SUTTON'S Andrew Tate was the deserved winner of the Yorkshire Parks Merit at Hove Edge WMC on Good Friday.

He came through a strong field to win the event with a 21-16 victory over Michael Sweeney, of Dewsbury, on almost perfect greens.

Tate plays for both Cross Hills and Clayton and is already a regular in the Parks county team. He has had many successes over the years and is always a tough competitor to beat. Several locals shaped up well and Robbie Ellis, of Devon, reached the semi-finals.

Sweeney is no mean player as he proved back in February when he made his first ever visit to Craven BC to win their annual 32, comfortably beating Keighley BC star Richard Hargreaves 21-8.

Losing semi-finalists were Dan Parkinson and Dave Ashworth, while also in the money were Tate, Tony Riley, Dave Walker and John Armitage.

Action continues locally at Silsden BC on Sunday (9.30am) with their annual four-man team event for the Donald Varley Memorial Trophy.

As usual, several top locals comprise the eight finalists which contain teams captained by Barry Turnbull, Ken Brenkley, Kevin Burnett, Anthony Walsh, Phil Dowgill, Paul Kaye and David Upton.

The Hebden Royd Sunday Morning KO event begins on Monday at 6.30pm when holders Oxenhope meet Mytholmroyd B while Cross Roads A meet their own C team, Oakworth play Mytholmroyd C and Cross Roads B play Old Town B. Round Two is on April 10.

The Worth Valley Vets' new Division Five begin their fixtures on Monday, while other leagues join in the following week.

Preliminaries in the Skipton Floodlit Handicap for the Jeff Clarke Memorial Trophy take place on Tuesday, with all games in the Skipton area. The final is on Thursday at a venue to be decided.