HUDDERSFIELD vs WAKEFIELD

After a mid-season and Hickson Trophy break from the Inter-District league it resumes on Friday 24 July with a game against Wakefield. The Home team have opted once again to play at Hemplow and the team is Andy Wike, Mick Chapman, Peter Fuller, Robert Dickinson, Ray......

LEEDS WIN THREE IN A ROW

The semi-finals and final of the Yorkshire Veterans’ Crown Green Bowling Competition, proverbially known as the Hickson Trophy, took place on Friday 10 July at Thornhill Cricket & Bowling Club. The preliminary rounds and quarter-finals took place the previous Friday and threw up qualifiers Sheffield,......

2 FINALS AT WATERLOO

Tomorrow, 16 July, is one of the most pleasant days in the associations calendar and this year the weather gods are promising fine weather for both the Over 80’s individual trophy and the 6-man leagues Julie Fuller 3-pairs team trophy. All played at Waterloo Bowling......

BOB BOOTH LIFTS LOWER DIVISIONS TROPHY

The 2026 staging of the Lower Divisions Trophy on 2 July at Longwood Bowling Club threw up a couple of intriguing contests between club team mates and a first Lindley Lib bowler to lift the trophy in it’s near 20 years history. The first club......

QUARTER-FINAL LOSS FOR HUDDERSFIELD

West Riding are hosting the 2026 Hickson Trophy which this year is being run on a knockout basis. 13 teams entered the competition but Skipton withdrew at the last minute not being able to field a full 12-person squad. The preliminary and quarter-finals were held......

LOWER DIVISIONS INDIVIDUAL TROPHY

Thursday 2 July at 1.30 pm at Longwood Bowling Club. This will be the second year running that Longwood have sponsored this competition and hosted a the final specifically for bowlers bowling in the lower divisions who, perhaps, may never have entered a competition before......

HUDDERSFIELD vs WEST RIDING

The next round of the Yorkshire Inter-District league is Friday 26 June when Huddersfield take on West Riding. Whilst Huddersfield sat out the first round of the competition West Riding charged into an early lead and haven’t let up since, sitting proudly at the top......

2026 TEAM KNOCKOUT CHAMPIONS

On Friday 19 July the Golcar Libs A team lifted the Frank Griffin Cup for the fifth time since the competition was introduced in 1973 and the third time in the last 5 years. They defeated Longwood Bowling Club who were on for a hatrick......

HUDDERSFIELD vs HALIFAX

The next round of the Yorkshire Inter-District league is Friday 12 June when Huddersfield take on Halifax. Neither team have made an auspicious start to the 2026 season but both are or were considered challengers but may now be playing for a runners-up spot because......

ROUND 3 HUDDERSFIELD vs SKIPTON

This weeks Inter-District league fixture is No. 3 in the league but only the 2nd match for Huddersfield who face Skipton at home playing at Lockwood Con and away playing at Rolls Royce Barnoldswick BB18 5RU. Skipton have become tougher opposition in recent years and......

Hot weather – stay safe

With the current hot weather, and a ‘Yellow’ heat warning for our area, here is a reminder of our hot weather rules and guidelines: Keep safe Take regular breaks. In hot weather play may stop for 5 minutes at the request of any player, on......

Knock-out Round-up

The season may be in its early stages, but team knockouts are well under way, with teams in action this week across three separate competitions. So, who has caught the eye so far and who’s looking in form? The Julie Fuller 6-Man went into the......

Inter-district team strikes

Huddersfield’s Veterans Inter-district side opened their 2026 campaign in style on May 15th with emphatic wins both home and away against Castleford — and if last season left followers scratching their heads, this felt like the first signs of a team rediscovering its confidence. After......

Don’t miss out – it’s competition time.

The first of this year’s competitions completed last week with the Over 70s Trophy. You can read all about that final in the dedicated news item. And there is more Over 70s action next week with the Pairs competition. It is too late for entries......

START OF 2026 CAMPAIGN

Huddersfield start their 2026 campaign with a mountain to climb already. With nine teams in the league each team has a bye and Huddersfield started the 2026 season with a Bye and looking at the table there were some big scores for what we believe......

Peter Allen

We are sad to give news that Peter Allen has recently passed. Peter was a long standing member of the league management committee and well known to many. His family have let us know that for anyone who may wish to attend Peter’s funeral, this......

