IT IS hard keeping Richard Hargreaves out of the bowls news.

He teamed up with his father Trevor to triumph in the Valley Merit Pairs last Sunday at Lund Park, with the favourites winning the event for the third consecutive season and the fifth time in all.

They easily defeated second favourites Chris Wilson and Andy Tate 21-6 in a one-sided decider, while doing well to reach the semi-finals were JD Smith and Carol Uttley and the host club's Bev Guffick and Sean Picken.

At the same time, the Yorkshire County Parks veterans' team came unstuck against North Staffs.

They won the home leg comfortably, being best served by Barry Turnbull, but they came a cropper away, with only Mick Swareck having any joy in Stoke.

Meanwhile, the Skipton/Worth Valley Juniors continue on their merry way in Yorkshire ABA League Two, putting in three brave efforts recently against Huddersfield C and Bradford B.

They shared the winners with Huddersfield but narrowly lost the aggregate, despite victories from Ben Hewitt, Oliver Burnett and Thomas Johnson.

Johnson and Burnett also excelled against Bradford B but the aggregate was lost again. Skipton/Worth Valley play Leeds A away on Saturday.

The Skipton Veterans' Handicap was postponed last Friday after heavy rain but will hopefully take place tomorrow at SPF (1.00).

The Valley Veterans' Doubles are at Oakworth a week tomorrow, and entries should be sent to Mick Demain.

The final positions have been settled in all of the Valley Saturday leagues, with Moorside regaining the First Division title ahead of Cross Roads.

It was very close in League Two, with Whinfield A snatching the title from Steeton A by a point, with Bradshaw A a further point behind. Whinfield B made it a club double by winning the Third Division title ahead of Denholme B.

Relegation, and indeed promotions, have to await possible changes to the league structure next season but the veterans' league continues for a couple of weeks.

Cononley A are the Skipton League Division One Champions for the sixth time, as the challenge of Cross Hills A faded away, Keighley A finishing runners-up, despite a 2-10 defeat at Gargrave in their last game.

Relegated are Lund Park A and Devonshire B. Matches continue until next week, when all three finals come to a conclusion on Thursday, August 27.

In the Hebden Bridge League, Cross Roads A still head Division One, three points ahead of Mytholmroyd A but with a game in hand.

At the bottom, Cross Roads B are heading back to Division Two.

Oakworth remain third in League Two and may just fall short of promotion, while Cullingworth A are near relegation.

Cullingworth B remain top in League Three but Cross Roads C are still rock bottom.

In the Hebden Bridge Veterans' Handicap at Mytholmroyd Church, past winner Trevor Hargreaves of Cross Roads reached the final yet again but was blown away by the hosts' Jean Gornall, going down 21-6.

Saddest news of the week was the death of Alan Green, of Cross Hills.

Since his wife Brenda passed away a few years ago, Alan had given up playing but they both contributed so much to that club. Our condolences go to all his family.