Injured Donny so nearly solves Park Merit puzzle

Bowlers Donny Wilkinson (left) and Jack Kelly before the Merit final

LESS than a month after breaking a bone in his foot while helping to assemble a set for a TV quiz show, Donny Wilkinson reached a major bowls final.

Springhead and Tonge player Wilkinson (62) may have lost the Greater Manchester Parks Merit final, 21-17 to Swinton's Jack Kelly, but to get that far in the first place was a remarkable achievement given the circumstances.

"I had played just one game since the accident and only went along to the Merit at Monton with my mate, Jimmy Hynes, to make up the numbers," he said.

"I also had to wear a Velcro shoe for protection so I wasn't expecting anything, but I started winning and playing better and better.

"Jack knew more about the green than I did, but I was happy to get to the final, and Jimmy reached the semi-finals, too."

Wilkinson and his Springbank team-mate Hynes will consequently be two of the four GM representatives in the British Parks Merit at the Waterloo Hotel, Blackpool, on Saturday week.

But such a tempting assignment must have seemed a million miles away after Middleton-based Wilkinson's accident at work.

He is employed by EC Creative Services, an Oldham company which builds and fits sets for television programmes, including Strictly Come Dancing and Eight Out Of Ten Cats.

And he was helping with a backdrop for BBC's popular Mastermind show when misfortune struck.

"I just took a false step off a panel and cracked a bone in my foot."

GREATER Manchester's four representatives in the BCGBA Merit found it tough going against the cream of the country's top bowlers.

Paul Dudley fared best, reaching the quarter-finals before losing 21-12 to the eventual champion, Matt Gilmore (Merseyside), who defeated Andrew Moss (Shropshire) 21-18 in a thrilling final.

Gary Ellis won his opening game, but then succumbed 21-20 to his big rival to the number one spot in crown green bowling, Greg Smith of Warwickshire.

John Davies had an excellent 21-11 first-round victory over North Lancs and Fylde ace Ian Nicholson, but then went down 21-9 to Cheshire number one Glyn Cookson.

Paul Heap, GM's fourth contender, was beaten 21-13 in the first round by Cumbria's Andy Thornton.