Grey Skies, Great Bowling and a Champion’s Finish at Lockwood Con

The Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association Over-70s competition took place at Lockwood on Thursday 7th May beneath cool grey skies that never quite developed into rain but certainly gave the impression they were considering it. Which, if we are honest, felt entirely correct. Crown green bowling......

Calling all Over 70s

Anyone wishing to enter the Over 70s Singles or Pairs competitions be aware the closing dates are looming: Closing date for the Over 70s Singles Competition is Wednesday 15th April Closing date for the Over 70s Pars Competition is Wednesday 22nd April Don’t delay –......

10-man season – what does the future hold?

The Veterans 10-man league 2026 bursts into life today. Sixty teams. Five divisions. Hundreds of ends. Thousands of woods. And, crucially, a vast number of things that will not go to plan. Because here’s the thing: predicting this league is a bit like predicting British......

Julie Fuller Kicks Off

It is action all the way in the opening week of the season. As well as both 6-man and 10-man Leagues roaring into life we kick off the 6-man Julie Fuller Team Knock-out competition on Thursday. The pre-liminary round sees 32 teams battle it out......

Art at the Windmill

Richard Chaffer has shared with us some photographs of Skelmanthorpe Windmill’s latest recruitment poster. It’s a novel approach to attracting new members and a style instantly recognisable to anyone familiar with the art work around the green. Hopefully it will do the trick....

New look BCGBA Website

The BCGBA website has been given a full make-over for 2026 and there’s a lot to like. It is a great improvement on the previous version with excellent sections for both club information and player information.  It is well worth a visit, click HERE to......

The Drake Connection

When news reached Richard Armitage that BBC Studios Manchester were looking for bowlers he could not resist sending an email to find out more. He was, excuse the pun, bowled over by the reply he got. A new history series is to go into production......

Team Knock-out rule simplified.

There have been some changes to the rule that requires players to have taken part in league games before they can be selected for a Team Knock-out. The rule now only comes into effect from the quarter-final stage onwards. At this stage players must have......

Prizes galore! Over £1,200 of awards for Averages Winners.

Last year we rewarded the 2024 top averages bowlers in the lower divisions with a free entry to the Lower Divisions Individual Trophy competition. Judging by the huge number of bowlers that took up the invitation and the positive feedback received, this was a big......

Individual handicapping improved again

Last year introduced new individual and pairs handicapping based on season averages and these really helped make games much closer. Building on this, the handicapping for 2026 makes further allowances for singles vs pairs bowlers and bowlers who have very high averages for their division.......

Julie Fuller Insights

The 6-man Julie Fuller has been a fixture in the league’s calendar for a quarter of a century. The competition itself originates with the creation of the 6-man League and, as so often, gained the invaluable support of a founding sponsor. In this case it......

David Sykes Memorial Plaque

  Tina Sykes unveiled our plaque in memory of her dad, David Sykes, this Saturday at Brockholes Bowling Club. There was a great crowd in attendance and Richard Armitage shared some memories and anecdotes from David’s many years with Huddersfield Veterans. The plaque takes pride......

Weston Park Trophy

  On Saturday 28th March the Weston Park Trophy takes place at Brockholes Bowling Club. This season opening event raises funds for the Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity in memory of Paul Sykes. Through donations, raffle sales and food sales last year’s event raised over......

CHAIN OF OFFICE PASSES TO JOHN PEARMAN

This was the writers last official duty as President before he stepped back and passed the Presidents chain of office to John Pearman at the Associations AGM on Monday 9 February. The council elected John Pearman as President after Richard Armitage completed his two years......

A new season is just around the corner

  We might still be reaching for the winter woollies, but you can feel it, can’t you? That familiar shift in the air. Because when spring is just around the corner, it can only mean one thing: summer bowling is on the way. And with......

CONTRIBUTION TO THE KIRKWOOD

One of the writers last acts as President of this Association was to present a huge cheque to Judith Ambler of The Kirkwood Hospice. The Association raised £1400 over the course of the 2025 season primarily from running the John Hoyle Trophy as the finale......

YORKSHIRE I-D VETERANS MERIT

2026 sees the inaugural Inter-District Veterans Merit. All nine district teams in the league will play a knockout tournament of their inter-district squad bowlers playing down to two. The designated date for each district is the day of their bye in their league matches, in......

