SETTLE’S top veteran Derek Seed took the honours at Silsden Playing Fields, when he held off a strong challenge from three Keighley Vets, to take the Skipton and District Veterans Handicap.

Due to a poor entry for the competition the Veterans Handicap was held last Friday, after being postponed the previous week due to bad weather.

With two preliminary rounds Keighley’s Len Buxton came through with a good win over Mick Duke 21-14, then got the better of Steeton’s Keith Coppen 21-15 to reach the quarter final.

At the top of the draw Derek Seed beat Mick Cox 21-16, then held of Sutton bowler Dennis Wynn-Jones 21-15 in the quarter final. Len Buxton’s quarter-final against League President Alister Keighley, saw Buxton with a 17-3 lead which left the President with an impossible task, though he did finish with a 12-21.

The semi finals saw the Keighley A team well represented with Colin Wortley, David Jacques and Len Buxton through, Derek Seed would play Colin Wortley.

Wortley got of to a good start to lead 8-2, Seed then got a good run with the jack to lead 11-8, and he never looked like letting it slip from then on, as he went onto claim a final place 21-14.

Keighley team mates Len Buxton and David Jacques were involved in a tight game 8-8 after 11 ends, Jacques then opened up a 13-8 advantage.

At that point Buxton found another gear as Jacques tired, and he bowled well to run out with a 21-14 win. The final would see Len Buxton playing his fifth game of the afternoon, and it was close from the start as both players got spells with the jack, Buxton had a one point lead 7-6 after nine ends.

Buxton then got the better of the match to lead 14-10, at this point Seed got a grip of the jack and put in a match winning break of nine points. Buxton pulled back to 18-19, but Seed found the vital end to score a double and take the Veterans final 21-18.

Tonight Thursday the Ken Johnson Final will be at Cross Hills, Richard Lambert Cup at Broughton Road and the Allan Ellis Salver at Gargrave, all three finals begin at 7pm.

The teams through to the semi finals are Ken Johnson: Silsden P F A v Sutton A, Craven A v Keighley A. Richard Lambert: Silsden P F B v Whinfield A, Gargrave B v Whinfield B. Allan Ellis Salver: Broughton Road B v Craven B, Silsden PF C v Sutton B.

The Oakley’s Mixed Doubles will be held at Broughton Road on Sunday starting at 1.30pm, all games are 15 up.

J & R Southworth, F Ellis & P Hepworth, J & R Ellis, S Gadd & C Wilson, J Wilson & Partner, C Harrison & M Claxton, A Phillips & C Uttley, M Duke & Partner, D Seed & Partner, D Leeming & D Bullock,

B Stott & J Smith, D & B Heslop, G Hodge & C Hey, D & J Hudson, there are two places available contact Peter Haworth.

The Skipton and District Floodlight League will get underway on Wednesday, September 2 or Thursday, September 3, there are four divisions. The format will once again be four singles and two doubles the doubles will be 18 ends not 15 as last year.

The Norman Johnston Trophy qualifying round will be on Tuesday, September 1 at 6.45 pm start, with the final on Thursday September 10 with a 6.30pm start.