Sunday June 22^nd 2025 and it was the Gwyn Morris Individual Senior Merit Final,  this year held at Caernarfon BC. President Pauline Lindley and members of the Gwynedd Area Management were on hand to host the day. Assistant Tournament Officer, Simon Walker kept the pace of the competition swift and professional. Members of the WCGBA Management, including the Patron John Percy, Deputy President Peter Higham, Sandra West, Dusia Price, Judy and Gareth Hughes lent their support as they always do to this prestigious event. Pauline also welcomed Gwyn’s son, Clive Morris and his family.

Our Referees for the day were Arthur Peake, Alan Davies, Peter Hughes and Richard Heywood who did an excellent job on a very breezy and often showery day.

Out of the 32 players who had qualified for the Final day, there were 5 previous winners of the trophy.

In Round One, the first five games were evenly contested with no run-away winners. First off the green was Andrew Armstrong who won 21-13 over his opponent Andrew Hughes. Nick Jones, Adam Penlington, Matt Worden, and Craig Griffiths also won their games to take them to the next stage. In the second set of five games, the story was much the same with even scoring until the mid-way stage. Paul Hallett, Mathew Johnson, Jason Jones, Owen Jackson and Steve Dace also made it to Round two. The remaining 6 matches saw two outstanding wins. One by Kris Fearnley 21-8 over Gwilym Roberts and Gareth M Williams’s 21-9 win over Daniel Jones.

In Round Two, all the players remained focused on the task in hand, and once again there was not much to choose between the contenders until their matches were well into the mid stage. Nick Jones triumphed in his game with Adam 21-12 and Matt Worden, Craig Griffiths, Jason Jones, Owen Jackson, Gareth Williams, and Robin Bennett all got through to the Quarter Finals. The only single figure win of this round was Chris Charlton 21-6 over Callum Beck.

In the first of the quarters, Matt Worden had a great game with Nick Jones to win 21-14. Craig Griffiths found it tough to keep a check on Jason Jones and his love of the long marks. Jason won 21-13. Owen Jackson and Gareth M Williams had a real tussle with Gareth running out game at 21-18. Robin Bennett continued his form to win 21-14 over Chris Charlton.

In the Semi-final, there was nothing to choose between the four players once again and both finished with the same score. Jason beat Matt Worden 21-14. Likewise, Robin Bennet despatched Gareth Williams 21-14.

The Final proved to be a nail-biting treat for the spectators. Whoever claimed victory would get their name on the trophy for the first time. Robin stormed away to take a 9-5 lead over Jason. He led with a fine display of corner bowling, playing a similar mark and length that Jason had prospered on in his earlier rounds. Soon Robin was 19-13 in front. At this point, Jason dug his heels in to take back point after point and soon it was 20-19 to Robin. On what would turn out to be the last end, Robin must have thought the sky had fallen in. Unbelieveably, Jason scored the two he needed to win 21-20.

Wales has five qualifiers for the BCGBA Merit Competition in July. We wish them well.

 

Welsh Crown Green Bowling Association Vets Merit.

The above competition was also held recently with winner Mike Chamberlain beating last year’s winner Francis Penlington in the final.