A GROUP OF OPPORTUNITY?

The 2026 Hickson Trophy is being hosted by West Riding and is set to return to the round robin format. Leeds, as the current holders, have a bye to the final on 10 July and Huddersfield are in Group 2 with Wakefield, Sheffield and the......

HUDDERSFIELD START WITH A BYE

The 2026 fixtures for the Yorkshire County Veterans Inter-District league have been released and are available on Bowlsnet at https://bowlsnet.uk/YorkshireVets. The season starts on Friday 1 May but due to the fact that there are 9 teams in the league there is a bye on each......

Rose Bowl Glory for Hodgson in Stunning Underdog Triumph

Bowls eh? It never stops surprising us. And yesterday at Netherton Con, we were treated to one of those truly special days, a final that was everything that’s brilliant about bowls – drama, tension, underdogs, and glorious comebacks. John Hodgson is the 2025 Veterans League......

Wike wins game of two halves!

LONGWOOD bowler Andy Wike took the John Hoyle Trophy after defeating fellow inter-district bowler Graham Sigsworth in the final held at Moldgreen Con. Wike won the contest 21-14 and was heard to say to his opponent that it was a “game of two halves” and......

JOHN HOYLE TROPHY

Tomorrow, 26 September, we have the John Hoyle Trophy final starting 1.30 pm and as usual it’s at Huddersfield Recreations home of Moldgreen Conservative Club. This competition has quickly become the grand finale to our season, it’s now in it’s fifth year and each year......

Home stars take title at their House

LOWERHOUSES duo Graham Hirst and Les Holmes are the Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association’s 2025 Over 70s  Pairs champions taking the title on home soil. The quarter-finals saw Hirst and Holmes with a -1 start due to plying on their home green against Cowcliffe duo Derrick......

OVER 70’S PAIRS FINAL

Thursday 18 September sees the delayed finals day of the Over 70’s pairs at Lowerhouses. The competition sponsored by the late David Hollas of Brockholes bowling club is a relatively new competition in our portfolio having started as recently as 2019 and with a two......

HUDDERSFIELD’S HOME SQUAD 2025

Huddersfield’s home team topped the ‘home’ league with 8 wins out of 8 games with table topping points of 164, our closest rival West Riding trailing by 22 points. This was a fantastic achievement by all the players bearing in mind that the  team line-up......

Rosebowl Final is now October 2

We have been fortunate to be able to re-arrange this year’s Rosebowl Final to Thursday 2 October thanks to the co-operation of our hosts Netherton Con and our sponsor Paul Rangeley. It had been intended that the Final, which had been washed out last week,......

Rosebowl Washout!

Thursday’s Peter & Judith Muff Rosebowl at Netherton Con was abandoned with the green waterlogged. An heavy downpour initially delayed the start but with thunder and lightning close by and further heavy downpours that contained hail a decision to rearrange the final was quickly agreed.......

P&J MUFF ROSEBOWL

The final of the HVBA’s flagship individual trophy takes place on Thursday 11 September at Netherton Con starting at 1.30 pm. Originally sponsored by the Huddersfield Examiner it has recently been renamed in memory of Peter and Judith Muff. Peter was very well known in......

HUDDERSFIELD’S AWAY SQUAD 2025

Our picture shows the away team squad for the final fixture at Hightown Libs where the team played West Riding. It was another difficult day for the team recording only one winner. Huddersfield finished fourth in the final league table, one position better than in......

CRUCIAL MATCH AGAINST WEST RIDING

For our final match in the Yorkshire Veterans Inter District League our opponents are West Riding who have 5 points more than Huddersfield and are currently in second place. For this match on the 5th September commencing at 1300 the Home team are returning to......

Can Elland WMC do the double?

ONE of the topics overheard being discussed by Elland WMC bowlers after defeating Lindley Lib A in the Bistro at Brockholes was “let’s go on and do the double”. It would be a brave man who made any bet against the current Division 2 leaders......

IT’S BISTRO TIME AT BROCKHOLES

The Bistro Shield is always one of our best finals with top clubs competing in the 5 pairs format and traditionally played at Brockholes at 1.30 pm. Tomorrow 28 August is the date this year. The two clubs who have both battled through 5 rounds......

