THE GUARDIAN CUP
The Mid Cheshire bowling League Merit.
1959
Played at he Farmers Arms, Rudheath on July 25th.
Arthur Riley (Constitutional Club) won the 13th Guardian Cup at the Farmers Arms, Rudheath by beating Reg Jones (Owley wood) 21-19, there was a record entry for the competition.
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1962
Played at Winnington Park on Saturday 28th July at 7:45pm.
Referee : Jim Johnson
Quarter Finals
G. Cash (Knutsford Cons) 21 v 20 W. Crank (Farmers Arms)
A. Bebbington (Davenham) 21 v 20 P. Wilkes (Davenham)
H. Buckley (Farmers Arms) w/o A. Carter (Meadowbank)
W.S. Lowe (Winsford Libs) 21 v 15 C. Bebbington (Davenham)
Semi Finals
G. Cash 21 v 20 A. Bebbington
H. Buckley 21 v 18 W.S. Lowe
FINAL
H. BUCKLEY 21 v 10 G. CASH
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1965
Played at the Farmers Arms on Friday 16th July at 6:30pm
Quarter Finals
A. Bebbington (Davenham) 21 v 20 W.H. Nicholas (Kelsall)
K. Winnington (Winnington) 21 v 8 W.S. Lowe (Winsford Libs)
D.M. Dickens (Davenham) 21 v 10 W. Rutter (Owley Wood)
L. Gallimore (Castle Private) 21 v 16 K. Burrows (Wharton Rec)
Semi Finals
A. Bebbington 21 v 14 K. Winnington
W. Rutter 21 v 20 L. Gallimore
FINAL
A. BEBBINGTON 14 v 21 W. RUTTER
Deputising for the Mid Cheshire bowling association President Mr Frank Pogson, who was unable to be present, Mr Herbert Hayes of the Farmers Arms bowls club, introduced Mr George Blundell manager of the Northwich Guardian who presented the Cup and £50 worth of prizes to the last eight competitors.
Mr Blundell praised the manner in which Mid Cheshire officials had organised the event; he thanked the licensee of the Farmers Arms (Mr Jack Cox) for providing such splendid facilities and also the referee, former licensee Mr tom Atkinson. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
1970
Northwich Guardian, Thursday 16th July.
The Guardian Cup went to Wharton Rec for the first time, and returned to the Winsford district after a lapse of 15 years when popular bowler Keith Burrows bowled his way superbly through to the final evenings play in front of a packed Castle Private crowd on Friday
The last winner from Winsford was Liew Blackburn way back in 1955.
Quarter Finals
W. Rutter (Owley Wood) 21 v 18 A. Stephenson (Lostock)
J. Andrews (Owley Wood) 21 v 9 E. Duncan (Winnington)
K. Winnington (Winnington) 21 v 19 D. Bell (Owley Wood)
K. Burrows (Wharton Rec) 21 v 19 D. Pike (Cross Town)
Semi Finals
J. Andrews 21 v 16 W. Rutter, K. Burrows 21 v 16 K. Winnington
FINAL
KEITH BURROWS 21 v 11 JOHN ANDREWS
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1976
Played in front of a capacity crowd of 500 people at Lostock Social Club on Friday 13th August. The trophy and cash prizes were presented by Councillor Ron Carey. The winner received £30, runner up £20 and semi finalists £15.
Semi Finals
G. Cookson (Wharton Rec) 21 v 12 J. Webb (Winsford Libs)
K. Birkett (Farmers Arms) 21 v 17 J. Hitchen (Winnington Park)
FINAL
GLYNN COOKSON 21 v 16 KEITH BIRKETT
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1981
There was a record gate of £71 at the Gladstone Club on Friday to see Keith Birkett's third appearence in the final of the Guardian cup at last prove to be a lucky one for him. Keith's one regret in realising his local bowling ambition, was that he had to beat his Farmers Arms clubmate Stan Frith, by the clinical margin of 21-13.
Semi finals
S. Frith (Farmers Arms) 21 v 19 J. Gurney (Owley Wood)
K. Birkett (Farmers Arms) 21 v 16 F. cooper (Winsford Libs)
Referee was Percy Wilkes, the winner received £100 and a breakaway holiday, trophies were presented by Jack Bennion.
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1983
Northwich Guardian, Thursday 14th July.
