THE Redditch Skittles League singles championship began with a bang as the first round of the competition saw past winners of the event shine.
The first round comprised four groups of 10 bowlers with the top-six in each group advancing to the quarter-finals with nine previous singles champions taking part.
Group A proved to be the highest scoring group as Bert Clewlow (Engineers) made a 13-stack in his final leg to top the group with 42 pins.
Former champions Glyn Morley (Lodge Farmers) and Mick Stanton (Jumbo Jets) both made 38 to qualify along with Clewlow.
The remaining qualifying places all went to a trio of Lodge Farmers bowlers as Frank Morris made 38 while Chris Prichard and Richard Long both made 37.
However, Mac Eaton (Nomads) missed out on a place in the quarter-finals with 36 – a score which would have seen him qualify from any of the other groups.
In Group B, 2019 champion Craig Ellis (Engineers) led the way with 36 pins with Jumbo Jets pair of Rich Johnston and Len Quartly just behind on 35 and 33 pins respectively.
And Rachel Morris (Lodge Farmers) also scored 33 pins, one of just two ladies to progress, while 2022 winner Rob Quartly (Jumbo Jets) with 30 pins and Andy Gill-Smith (Bernie’s Bolts) with 29 pins also qualified.
In Group C, 2017 champion Mark Ganderton (Engineers) topped the standings with 42 pins after making a 14-stack in his last leg.
And Tim Jones (Lodge Farmers) edged into the next round with 30 pins despite only scoring two pins in a calamitous fourth leg while three-time winner Alan Cummings (Nomads) only scored one pin in the following leg.
However, Cummings had already bowled three strong legs, including a 14-stack, to qualify with 36 pins while two-time winner Ian Greenway (Engineers) also qualified with 36 pins.
And Maurice Wroe (Engineers) and 2007 champion Dave Maule (unattached) both scored 32 pins to reach the quarter-finals.
Lastly, in Group D, James Marshal (Nomads) made a 15-stack in his first leg on his way to topping the standing with a final score of 40 pins.
And Dave Orton (C and G Show), Jim Child (Nomads) and Steve Court (The Borough) made 36, 33 and 31 respectively to qualify along with Angela Guest (C and G Show), the second lady qualifier, and defending champion Scott Few (The Borough) who both made 29 pins.