It’s Rosebowl time!

We have 26 bowlers entered in the Peter & Judith Muff Rosebowl competition that starts on Friday August 29 with Preliminary rounds at Hemplow and Holmfirth. As usual draws will be made once all bowlers have arrived at each allocated venue with the scheduled start......

KIRKHEATON CON’QUER’ VILLAGE OPPONENTS

IT was the bowlers from the Con Club who were celebrating success at the conclusion of the 2025 Subsidiary Team Knockout Cup Final at Broad Oak. Billed as the ‘Battle of Kirkheaton’ the Con Club claimed a 156-144 success over their neighbours from the Cricket......

HUDDERSFIELD v BRADFORD

This Friday, 22 August, is the penultimate fixture of the season with Huddersfield entertaining Bradford at Hemplow and our away squad travelling to Idle. Start time is 1 pm for both fixtures. The home team is R0bert Dickinson, John Bloomer, Mick Chapman, Stephen Haigh, Rpb......

AN ALL KIRKHEATON EVENT

HVBA’s Sub-team Knockout between Kirkheaton Con B and Kirkheaton C&BC B will be played at Broad Oak BC on Thursday 21 August, 1.30 pm with practice starting at 12.45 pm. There’s some local rivalry at stake and also some players with split loyalties that play......

Roys wins Lower Division Trophy

Marsh United bowler Ken Roys defeated Dennis Lomax of New Mill WMC in the final of the Lower Division Trophy held at Longwood BC. Eight bowlers had fought their way through qualifying rounds played since early June in the print-pod sponsored tournament that had attracted......

TOP LOWER DIVISION BOWLERS TIME TO SHINE

It’s time to shine this coming Friday, 15 August, for 8 bowlers from the lower 10-man divisions and the 6-man league. The Lower Divisions Individual Trophy final takes place at Longwood Bowling Club starting 1.30 pm. We have had record entries this year as bowlers......

HUDDERSFIELD RECREATION

Huddersfield Recreation Club, who’s home green is Moldgreen Conservative Club, are appealing for bowlers who may not be getting regular games or indeed any bowlers who are wanting a change of scene to contact them. The club currently play in the HVBA 10-man league in......

PETER CELEBRATES HIS NINTIETH

Peter Booth of Thongsbridge is the latest recipient of a Certificate of Achievement as still being an active bowler and member of the clubs 6-man C team. The certificate was presented by the writer, himself a Thongsbridge player, on the occasion of the teams home......

HUDDERSFIELD vs CASTLEFORD

We have to go back to 27 June for Huddersfield’s last match in the inter-district league. In the interim we have had the Hickson Trophy on 4 and 11 July then Huddersfield had a bye on the last fixture date 25 July. The current league......

TRIBUTES TO DAVID

The tributes to David have been pouring in since we advised club reps of his sad passing, here are a few: David Sykes was a really nice person. A giver in every way, always friendly and helpful to everyone. He will be missed by many. Jim Baxter......

Former Rosebowl winner tastes Over 80s success

GRAHAM ILLINGWORTH, a two-time winner of the Huddersfield Veterans Rosebowl in 2010 and 2014, returned to the winners podium when claiming the Over 80s title at Golcar Liberal club. Now a bowler with David Brown Sports he defeated Denis Garner of Netherton Con in a......

DAVID SYKES

It grieves me to report that David Sykes sadly passed away in his sleep overnight. David, our current League Secretary and former Competition Secretary has been a stalwart of our Association for the past 10 years and lived and breathed the HVBA. He was on......

Newcomers take Julie Fuller Shield

BROAD OAK – who entered a team in the Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association’s six-man competition this year – enjoyed success in the competitions only cup with a commanding performance to take the Julie Fuller Shield. Having been placed in Division Two by league officials at......

OVER 80s & JULIE FULLER

Tomorrow, 21 July, we have two finals being played out on one day at Golcar Liberal Club starting 1.30 pm. This is one of the most pleasant days in the Association calendar starring bowlers usually, but not always, playing in the lower echelons of our......

WALTER PELL

Walter Pell has sadly passed away at the grand old age of 92. He was a stalwart of the Marsh United 10 man B team as recently as last year, in addition to bowling in the clubs Colne Valley Evening League team. There weren’t that......