The best organised and supported and most keenly contended Guardian bowls cup finals since the event was inaugurated in 1947, came to a fitting climax at sun drenched Castle Private on Friday, when Owley Wood's Keith Birkett beat Altrincham based Lionel Birch (Farmers Arms) 21-20 to recapture the trophy.
Not only was there a record entry of 314 players for the 37th annual Mid Cheshire championships, but all the rounds were played in glorious sunshine, and on Friday at Castle Private the public responded to one of Mid Cheshire's leading sports events of the year by turning up in record numbers, the gate receipts being £91, plus a £56 draw.
Whats more the organisation of the Mid Cheshire association was first class, the capacity crowd was kept informed by a scoreboard and announcer. The conditions prepared by the greensman Alan Wright were perfect and there was much thrilling play and several surprise results.
Quarter Finals.
S Frith 21 v 17 P. Heyes, K. Birkett 21 v 19 K. Phipps, G.Vernon 21 v 16 C. Hammond, L. Birch 21 v 17 D. Evans
Semi Finals
K. Birkett 21 v 18 S. Frith, L. Birch 21 v 16 G. Vernon
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1995
Played at the Ring O'Bells, Weaverham on Friday 7th July at 6:30pm.
Quarter Finals
Mark Winnington (Owley Wood0 21 v 10 Harry Nicholas (Kelsall)
John Gurney (Castle) 21 v 15 Keith Burrows (Wharton Cons)
Phil Scott (Lostock) 13 v 21 Glynn Cookson (Wharton Cons)
Danny Nixon (Wharton Rec) 21 v 10 Tony Malisch (Lostock)
Semi Finals
Winnington 19 v 21 Gurney Cookson 13 v 21 Nixon
FINAL
John Gurney 21 v 10 Danny Nixon
Referee Nev Palin (Cuddington), winner £250, runner up £120
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1997
GLYNN COOKS ON GAS
WINSFORD'S Glynn Cookson equalled Stan Frith's record of five Guardian Cup wins with a superb display of controlled yet aggressive bowling at Middlewich Legion on Friday.
His win, which came the day after he was called up for England, was all the more remarkable for the fact that it came on the first occasion he had played there for three years.
A record crowd watched the Wharton Cons ace cruise to victory in his semi-final match against Barry Ellams and ease to overall glory against the determined Paul Mackie in the final.
But his biggest test had come against Mark Winnington in the last eight.
Cookson, who later admitted it had taken him time to adapt to the green's small playing area and huge crown, was 8-0 down against Winnington before getting onto the corners and storming back to level the scores.
The players were still deadlocked at 17-17 before Cookson edged ahead to victory.
"At one point I though it was going to be difficult to beat Mark," he admitted. "But I got back into it early enough to have a chance and managed to stay in front.
"Against Barry it helped to get in front early on. In the final Paul battled hard and did well to keep pushing."
Cookson's semi-final was a straightforward affair. He beat Ellams, winner by a single chalk in a thrilling match against Keith Burrows, 21-4.
In the final, Mackie, like Ellams, had no real answer to his opponent's masterly plan.
At one stage, he too looked to be heading for a large defeat, but refused to give up and managed to put 16 points on the board.
His route to the final had included wins over Steve Nixon and Darren Walker. Nixon, like his son Daniel, had battled hard in the quarter-finals, but to no avail.
Cookson has now won both the Guardian Cup and the Cheshire Senior Merit in the same year for the second time.
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1999
Played at Comberbach BC on Friday 2nd July
Q/F
Graham Stubbs (Kelsall) 4 v 21 Jason Cornes (Lostock)
Rob Steele (North Ward) 19 v 21 Alan Robinson (Wharton Cons)
Dennis Leather (Castle) 12 v 21 Stan Frith (Owley Wood)
Peter Kelly (Wharton Cons) 21 v 12 Martin Griffiths (Lostock)
Semi Finals
J Cornes 21 v 11 A Robinson S Frith 21 v 20 P Kelly
FINAL
J CORNES 21 v 19 S FRITH
Winner £300, R/U £150, referee B Morgan (Crewe)
Cup and awards presented by Mr Christian Hill, Guardian sports editor.
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2000
GLYNN'S CROWNING GLORY
Winsford Guardian, Wednesday 5th July
Heroic Glynn Cookson played through a family crisis to become Mid Cheshire's top bowler for a record sixth time. In a dramatic turn of events on Friday, Cookson took the Guardian cup just hours after his Father was rushed to hospital with a suspected heart attack.
