DESPITE the recent bad weather, the bowling season is fast approaching and while some may have benefitted from playing on muddy surfaces throughout the winter, everybody will start on a par in April.

Local leagues have been holding their AGMs in recent weeks.

The Worth Valley League will continue with no major changes but with two additional teams in the Veterans League in the shape of Alkincotes A and B teams, from Colne, in the lower divisions.

The Saturday League begins on April 7 in Division Three while the top two tiers start on April 21. Divisions Three, Four and Five in the Vets begin on Monday, April 2 with the top two divisions on April 9. Collection dates for handbooks at Keighley BC is on Monday, March 19 (8pm).

The major change in the Skipton League involves teams being reduced to eight a side in Divisions Two, Three and Four, with the controversial 54321 system now in place again on mainly Tuesday evenings, with the merit mainly on Thursday nights. There as been a slight change in league games and Oxenhope return to the fray.

In the Hebden League, fixtures will be handed out at a meeting at Heptonstall on Friday, March 23 at 7pm. Division Three has been abolished to be replaced by a six-a-side league on a Friday night. More details will be revealed shortly.

Sad news during the close season has seen the death of Alan Spence of Haworth and Donald Heslop of Whinfield. Condolences to all concerned.

Local action begins this Sunday at Craven BC in Skipton with another popular ‘32’ commencing at 10am. The draw will be made on the day from groups of eight with the playes and times listed below:

10am: J Preston, G Foulkes, D Cadwallader, G Stockhill, L Buxton, David Smith, D Hodgson and S Whitaker.

10.45am: N Breadley, Simon Teale, P Hillam, S McDonald, B Lee, P Wellam, I Collier, M Lockley.

11.15am: L Hicks, P Hepworth, B Robinson, D Cowsill, D Ashworth, M Stewart, Luke Teale, B Turnbull.

11.45am: M Hall, V O’Donnell, A Webb, T Preston, R Hargreaves, J Steadman, M Simpson, J Benson.