THE Skipton and District Veterans Handicap Final was held at Silsden Playing Fields and the green proved to be quite tricky for the seven finalists.

The field had been reduced by one as Settle’s Stan Bargh had a previous engagement so was unable to make the final, this meant that David Hemsley got a bye to the semi-final.

The three quarter finals saw Trevor Hargreaves take on ex-president Warren Burnett.The latter had four start and he soon stretched his lead to 10-1, but that all changed once Hargreaves got the jack as he soon turned it round and went 16-11 up.

Burnett was not finished, as three straight doubles got him back in front 17-16, but a strong bowl stopped any further score for Burnett as Hargreaves finished the game 21-17.

Settle’s Derek Seed could not find his top game against Steeton’s Alden Phillip, who played well in the qualifying and kept it going in the final.

Phillips off four start always had Seed on the back foot, as he played some good bowls at the right time, he got 13-4 up never allowing Seed to get into the match and moved into the semi-final with a 21-13 win.

The last quarter-final saw another Settle player Mick Duke take on Craven’s Mick Demain. It was Demain who just edged ahead 10-8, Duke then the had a little run to lead 14-11.

Two singles saw Demain just behind. It all then went wrong for the Craven man as Duke found a winning mark and in five ends it was Duke 21-13 who moved into the semi-final.

The first semi-final saw Mick Duke take on Trevor Hargreaves. Duke was in good order and soon had a 14-7 lead, but Hargreaves got to to within one point at 15-14.

It was then tight to the finish but Duke hung on to win 21-19.

The other semi-final saw David Hemsley lose 21-12 to Alden Phillips.

The final was quite close throughout without any particular good bowling on a difficult surface with Duke always looking the winner.

However, a rally by Phillips saw a score of 19-20, at the last end Phillips put up to mediocre woods a fair way off the jack, but Duke was a little fortunate to bounce off his own woe-fully short wood to clinch the match 21-19.

The Skipton and District Hargreaves Ltd League Merit qualifying round is on Sunday, July 15, with the final two weeks later.

This competition is to find the leading competition bowler in our area and the winner will collect the Albert Smith Trophy and a cash prize.