Champion-of-Champions the 2025 story so far

Bowling News

This is a BCGBA report on the qualifying competitions played to date for the Champion-of-Champions 2025 with 5 competitions played so far producing 3 Yorkshire winners.

***BCGBA Champion of Champions 2025***

As the season starts, it's time for bowlers to start claiming their places for this year's BCGBA Champion of Champions event. Following the success of last year's event, Owley Wood has been chosen as the host venue again, with the competitions being held over the weekend of September 27th and 28th.

Following feedback from the list published earlier this year, the Competitions Committee have been working to correct issues and produce an accurate list from all competitions that have applied to be part of the prestigious event. If there are events that are not on the list, please make the Competitions Committee aware, on the following email address, so that they can be added to this year's reserve list, and potential full inclusion for 2026 - region5@bcgba.org.uk

Once again, Dave Parkin and Steve Clamp will be updating everyone with the qualifiers for both the Men's and Ladies events, so lets start with the Men's qualifications so far (up to last weekend).

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Qualifying for the extended 64 player Champion of Champions event got underway the day after the 2024 Champion, PAUL DUDLEY was crowned.

SCOTT HARRIES won the Newport Open in Shropshire to take one of the reserve spots for now. It was no surprise the following weekend that the 2023 champion, GREG SMITH became the 2nd person to add his name to the list & the first automatic qualifier by winning the Mick McGuinness George Masters in Birmingham.

The following day, over in Huddersfield, at the picturesque Linthwaite Hall, Yorkshire’s STUART KING booked his ticket to Owley Wood.

Fast forward to the last weekend in March and a 3rd Yorkshireman, ALEX WOLFENDEN, this time raided Shropshire to take home the title at the Bicton Open that was played at Shifnal. “The Wolf” will be hoping to build on his 2024 visit to Owley Wood where he was a 1st round loser. As he is now on the reserve list, he will be hoping for some repeat winners throughout the qualifyingcompetitions.

The first Saturday in April saw two qualifiers. First up was another Yorkie, JAMES WILCOX who won the Weston Park Trophy at Brockholes, beating a previous two time winner, PAUL DUDLEY who will be itching to defend his crown in September.

Then, at the first of two qualifiers held in Shropshire over the weekend saw JOSH COTTON qualify for a reserve spot by winning the Edgmond Open. Over in Shrewsbury the following day, Merseyside raider, DANNY BARWISE took the Coors Meole Brace Open to become the fourth automatic qualifier on the list so far.

The final qualifying event held so far was the Alan Bentley Memorial West Brom Open held at West Brom FSC on Sunday April 13th. Warwick & Worcester’s GARETH HERBERT became the sixth automatic qualifier.