Mid Cheshire bowling association president Colin Cookson was taken ill in the afternoon, but his condition has since stabilised.
His son, however, kept his mind on the game to become Mid Cheshire champion for the first time since 1997.
The absence of his father inspired the Whaton Cons man to produce soe of his best bowls of what has been a topsy-turvy season for the former England champion.'It was harder to concentrate because it was such we were rushing around so much in the day, but perhaps it spurred me on a bit', said Glynn. 'I was hoping to win anyway, but I thought it might make him feel better if I did, and now he is a bit better. He's always followed me around everywhere and his grandson, Phil, was playing so he would of liked to have been there to watch him as well'.
In the final, Cookson won 21-13 against 20 year old Geoff Brassington, of Frodsham Red Lion, who had earlier knocked out Phil Cookson in the last eight. It rounded off an exciting evening of Crown green bowls at Castle Private. The match, and bowl, of the night came in Cooksons nail biting semi final with last years champion Jason Cornes of Lostock. Cornes was poised for victory at 20-18 with two near perfect woods lying near the ack. Cookson produced a wonder bowl which picked up the jack gave him the two he needed to level the game. He then won the one point at the final end for victory.
Newcomer Brassington swept aside Alan Robinson in the other semi final, and after pegging back Cookson to 11-1 in the inal, just ran out of steam. Cookson, who took the £300 top prize, and hopes it can propel him back to the form which made him the Countries best three years ago. 'Its been a bit up and down this year but it might start me off', he added.
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2001
SEVENTH HEAVEN FOR COOKSON
ROCK solid Glynn Cookson cemented his status as Mid Cheshire's best bowler by striding to another Guardian Cup win on Friday.
He extended his record of most Mid Cheshire championships to seven, rounding off a steady night's work with a 21-13 win over Hartford underdog Richie Jamieson. "I'm very chuffed to win, although it does seem to get harder every year," said a relieved Cookson. However, his performance at Winsford Conservative Club, in his second consecutive triumph, confirmed his stature as a great champion. Even Jamieson, making his first Guardian Cup finals night appearance, had to stand back and applaud as Cookson's bowl which made it 18-13 crept up to the jack at inch-perfect pace and nestled against it . It all added to the inevitable momentum Cookson built up during a night in which his route to glory got gradually easier. His Wharton Cons team mate Stewart Bailey was closest to him with a 21-15 score in their last eight meeting, while Barry Ellams managed 14 points in his semi-final defeat. It was during this match that Cookson had his shakiest spell when Ellams took nine points in succession. However, this run still only brought him level at 13-13 and he won only one more of the next eight points. Red Lion's Ellams had also been at 13-13 in his quarter-final with Mark Winnington of Hazel Pear, when he produced another string of scoring bowls to take it 21-13. An all-Frodsham final was on the cards as last year's runner-up Geoff Brassington also made it to the last four by scoring 12 consecutive points in his win over Castle Private's John Gurney. Meanwhile, Jamieson had completed what he hoped would be the first leg of a Cookson family double as he disposed of Glynn's nephew Gary in ruthless style, 21-5. Jamieson, who has played most of his bowls in Kelsall, was then involved in the match of the night, a see-saw semi-final against Brassington. However, like his Red Lion team-mate Ellams, Brassington couldn't make it a second final on the run as Jamieson squeezed through 21-19 in a game where there was never more then three points between the players. Then onto the final, whcih was a repeat of the previous Sunday's Cheshire Merit quarter-final, and the result was the same. After an even start, Cookson pulled away to get to 11-6 and he never looked back to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his first Mid Cheshire victory with another title.
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2002
CORNES SHOWS CLASS
JASON Cornes eased his way to a third Guardian Cup triumph on Friday night.
There were few problems for the Castle Private bowler on the finals night at Wharton Cons, as he beat two team-mates on his way to the Mid Cheshire Merit title.
Paul Mackie was the last unfortunate bowler to come up against Cornes, who was in fine form throughout, and took the final 21-13.
The 1986 and 1999 champion had already beaten another Castle player Steve Hamman 21-12 in the last eight, taking nine consecutive points to pull away when it was 12-12.
He then produced his biggest win of the night in the semi-final, a 21-10 victory over Geoff Brassington, appearing in the last four for the third successive year.
Mackie, looking for his first Guardian Cup, also saw off a team-mate in the quarters, with a 21-11 win over Steve Baskerville, the youngest player in the final.
