Local bowls legends line up for MND charity challenge match

North Chadderton Social and Bowling Club will be the venue for a star-studded charity bowls event this month.

A special ten-a-side challenge match has been arranged between a team of Greater Manchester Legends and a line-up of GM Young Guns.

Included in the Legends team are five-times Waterloo champion Gary Ellis, and multiple tournament winners Andy Cairns, Darren Griffiths and Jimmy Derby.

The Young Guns team features Greater Manchester regulars Jack Hargreaves, Ben Gloag, Tom Eccles and Ben Stapleton.

Proceeds from the match will go towards the Motor Neurone Disease Walkathon Challenge organised by top Midlands bowler Lynn Pritchatt.

Lynn lost her long-time partner Mel Evans MBE to MND in 2017.

Mr Evans was a hugely-respected figure in crown green bowling circles, organising many events and being a driving force in the development of the game nationwide.

Since his death, Lynn has devoted much of her time to raising much-needed funds into MND research.

Her idea for the Walkathon Challenge, which will see Lynn and a team of helpers undertake a 14-day walk from Bromsgrove to Fleetwood, taking in 14 counties under the umbrella of the British Crown Green Association, was inspired by the heroic efforts of Oldham-born rugby league star Kevin Sinfield, who has raised huge of sums of money for MND.

Former GB and Leeds Rhino star Sinfield was deeply affected when his close friend and Leeds team-mate Rob Burrow was struck down by MND.

Since then, he has raised over £1m for MND research.

The Walkathon Challenge will see those involved walking from county to county, culminating in the finish at Fleetwood for Waterloo finals week.

Each county will be staging a fund-raising bowls event in support of the walk.

The Oldham event will be on Tuesday, September 13, starting at 6pm.

A spokesman for the organisers said: "Lynn and her team are undertaking an exhausting trek to raise valuable funds for research into this awful illness. 

"Greater Manchester bowlers will be doing their bit to support this huge effort and we hope as many people as possible turn out at North Chadderton to help raise funds via a donation at the gate and a raffle which will be held on the night."

For those unable to attend, donations can be made via a Just Giving Page set up by Lynn here

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