LEEDS RETAIN HICKSON TROPHY

On Friday 11 July Leeds won the Hickson Trophy that they first won in 2024. The qualifying rounds had been played the previous Friday (as previously reported) and the semi-finals matched Harrogate against Sheffield and East Coast versus Leeds. Harrogate and East Coast are ‘new......

Longwood retained Team KO

IN the midst of the loss of online records kept on the bowlsnet system it was business as usual on the green with all competitions going ahead as planned. The first team final, hosted by Kirkheaton Con and kindly sponsored by Tony Butterfield, saw repeat......

HUDDERSFIELD EXIT BUT AVENGE SKIPTON DEFEAT

The qualifying rounds of the Hickson Trophy were played out in Sheffield on 4 July. Huddersfield were drawn against Skipton in the first round playing at Swallowsnet and avenged their defeat the previous Friday winning 233-187. Meanwhile two of the big guns, Leeds and West......

£240 BOOST FROM SKEL WINDMILL

Several weeks ago we posted an item about the Skelmanthorpe Windmill ‘Battle of the Sexes’. The club organised an event that took place on Sunday 29 June at their green raising funds for Kirkwood which has been added a massive £240 to the associations Kirkwood......

HUDDERSFIELD V SKIPTON, PART TWO!

Huddersfield kick off their 2025 campaign in Sheffield versus Skipton who only last week conjured up a win against us and dented our hopes of a league title. This, however, is cup tie bowling and everything is at stake in the first round match being......

SKIPTON vs HUDDERSFIELD

Friday 27 June is the last match for Huddersfield until August and we’re facing the same opponents as the first round tie of the Hickson Trophy taking place in Sheffield on 4 July. The home team play at Linthwaite Hall starting 1 pm and the......

DENNIS HIRST’S 90TH ACHIEVEMENT

On Tuesday 17 June I had the pleasure of presenting an HVBA Certificate of Achievement to Dennis Hirst of Milnsbridge Bowling Club. The occasion was a Division 2 game Thongsbridge vs Milnsbridge. It was some two weeks since Denis’ 90th birthday on 2 June. This......

Hirst celebrates success again

LOWERHOUSES bowler Graham Hirst took the Over 70’s Trophy for the second time following a nail-biting win over John Bloomer of the Almondbury Liberal club. It had looked curtains for Hirst after 20 ends when Bloomer held a 17-8 lead but a determined Hirst fought......

Lockwood Con venue for Over 70s

A FEAST of bowling is set to be graced by sunny and warm weather as the Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association’s season gets into full swing. Lockwood Park is the venue for the Over 70s Final with action starting at 1.30pm. The draw is: Andy Carter......

HUDDERSFIELD vs WAKEFIELD

Round 4 of the Yorkshire Inter-District Veterans league is on Friday 13 June with a starting time of 1.00 pm. Huddersfield take on Wakefield. Huddersfield are handily placed in third in the league on 91 points, 14 points below Leeds whilst Wakefield are eighth out......

Nearly 70 entries for Lower Division Trophy!

We have 68 bowlers entered into the Lower Division Trophy – a superb response from those who received invitations and from others who have also entered. As planned the competition will start with bowlers allocated to their preferred date of June 13 or June 20......

SKELL WINDMILL BATTLE OF THE SEXES

On Sunday 29 June, Skelmanthorpe Windmill will be running a comp that they’re calling the Battle of the Sexes. If you’re not playing in it I’m sure it will be entertaining and probably very competitive event and worthy of watching. I’ve been to Windmill events......

Repeat of 2024 Final in Team KO

LAST year’s beaten finalists, Cowcliffe, will have the opportunity to gain revenge over 2024 Team KO champions Longwood when the pair meet at Kirkheaton Con in two week’s time. Longwood won the 2024 final 145-105 while the 2025 final will see the two clubs meet......

ROUND 3 v AIRE & WHARFE

It’s already Round 3 of the Yorkshire Inter-District league and not yet the end of May! With nine teams in the league and a couple of Fridays taken up with the Hickson Trophy the matches come thick and fast. Friday 30 May brings Aire &......

