The BCGBA Junior Individual Merit was held on Saturday 20^th August 2022 at Ashton Cricket Club, Greater Manchester.

Wales may be only one part of the Crown Green world in Britain, but we punch well above our weight when it comes to talent.

Our two representatives Ryan P Williams – Llanfair PG BC. ( 2022 Welsh Junior Merit Champion ) and Finley Hormbrey – Fron Park BC and 2022 Runner-up faced a field of other talented youngsters from across the world of Crown Green bowls.

Ryan had a comfortable 21-10 win in his first match against Jack Brannon of Cheshire. In round two he scored the same 21-10 win against Owen Evans of Staffordshire. Finley was not so lucky. He had an excellent game with Jordyn Hughes of Staffordshire but was unable to secure a place in the next round. He finished 21-18.

Ryan was to have his hardest game in the Quarter final with Louie Furniss -(Derbyshire’s Junior Merit champion). Both players were neck at neck in the early stages of the game only ceding a single point here and there. At 9 across, Ryan seized the initiative and began to pull ahead. Some truly thrilling and accurate striking by Ryan saw him triumph at 21-15.

In his Semi final, he met Jacob Parratt ( South Yorkshire) where he was in command from the word ‘go’. Jacob gained only a point or so in front a couple of times throughout the match, and it was another 21-10 to Ryan.

The Final was set between Ryan and Thomas Scorah –  (Yorkshire Junior Merit Champion) who had also made steady progress throughout the competition.

Ryan started with a positive frame of mind , playing the whole green well. It began to look like a single figure win for the Welsh junior. Thomas then clawed back a string of points to get to 16-15 to Ryan. At this stage, a measure at one end went in Ryan’s favour and he was not about to be stopped. He won the championship 21-15.

Multiple Welsh Junior Merit champion, Ryan, was now the British Junior Champion and celebrated the end of his Junior career in fine form. Ryan has been a member of the Wales Junior squad for a good many years and has grown in maturity and confidence. His family, there in support on the day, can be justifiably proud. He now qualifies for the BCGBA Champion of Champions competition next month.