Trio Compete In British Senior Merit
Three local bowlers competed in the British Senior Merit on Saturday at Heaton Park in Manchester.
Onchan man Peter Slinger won his first game 21-10 against John Short from Wales, before losing out 8-21 in the second round to Reece Farr (Shropshire).
Marown’s Tom Kelly just got over the line 21-20 against Joe Stockdale (Yorkshire), before suffering a 7-21 defeat to Lee Brown (Potteries & District) in the next round.
The best run of the local men was from Manx Champion Neil Withers (Marown) as he won his first game 21-16 against Yorkshire man Gordon Flower, then went on to secure an even better win in the second round as he beat Ryan Sandham (Cheshire) 21-11.
At the quarter final stage Withers came up against a formidable opponent in Simon Coupe (North Lancs & Fylde), who has won top titles all over the U.K. and also went into the event as the favourite with the bookmakers priced at 3/1 in a field of 64 players. Despite Withers efforts Coupe went on to take a 21-14 victory.
The competition was eventually won by Coupe who beat Reece Farr 21-11, the same opponent who had put Slinger out in the second round. This was Coupe’s first time winning the British Senior Merit.