THE search to find the Star Masters Champion for 1998 begins in earnest at the weekend when this year's competition gets underway on Saturday, July 4.

Staged at the Gerard Arms green, the Star Masters is now firmly established as one of the highlights of the local crown green calendar.

And, thanks once again to generous sponsorship by David's Confectioners, of Wargrave Road, Newton-le-Willows, and Guardsman Industries, of Moss Bank Road, St Helens, our talented trundlers will be doing battle for some excellent prizes - plus the coverted Star Masters Crown.

First and second round dates are on Saturday, July 4 (noon and 6.30pm); Sunday, July 5 (noon and 6.30pm); Monday, July 6 (6.30pm); Saturday, July 11 (noon and 6.30pm) and Sunday, July 12 (noon). Third and fourth round dates are Sunday, July 12 (6.30pm) and Monday, July 13 (6.30pm). And the final eight play off on Saturday July 18 (6.30pm)

Saturday, July 4, noon:

W Tuson (Chorley) v J Hignett (snr) (Liverpool); K Wainwright (Warr) v M Tunstall (Liverpool); P Jones (Liverpool) v B Simm (Garswood); W Burlington (Warr) v M Hewitson (Blackpool); A Grady (Rainford) v P Killgannon (St Austins); B Laughton (Warr) v T Round (Greenalls); A Jones (Liverpool) v N Shaw (Garswood); R Goodhand (Warr) v J Danials (Greenalls).

Saturday, July 4, 6.30pm:

B Davies (B/Plate) v L Wells (Warr); H Birch (NAVC) v J Fullerton (Liverpool); P McGoven (G/Dragon) v P Culley (Railway); F Anderson (NAVC) v J Berry (Southport); M Leonard (Greenalls) v C Bebbington (Warr); L Hedley (NAVC) v R Horton (Haydock); J Lomax (B/Plate) v D Watkingson (BICC); R Belshaw (Garswood) v V Jameson (Haydock).

Sunday, July 5, noon:

A Sims (Railway) v C Gregson (Skem); D Unsworth (NAVC) v J Morgan (Haydock); C Livesley (Rochdale) v A Heaton (Railway); C Cunliffe (P Works) v A Meadows (jnr) (Golborne); J Leadbetter (Railway) v D Roylance (B/Edge); G Marsh (Carr Mill) v J Farrell (Liverpool); F Derbyshire (Lowton) v K Roylance (B/Edge); A Meadows (snr) (Golborne) v M Gorden (Liverpool).

Sunday, July 5, 6.30pm:

J Rutter (Garswood) v A Fargher (BICC); Ed Webster (UGB) v A Moorcroft (Haydock); C King (Liverpool) v P Marsh (Golborne); S Wallwork (Rainford) v M Holden (UGB); J Hignett (Liverpool) v J Hayes (Golborne); G Glover (Rainford) v D Holden (UGB); J Hanson (Preston) v G Roberts (Liverpool); A Wolf (Formby) v P Georgson (Rainford).

Monday, July 6, 6.30pm:

I Burns (Eccleston) v M Wensley (Burnley); B Thompson (Liverpool) v R Anders (Greenalls); B Whalley (Eccleston) v A Horton (NAVC); D Morrison (Warr) v N Ditchfield (B/Plate); M Shaw (Liverpool) v G Hudson (Railway); T Gatley (Warr) v J Richardson (Greenalls); A Fiddler (Wigan) v M Dillion (Burnley); F Mathews (Greenalls) v J Gatley (Warr).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.