13 Sep CLIVE FOORD FIRST EVER YORKSHIRE VETERANS MERIT CHAMPION

The first ever Yorkshire Veterans Inter-District Merit took place at Smirthwaite Park Bowling Club in Normanton on Friday 11 September. 18 of the areas top bowlers qualified for the final day by virtue of 9 qualifying competitions in each of the 9 districts of the inter-district league. Huddersfield’s qualifiers were Tim Poulter and Andy Lumb who qualified on 1 May at Lockwood Con. Each needed to have played at least 3 games for the district in inter-district matches, both were regular members of the away squad. Andy had won the P&J Muff Rosebowl at Holmfirth the day before.

Smirthwaite Park proved an ideal venue to hold the final nominated by the Castleford district, the first district to host the final. Four of the qualifiers played a preliminary round before the round of 16 and both the Huddersfield players avoided that – there was a chance that a preliminary round player may have to play five full games if they reached the final. Both players navigated the round of 16 into the quarter finals and both in different halves of the draw.

The eventual winner defeated Tim Poulter in the quarter final 21-15 but Andy Lumb moved comfortably through to the semi’s with a 21-13 victory over Graham Perry. He had a tougher match in the semi-final against Halifax’s (and Golcar Libs) Nick Oddy in his fourth game which went to 21-19.

The final brought together Andy Lumb and Bradford’s Clive Foord who had comfortably beaten West Riding’s Andy Mitchell 21-16. Clive very soon got into his stride and Andy was playing catch-up from an early stage, Clive stroking the ball out on full corners. Andy tried various short mark tactics but succombed to the long mark bowling bowing out 21-9.

The prizes were presented by the leagues Chairman Allan Thompson who had long championed the concept of a Veterans Merit. This was an inaugural event which will only become more prestigious and attract the same audiences as the Yorkshire Senior Merit. The league are searching for a major sponsor for a trophy worthy of the quality of bowling seen on Friday.

Huddersfield are the district nominated to host the final in 2027.