THOMAS Vickers went further than ever before in the British Crown Green Bowling Association (BCGBA) Senior Merit on Saturday, bowing out to the eventual winner.

The Wharton Cons bowler, victor in the day’s opening head-to-head against Craig Shore (Derbyshire), sent out Yorkshireman Simon Walder at the second round stage.

But Greg Smith (Warwick & Worcester), who later went on to win the competition for the first time, had his measure at Birmingham’s Broomfield Bowling Club.

Jason Cornes, from Castle Private, lost by a single chalk to Derbyshire Merit winner Dave May in the second round while Chris Koral (Owley Wood) succumbed 21-13 to Staffordshire’s Chris Ward at the same stage.