Ely bowls ace Connor Cinato took a big step towards competing against some of the world’s top bowls players by winning the regional leg of Co-op Funeralcare’s Wildcard Bowls competition.

Ely Standard: Ely bowlers Greg Harlow with Co-op Funeralcare staff at the Ely leg of Co-op Funeralcare’s Wildcard Bowls competition.Ely bowlers Greg Harlow with Co-op Funeralcare staff at the Ely leg of Co-op Funeralcare’s Wildcard Bowls competition. (Image: Archant)

Bowlers from all over East Anglia flocked to Ely Bowls Club last weekend for the competition, which offers Co-op customers the chance to play in the Scottish International Championships.

Last year’s champion and Ely bowler Greg Barlow cast his watchful eye over proceedings as Connor Cinato triumphed, which means he will now go on to the national final in Blackpool on October 2.

If Connor is victorious in Blackpool, he will line-up against some of the world’s best bowlers, such as Harlow and world number one, Nicky Brett, at the Scottish International Championships in November.

Glynis Wilton, manager for Co-op Funeralcare, commented: “We’ve been sponsoring the bowling community for many years, but this competition is completely unique to anything we’ve done before.

Ely Standard: Action from the Ely leg of Co-op Funeralcare’s Wildcard Bowls competition.Action from the Ely leg of Co-op Funeralcare’s Wildcard Bowls competition. (Image: Archant)

“The turnout to the regional play-offs was fantastic, and we cannot wait to find out who will make it through to the Championships.”

The competition will help to raise funds for Co-op’s partnership charity, the British Red Cross, in their bid to raise £3.5 million to tackle loneliness and social isolation in communities across the UK.