A LATE flurry of entries enabled the Skipton Handicap to go ahead at a chilly Broughton Road when 18 players went to post on a good playing surface.

After some good bowling throughout the afternoon, it was an all-Settle final won by top local veteran Mick Duke, who had excelled all day, as he defeated David Leeming, himself twice a past winner, 21-15. Losing in the semis. were Derek Seed, also of Settle, and Peter Hepworth, of Sutton, who should have reached the final.

The last four teams in the Hebden Royd Sunday Morning KO events met in the semis and finals, also last Sunday, at Todmorden Park.

In the main competition, Cross Roads ‘A’ easily beat local rivals Denholme, for whom Steve Griffiths was the only winner, and then met league champions Old Town ‘A’ in the final itself.

They made a whirlwind start with big wins by Richard and Neil Hargreaves over their opponents top two players to clinch the title almost straightaway and the game became a forgone conclusion long before the end despite two losers.

Oakworth reached the semi-final of the Supplementary event after beating Myholmroyd ‘B’ the week before only to put up a weak effort to go out first game against Mytholmroyd ‘D’, the eventual winners over Heptonstall.

The Skipton Veterans Inter-District team begin their seasonal fixtures on Friday with a difficult game against West Riding.

The home leg is at Broughton Road at 1.30pm from the away team travel to Overthorpe Sports, a new venue for them.

The new event on the Aire-Wharfe calendar starts at Ilkley BC at 9.30am, while the Yorkshire ABA begin their county season at Pudsey where Staffordshire are the visitors in the home leg which should ensure a home victory.