06 Feb EXAMINER TEAM OF THE YEAR

In 2013 our illustrious Inter-District team not only swept all before them on the bowling green but scooped the Huddersfield Examiner Community Team of the Year award.

The following copy has been copied from the Huddersfield Examiner at the time.

There are eight districts in the league – Huddersfield, Bradford, Castleford, Halifax, Leeds, Skipton, Wakefield and West Riding. Each team has a home and away team with eight players and two reserves in each.

Our town is a hotbed of talent for crown green bowling and the managers are spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting 20 players to represent them in the league.

The two managers, Derek Gee (home) and Tony Emerson (away) have a staggering total of some 1,200 veteran bowlers in Huddersfield to choose from. Not only do they have strength in depth, but the district is extremely well organised with around 46 clubs and good bowling greens.

Home captain Frank Greenwood said: “I think it is probably the whole organisation in Huddersfield and the number of players we can select from which has made us so successful.

“We have had some outstanding players over the years who no longer play, but who have been top class.”

Frank paid tribute to a number of former players who had helped to bring the Grouse Trophy back to Huddersfield over the years.

They are Harry Haigh, Gordon Cowgill, Jack Hewitt, Ronnie Norcliffe, Brian Starkey, Tony Young and Eddie Haigh who was away team captain for many years.

Frank added: “Huddersfield has more clubs, more leagues and better organised veterans than the other districts. They are envious of our clubs and management set-up.

“Some of them are getting stronger as they follow our approach to the game, but we have high hopes of winning the league again this season.”

A COMBINATION of youth and experience has been the key to the unparalleled success of Huddersfield Golf Ladies Scratch Team.

Since 2000, the team has reached through to the Yorkshire finals no fewer than 11 times. During that period, they have won the title five times – including three times in the last four years – and are the current champions.

The picture shows Frank Greenwood (centre left) along with team members receiving the award from John Waite of Longley Park Kia Huddersfield, along with Andy Hirst (back left) and Nina Hossain.