CONGRATULATIONS to Matthew Gilmore who won the 2016 BCGBA senior individual merit championship – The All England – which was played on the Llay Miners Welfare green last week.

This was the second time Matt, who plays for Tixall in the Birkenhead and Wirral League and New Brighton Queens Royal in the Wallasey League, has won this trophy; he last won 15 years ago, coincidentally on the same green.

He defeated Andy Moss (Shropshire) in the final 21-18, although at one stage he lead 18-9.

This was after getting the better of the current Waterloo champion, Greg Smith (Warwick and Worcester), in the semi-final 21-19.

On his way to the semi-final he had beaten James Thomas (South Yorkshire) 21-13, Tyler Dewis (North Midlands) 21-13, Grahem Bennett (Wales) 21-15 and Paul Dudley (Greater Manchester) 21-12.

The latter stages were streamed live over the internet and BT Sport filmed the day’s event for broadcast later in the year.

In the final of the Wallasey Association’s Wallasey News Cup New Brighton Quarry Vikings made light work of a 48-shot handicap deficit and defeated Hoylake Central by 232-194 on the green at Upton Victory Hall last Wednesday.

The “Vikings” had 10 winning cards with Chris Barton, Paul Johnson and Richie Dawson all winning to single figures while for the team from Hoylake only Association Secretary Peter Dodd, 21-10, and Paul Gartland, 21-12, won their matches.

The popular learning experience sessions for junior players will be taking place in Birkenhead Park again this summer. Wuds 4 Fun will be running on two mornings from 10am to noon for two weeks and started on Tuesday.

The other sessions take place tomorrow, then on Tuesday, August 16 and Thursday, August 18.

Any junior who would like to see what the game is all about is very welcome to come along and join in.

In the recent Richard Evans Memorial Junior Competitions Matty Worden beat Jake McElnay in the final of the under-18s and Jamie Isaac beat Ethan Mort in the final of the under-14s.

Last Sunday Matty Worden reached the semi-final of the British Parks Junior Merit, which was played in Shropshire, while Joe Nugent got as far as the quarter- final.