15 Jul LEEDS ACHIEVE THE DOUBLE

On Friday 12 July Leeds, the current Inter-District league champions, added the Hickson Trophy to their trophy cabinet.

This year 13 inter-district teams competed on a round robin basis for the Yorkshire Veterans Crown Green Bowling Competition, aka the Hickson Trophy names after the original sponsors. A new team entered this year from East Coast and invitations were also extended to our neighbours Sheffield and Barnsley and Harrogate added to the nine teams in the inter-district league. 12 teams were in three groups of four in the preliminary round played 5 July at Wibsey Park, Spen Vic and Heckmondwike. West Riding, the 2023 holders had a bye through to the final day.

The final day was held at Cleckheaton Sports and was again played on a round robin basis using both greens. West Riding played Sheffield on the top green and Halifax, who had qualified for the final by one chalk, played Leeds on the bottom green. Leeds and Sheffield each got 2 match points with their wins.

The second round saw West Riding beating Leeds and Halifax beating Sheffield so at this stage all teams had 2 match points and it was obvious that after the final round of matches that the winner would be decided on aggregate scores with the likely outcome of two teams on 4 match points or an unlikely outcome of all or some teams being in 3 match points.

Halifax who had played their previous matches on the bottom green welcomed West Riding who were given practice time whilst Sheffield played Leeds on the top green. Halifax made a good start and started piling on the points as after the first two round they were bottom of the league on aggregate scores. This encounter never looked in doubt.

Meanwhile on the top green Sheffield and Leeds were in a tight tussle with the lead changing hands but by the time the last four went on the green Sheffield were leading but Leeds, who had played Shirley Biancardo, staged a comeback and captain Roger Birdsall secured the winning points.

At that point the ultimate winners were not known, both Leeds and Halifax had four match points and the captains went into a huddle with organiser Andy Walker to decide the final outcome and Leeds were the victors by 5 over the three rounds. The final league placings were 1. Leeds, 2. Halifax, 3. Sheffield and 4. West Riding.

Allan Thompson presented the trophy to Leeds and all the teams congratulated the hosts Bradford for an excellent 9 hours of top level bowling. The baton is now passed to Sheffield who will host the competition in 2025.