THE Skipton and District League Handicap got enough entries to take place as a one-day event at Broughton Road Bowling Club.

Good weather brought out 21 bowlers and close games were the order in early matches.

Settle’s David Leeming was looking for a hat-trick of wins and he got off to a steady start with a 21-13 victory over Jonathan Barrett.

Ian Bernard was trailing 18-8 to Graham Mitchell, but came back to lead 19-18, only for Mitchell to win 21-19.

Whinfield’s Tony Langstroth picked up a good victory over Derek Seed, while another Whinfield player David Hudson picked up a 21-19 win over the league secretary Peter Haworth.

Langstroth just went down to Mick Demain 21-20 in the quarter-finals while Leeming got the better of his club skipper John Chambers 21-18.

Mitchell proved too good for Michael Claxton 21-11, with the last semi-final place going to Gargrave’s Paul Drinkall after a win over David Garnett.

Leeming moved into the final with a 21-14 over Demain as the hat-trick moved a step closer. His opponent would be Mitchell after he bowled well to get the better of Paul Drinkall 21-13.

Mitchell had a handy five-points start in the final and established an 11-4 lead.

Leeming was getting a bit desperate for a run with the jack but it was not forthcoming as Mitchell went further ahead at 15-7.

Mitchell was in no mood to surrender his advantage and Mitchell won the final three ends to close out a 21-9 win which gave him his first Skipton & District title.

The Inter District Veterans took part in the one-day Hickson Trophy in Sheffield where their first game was against Castleford.

Skipton where up with the lark as they soon took command with three winners in the first four from. Mick Demain 21-6, Mick Duke 21-9 and Ken Brenkley 21-16.

With four more winners, Arnie Ripley 21-11, Barry Turnbull 21-9, Alister Keighley 21-10 and David Hemsley 21-14 all led to a 228-180 win for Skipton.

Moving on to Hillsborough Park they came up against a strong Bradford side.

Skipton had two winners in the first four from Ken Brenkley 21-14 and Mick Duke 21-20 as they edged ahead.

The middle four games put Bradford in command with just Len Buxton 21-17 winning for Skipton. Three late winners Barry Turnbull 21-16, Derek Seed 21-19 and David Hemsley 21-8 were unable to prevent a 220-194 defeat.

The latest Veterans Inter District match was against Leeds with the home match at Craven. Skipton can count themselves a little unlucky as they shared the winners 4-4, but three of the losers all went down by the odd point.

Their best winners where Idris Wade 21-7 and Len Buxton 21-9 as they secured an 18-10 win. The away side picked up three winners through Alister Keighley 21-4, Ken Brenkley 21-8 and Kevin Burnett 21-20 with the outcome a 17-11 loss, so overall Skipton won 29-27.

Cononley A are still setting the pace in the Walker Foster Division One after a 12-0 home win over Broughton Road, though they did suffer a defeat at Colne Cricket Club 7-5, losing the aggregate by just one point.

Crosshills A remain second after a 10-2 home win over Steeton A, but they also lost 7-5 at Keighley A who are third.

Lund Park A picked up a good win 7-5 at Devon B to retain top spot in the James Pye & Son Second Division, that good win was followed by a 9-3 home victory over Gargrave B.

The Skipton Building Society Division Three top two met with Broughton Road B beating Grassington 7-3.

Grassington made sure they stayed in top spot with a 9-1 home win over Whinfield C.