Co-op Funeralcare’s first leg of finding their Wildcard Bowls Champion kicked off, as the funeral provider crowned its Stirling winner after a gruelling competition.

Members of the community were out in force to support locals taking part in Co-op Funeralcare’s Wildcard Bowls regional play-offs.

The competition, which was launched earlier this year to find a wildcard entry into the Scottish International Championships, offered Co-op members and colleagues across the UK the chance to pit their skills against one another in a series of regional play-offs.

Six sets of regional play-offs were held in Stirling, Stanley, Blackpool, Ely, Bristol and London. John Fleming from Stirling came out on top in their matches, and will go on to play the other five regional winners head-to-head, on October 2 in Blackpool.

The winner of this final leg will then have the opportunity to play world-class bowlers at the Scottish International Championships in Perth, Scotland, courtesy of Co-op Funeralcare. The winner will play against well-known bowlers including last year’s champion, Greg Harlow, and Nicky Brett, currently ranked first in the world.

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. 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.