BOWLS: PAUL Blackburn won his first major title on Sunday. The Winsford Cons player beat Comberbach veteran Gerard Merry 21-10 to take the Cowley Cup at Rudheath Private.

It was Merry’s second cup final defeat in just nine days, having lost out to Daniel Nixon in the Norley Merit.

Blackburn had beaten two Red Lion players, Arthur Land and Barry Ellams by seven and 11 shots respectively, while Merry had eased by Graham Done (Delamere) and Darren Walker (Meadow Bank) by two and 10, to reach the final.

Merry, who is with Delamere A in the Norley League, can look forward to another final, however.

Delamere beat Middlewich BL 203-186 to reach the Coronation Cup final where they meet Wharton Cons, 191-181 conquerors of Comberbach in the semi-finals.

Mid Cheshire boasts three out of the four Cheshire Norman Cup quarter finalists.

Winnington Park beat Owley Wood 169-164; Beech Tree trounced Ledsham 191-148 and Wharton Cons defeated Manor Road 185-154. Altrincham Boro, who beat Heswall 189-174, make up the foursome.

Wharton Cons now have a 139-chalk lead going into the final four Mid Cheshire League fixtures and look title certs for the first time since 2005. But only 12 points separate the champions Castle A and Red Lion A, champions for the past two seasons, in second and third spots.

21st win for Kemp

CYCLING: Weaver Valley CC’s Alan Kemp and Dave Astles contest the League of Veterans Champions at Rugby on Sunday. But neither man had the perfect preparation at the Fleche Walloon race, Leicester, at the weekend.

While Kemp was up with the leaders he was unable to break away and had to settle for winning his age category – still his 21st victory of the season – and second place overall in the hilly 60-miler.

Astles, feeling the effects of racing the previous day, finished in the main bunch. He and Mark Thompson had ridden in the Over 60s event at the Darley Moor circuit. Astles was eighth and Thompson not far behind, with Kemp winning the Under 60s and fifth overall.

Astles competed at Seighford aerodrome, Stafford last Tuesday, coming eighth in the Over 50s.

Sunday’s club run leaves Hartford RBL at 10.30am for Loggerheads and Monday’s social evening starts at 8.30pm. Newcomers are welcome at both.

Morrison at the double

ANGLING: Ian Morrison won one trophy outright and shared another, as two Barnton- Frodsham AC competitions came to an end.

Morrison easily won the Monday Appleton Thorn Cup series with 151pts, though he did not figure in the first three of the final match, won at Heesom’s Pool by Dave Blears.

Morrison was not in the money in the final Wednesday Evening Firthfield Cup series either, but was still overall winner, albeit alongside Mark Emmison.

Barbara Leicester won the club’s Ladies Metcalfe Cup at the Middle Cistern on Sunday with 8lb 11oz of roach and rudd caught on maggot fished pole.