HVBA PRESENT £1250 TO KIRKWOOD HOSPICE

Mike Pointon of Huddersfield Recreation today helped me present a whopping £1250 to Kirkwood Hospice, the proceeds of the 2024 John Hoyle Trophy. John Hoyle was elected President of the Association in February 2020 at our 50th anniversary event. Unfortunately he died within a couple......

BRIANS ACHIEVEMENT

Today, 27 May, I had the pleasure of presenting a Certificate of Achievement to Brian Faichney of Huddersfield Recreation to commemorate him reaching 90 on the 18 May and still playing competitively in our 10-man league. These occasions are a pleasurable part of the duties......

Double A’s seal Pairs victory – Full results and photo gallery

IT was success all the way for Lowerhouse duo Andy Mitchell and Ashley Daykin in the Pairs Shield Final at Almondbury Lib. They won the final against Netherton Con duo Paul Rangeley and Graham Brook 21-10 with scratch bowlers Mitchell and Daykin ahead from the......

HUDDERSFIELD v HALIFAX

The second round matches are scheduled for 1 pm on 16 May (today) and Huddersfield take on Halifax. The home venue has changed to Brockholes Bowling Club and the team is: John Bloomer, Andy Carter,Tony Cross, Stephen Haigh, Mark Richardson, Graham Sigsworth, Andy Wike, Ray......

Past winners in Pairs final at Almondbury Lib

OUR first final of the season will take place on Thursday 15 May 2025 with the Pairs Shield Finals at Almondbury Lib.                  Milnsbridge are the club with most representatives with the experienced duo Roy Sutton and Dennis......

J&J ISHERWOOD BCGBA VETERANS MERIT QUALIFIER

The Yorkshire qualifying rounds of the J&J Isherwood competition are being held at Cleckheaton Sports on Thursday 12 June. The qualifiers will go through to the final on Wednesday 2 July at Preece Bowling Club. To enter contact Mark Waite, the YCCGBA Fixture Secretary, fixturessecretary@yccgba.org.uk,......

Over 70’s all set to start

OUR Over-70s singles competition gets underway with two venues in use on Friday. We have 24 bowlers entered in the competition and some excellent bowling is anticipated on both Kirkheaton C&BC and Netherton Con greens. We would like to thank both clubs in their co-operation......

POSITIVE START TO CAMPAIGN

Huddersfield took a positive step starting the 2025 season by defeating Leeds in a tough first round encounter. Leeds won the title in 2023 and were Hickson Trophy winners in 2024. The home team gave debuts to two new bowlers who both put in creditable......

Closing date extended for Over 70’s Individual Competition

The closing date for the Over 70’s Individual Trophy has been extended to Sunday 4th May. Entry costs £4 with entry forms available HERE . Rounds take place on 9th May and 12th June....

Bowlers needed at Holmfirth

Holmfirth Bowling Club are in need of bowlers for their 10-man teams in Division 3 and Division 5. If there is anyone out there who would like to get some regular games please let Phil Woodthorpe of Holmfirth know.  Phil will be please to hear......

JEFFREY’S OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

On Friday 26 April I had the honour of honouring one of my own teammates for achieving the age of 90 and still actively bowling. Jeffery Oldroyd was 90 in February but he’s had to wait until the bowling season started to earn his Certificate......

NEW INTER-DISTRICT SEASON

The 2025 Yorkshire Inter-District Veterans Bowling League starts this coming Friday 2 May with Huddersfield facing the 2023 champions, Leeds. The home team have chosen to start their campaign on the Meltham No.2 green and the team is: Andy Carter, John Bloomer, Tony Cross, Mick......

Excitement to the end in Pairs Preliminary round

ANYONE who stayed to watch the conclusion of the Pairs Shield Preliminary round played at Marsh Liberal would certainly have enjoyed the bowling on offer with two well-fancied pairs given a run for their money as the afternoon drew to a close.  Last year’s winners,......

Defending champs ease through

LONGWOOD, the 2024 Team Knockout champions were worthy 134-115 winners over Lowerhouses in the big tie of the opening round of the 2025 version of the competition.                   Lowerhouses, the 2024 League champions were quick off the blocks at Skelmanthorpe Windmill winning three of the......

Pairs at Marsh Lib on Thursday

MARSH Liberal Club is the venue as the Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association (HVBA) Pairs Shield competition commences on Thursday at 1:30pm. There is a good afternoon of bowling in prospect with three recent winners of this competition, 2024 winners from Waterloo Ian Lunn and Alan......

