THE 35th running of the Wharton Cons Open concluded on Sunday and the winner from the third time the competition ran, Jason Cornes, fell at the final hurdle to the winner Leighton Roberts from Wrexham, writes David O'Brien.

In a closely fought final, Roberts edged out Cornes 21-18 to take the winner's cheque of £700 and with it a place in the BCGBA Champion of Champions.

Roberts had defeated pre-tournament favourite, Gareth Coates, in the semi-final while Cornes recorded a 21-16 victory over Craig Podmore in the other semi-final.

On Saturday at Castle Sports, Cornes made the semi-finals of the George Astbury Trophy where he ducked out to eventual winner Matty Worden.

Worden took on Castle Player, Adi Faulkner, in the final and took the title with a 21-17 victory and with it the winner’s prize of £440.

Saturday marks an important day in the bowls calendar for Owley Wood as they stage the third running of the Tony Whitney Memorial Trophy in which 64 top class players will compete for the title.

Last year’s winner Tom Vickers will once again be fancied to get his hands on the trophy for a second time.

The competition starts at 10am while at 3pm Owley Wood's first team play in the final of Cheshire’s Norman Cup at LMRCA in Altrincham.

Standing in their way are Packhorse BC from Macclesfield.

Both teams start off on a handicap of 20 and the full draw for the final is (Owley Wood names second) Mike Watkins v Joe Tomkinson, Steve Burroughs v Mark Winnington, Graeme Foster v Dave Hamlett Jnr, Mike Collier v Rob Williams, Dave Ford v Rob Cawood, Carl Nolan v Mark Taylor, Jon Ball v Karl Rogers, Shaun Swinton v Connell Redmond, Lee Traylor v Jason Taylor, Franny Walsh v Alan Chantler.

The venues have been chosen for the Mid Cheshire League's Whitby Cup. Lostock Graylams will face Owley Wood A at Winnington No.2 green and Barnton CC B will play Wharton A at Middlewich RBL, with ties to take place on Monday, September 5.