PETE Illidge begins the defence of a Cheshire Senior Merit title he claimed for the first time last season when qualifiers start on Saturday.

He is part of a 28-strong field for a preliminary hosted by the Mid-Cheshire Bowling Association at Owley Wood, where seven places are up for grabs.

And Illidge, now a member at Wharton Cons following a transfer from Rudheath, is hopeful he can take one of them.

His victory on finals day last time out secured for him a debut at the British Individual Senior Merit, where he reached the last 32.

Steve Morrey, of Castle, made it to the semi-finals at the ‘All England’ Championships – as it is known to bowlers – in Nuneaton after reaching the last four of the Cheshire Senior Merit.

He is one of five other bowlers in the field – Jason Cornes, John Gurney (both Castle), Gerald Merry (Delamere) and Wharton Cons duo Glynn Cookson and Tom Vickers are the others – to have taken the county crown previously.

Play starts at 1.30pm.

Entries

Cheshire Senior Merit

Qualifying Round (Mid-Cheshire Bowling Association)

Saturday, May 19

Lester Bebbington (WhC); Geoff Boulton (Als); Steve Brittleton (Rud); Glynn Cookson (WhC); Jason Cornes (Castle); Kevin Duncalf (Castle); Andy Edwards (Rud); John Gurney (Castle); Jon Gurney (Com); Dave Hamlett jnr (WhC); Dave Hamlett snr (WhC); Andy Hamman (Castle); Pete Illidge (WhC); Dave Johnson (Tarp); Simon Jones (Tarp); Paul Mackie (Castle); Gerald Merry (Del); Steve Moores (Castle); Steve Morrey (Castle); Daniel Nixon (WhC); Dave O’Brien (Castle); Conall Redmond (Dav); Phil Scott (Rud); Matt Thurlwell (Com); Alan Vickers (WhC); Tom Vickers (WhC); Mark Woodyatt (LosG); Mike Yearsley (Castle)