He then took on Hazel Pear's Gerald Merry in the semis in what was the most dramatic and closest game of the night.
Leading 20-18, Mackie elected not to deliver his second bowl as he only needed one to win, risking a measurement by the officials on his first bowl instead. However, this revealed that Merry's wood was in fact the closest and he pulled it back to 20-19.
Mackie was relieved, however, when he sent down the winning bowl he needed at the next end to win 21-19.
Stan Frith's hopes of a sixth victory ended in the last eight when Brassington won 21-15, while Les Bebbington also went out at this stage as Merry won 16 points on the run for a 21-8 victory.
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2003
CORNES REGAINS TITLE
Northwich Guardian, Wednesday 9th July.
Jason Cornes successfully defended his Guardian cup title last week to record his fourth triumph in the competition. and Cornes showed exactly why he is currently the most feared bowler on the Mid Cheshire circuit wrapping up each game on Friday night with apparent ease.
Cornes, of Castle Private breezed past his team mate Andy Jackson in the quarter final 21-6 and enjoyed similar success in the semi final easing past Pochins Colin Rigden 21-10.
In the final he again faced a Castle Private colleague, John Gurney, and many predicted a tough match for the 2002 champion as Gurney has been showing excellent form himself this season. But Cornes was not to be outdone and took the game by the scruff of the neck from the off.
Within 11 ends Cornes had opened up a 10-4 lead over Gurney and seemed to have one hand on the coverted Guardian cup.
Gurney though was not to be beaten and staged something of a comeback to leave the match poised on 15-10 after 19 ends. But sadly for Gurney that was effectivly the end of the challenge as Cornes closed out the match to win 21-15 and claim his third Guardian Cup in five years.
Gurney, himself a previous winner of the trophy, also enjoyed a relitively easy run to the final. Having overcome team mate Nigel Faulkner in the first round, Gurney cruised past Stewart Bailey (Wharton Cons) in the semi final to set up the much anticipated final with Cornes.
Also taking part in the final stages were Ritchie Jamieson (Frodsham Red Lion) and Peter illidge (Farmers Arms).
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2005
COOKSON TRIUMPHS
RECORDS of all kinds tumbled on Friday as Glynn Cookson lifted his ninth Guardian Cup.
But the Wharton Cons star wasn't alone in rewriting history as Comberbach Bowling Club witnessed an extrodinary night of quality bowling.
More than 200 people (a new record) crowded into the picturesque venue on Friday night and were treated to three and a half hours (also a new record) of competitive action.
And Frodsham Red Lion's Nicola Dolby, the first woman to make it through to finals night, played an integral part in the special event.
Dolby took on Castle Private's Paul Mackie in the quarter final and quickly established a 10-4 lead.
But she won just two more ends as Mackie powered through in a tense match, winning 21-13.
Meanwhile Cookson beat Stewart Bailey 21-19, Ritchie Jamieson won 21-19 and John Gurney eased past Danny Nixon 21-17.
The semi finals, which paired Gurney against Jamieson and Cookson against Mackie, weren't quite as close as the quarters, with Gurney and Cookson winning through 21-14.
This set up the final almost everyone had hoped for with two naturally talented bowlers facing each other for the premier individual trophy.
And the final was a fitting climax to the evening.
Cookson drew first blood, but Gurney built a 7-3 lead.
The pair then went toe to toe until Cookson led 20-18.
Gurney managed to drag it back to 20-19, but Cookson grabbed a vital score in the 32nd end to win the title for a record ninth time.
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2006
FAMILY PRODUCE ANOTHER WINNER
Rob Winnington held his nerve to win his maiden Guardian Cup at the Farmers Arms after a fraught final against Steve Nixon.
The young Frodsham Red Lion star called a halt to the deciding match when onlookers supporting Nixon refused to cease barracking him, causing one of the referees to step in and restore calm.
Winnington did the rest shortly after 10pm.
He now adds his name to that of his Grandfather Ken Winnington on the list of past winners of the Mid Cheshire merit.
The pair posed together with the famous silver trophy after Rob's narrow 21-18 victory. He said, 'that was tough, Steve played brilliantly all night and the final turned on a few critical bowls'.
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2007
DOLBY HOLDS OFF WINSFORD CHALLENGE
Northwich Guardian,Wednesday 8th August.
Wharton Cons had a night to forget in Fridays Guardian Cup final.
