of interest.