Lester Bebbington, Andy Houghton and Glynn Cookson were quarter final casualties at the Farmers Arms, the former losing out to the finalist Ritchie Jamieson (Frodsham Red Lion).
He missed out by a single chalk in the closest of the last eight ties.
Cookson fared less well, losing to Tony Malisch (Slow & Easy) 21-10 in an encounter that he failed to dominate at any stage.
Debutant Houghton Lost to eventual winner Nicola Dolby (Frodsham Red Lion). Dolby became the first woman to lift the silver trophy when she defeated club mate Jamieson.
'I can't belive it , 'she said afterwards, 'I just wanted to get past the first match, so to reach the final and win is a bit overwhelming'.
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2008
GLYNN: ‘BABBIE’ TOM WAS A WORTHY VICTOR
Northwich Guardian, Wednesday 6th August.
Glynn Cookson hoped he proved a point in Friday’s final. The Wharton Cons star seemed certain to secure his 10th Guardian Cup crown, only to be pipped by Tom Vickers in a memorable final.
‘I’m happy in defeat’ he said afterwards.
‘I’ve just turned 50 and i think I showed a few people I can still get somewhere close and that’s good enough for me’.
The nine times former winner was gracious in defeat despite losing what appeared an insurmountable lead against his club mate. Cookson led 10-3, 13-6 and later 18-16 only to miss out 21-19.
‘It’s not hard to take, especially when I played so well at the end’, he added.
‘I’ve known Tom since he was a ‘babbie’ and hopefully everybody has seen some fruits of what he’s learned off some of us old’uns. It’s his first victory, it could have been my tenth and I didn’t want to give him anything’.
Vickers himself continued the mutual appreciation.
He had won the hard way, beating three former winners on the night to scoop a maiden victory in Mid Cheshire’s most prestigious individual merit competition.
'Glynn made it hard for me’, he said, ‘he is still the best player in Cheshire by a long way and I just tried to stick in there and keep up with him’.
One man who was delighted as anybody- Vickers dad Alan- a losing quarter finalist against Meadowbank’s Darren Walker.
His vocal support from the side was a feature of the final. ‘I can always hear him’ quipped Thomas, ‘he’s the one with the screeching voice’.
George Horwill, secretary for Mid Cheshire bowling association, added: ‘this final beat anything I can recall for excitement and atmosphere. It was a wonderful advert for the sport of crown green bowls.
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2011
WINSFORD'S VICKERS RECAPTURES CROWN
Winsford Guardian, Wednesday 13th July.
Thomas Vickers lifted the Guardian cup for a second time after adapting best to wet conditions at Comberbach on Friday.
The Wharton Cons star, who defeated Dad Alan en route to the final, proved too good for Delamere veteran Gerald Merry to claim the title of Mid Cheshire's best bowler.
'It was tricky out there but I kept going,' he said afterwards.'The rain made everyone think a bit, but I felt good and was able to get on top in each of my matches'.
The 22 year old, winner for the first time in 2008, ran out a 21-10 victor against Merry who struggled to recover from a slow start as he fell 6-0 and 12-3 adrift. He rallied to win 6 of the next 8 ends, closing to 14-10, before Vickers found a length again on which he was able to dominate the remainder.
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2012
WHARTON STARS HAT TRICK OF GUARDIAN CUP
THOMAS Vickers added another title to his collection after winning the Guardian Cup for the third time on Friday night.
The Wharton Cons star adapted best to the conditions at a sodden Davenham to emerge victorious in the Mid Cheshire Merit for a third time.
He defeated Castle Private’s Paul Mackie in the final, 21-15.
“I was just happy to get over the line,” he said.
“At first I thought it wasn’t going to be my night as I was sending woods all over the place but luckily I found a couple of marks that worked for me and I could be more consistent.”
The 23-year-old becomes only the third bowler in the competition’s history to successfully defend the title.
Ten-times former winner Glynn Cookson (Wharton Cons) and Jason Cornes (Castle Private) are the others two.
Vickers, a champion for the first time in 2008 when he was still a teenager, now joins Eric Duncan (Winnington Park) and Ken Winnington (Winnington Park and Owley Wood) on three Guardian Cup wins.
Earlier he defeated clubmate Dave Hamlett junior and Cornes – the latter by just two chalks – to reach th
Mackie proved too strong for Richard Binnersley (Castle Private) in the last eight before coming from behind to defeat surprise package and debutant Graham Powell (Lostock Graylams) in the semi finals.
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