Time to grab your partner – qualification rule waived!

Once again we have a busy calendar of events planned throughout the 2025 Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Associations summer season. All the competitions that ran last year are again taking place this year and the opening competition is the Pairs event. The closing date for entries......

Eddie Haigh – always a top bowler

EDDIE HAIGH, who passed away on Sunday 23rd March, was a top-class bowler in the Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association (HVBA) winning the major competitions on numerous occasions. And, if not winning the actual competition he was competing in then his name would feature somewhere in......

Over 70’s Pairs – Revised format

At the AGM in February our club representatives indicated they were overwhelmingly in favour of trying a ‘drawn pairs’ format for the Over 70’s pairs competition. This is a format familiar to many plauers/clubs and is well received as a fun and sociable approach to......

It’s A to B for Waterloo

In line with the 6-man league structure the Julie Fuller Trophy has seen an increase in the number of teams competing in the competition in 2025. This has led a Preliminary round of nine ties in 2024 increasing to 14 this year. Defending champions New......

2025 Julie Fuller team handicapping improved

Handicapping for the 6-man Julie Fuller competition has now been published. The 6-man league was established as a lower divisions competition with restrictions that effectively excluded top ranking bowlers from the 10-man league and team handicaps have reflected those restrictions. Easing the restrictions over the......

Bistro: Mixed fortunes for 2024 finalists

THE draw for the 2025 Bistro competition saw last year’s winners Kirkheaton Con A drawn to face Denby Dale in the preliminary round. Beaten finalists Longwood will face Golcar Lib A when the competitions reaches the Round of 32 in June, the other two teams......

2025 Handicapping – a new approach

A new approach to individual handicapping has been introduced for 2025. In previous years handicaps were based on a bowler’s division and every bowler in a division had the same handicap. Starting this year the averages information available in Bowlsnet will be used to award......

Late start for beaten finalists

NETHERTON CON B who were beaten finalists in the 2024 competition have been handed a bye in the preliminary round draw of the Sub Team Knock out cup. They will face Brockholes B in the Round of 16 which is not scheduled to be held......

Defending Champs feature in tie of the round

DEFENDING Team Knock-out champions Longwood will face 2024 Division 1 Champions Lowerhouses in the tie of the round – if not the competition – as the 2025 Team Knock-out draw for the opening round is announced. The pair were drawn together when general secretary John......

SIX MAN OPENING FIXTURES ANNOUNCED

The Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association 6-man competition has had a revamp ahead of the 2025 season with five teams joining.  That has seen the competition extended over four divisions with the opening fixtures commencing on 7th April 2025. Marsh United A are the defending champions......

BROCKHOLES AIM FOR FIRST CLASS START

RELEGATED Brockholes B 10-man team will be hoping for a first-class start to their season which opens on “the postage stamp” – Kirkheaton Con B team being the hosts. Dalton are the highest-placed of the clubs remaining in Division 5 – they finished fourth in......

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR PIP HILL?

WITH Outlane having dropped out from the 10-man league there has been a late promotion for Primrose Hill Lib who finished third in Division 5 last term. The Pip Hill club will make the short journey to Lockwood Park to face Huddersfield RUBC – it’s......

HOME STARTS FOR DIVISION 3 NEWCOMERS

MARSH LIB A will start their 10-man Division 3 campaign with a home encounter against Paddock I & C. The home side gained promotion from Division 4 at the end of the 2024 season as champions and will welcome a Paddock side who ended their......

ELLAND CLUBS FACE OPENING DAY TRIPS

ELLAND C&BC were just four points shy of gaining promotion to the top 10-man division at the conclusion of the 2024 season so will be looking to get their season off to a good start when they travel to face Lindley BC at the start......

CHAMPIONS IN HEAD-TO-HEAD CLASH!

DEFENDING Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association champions Lowerhouses have been handed a home fixture when the 10-man season starts on Tuesday 8th April 2025.   They will face a Meltham A outfit who finished the 2024 season as champions of the Association’s Division 2 competition. Meltham......

2025 League structure confirmed

The 2025 league structures for both the 10-man and 6-man competitions was confirmed by the Management Committee of the Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association on Monday 20th January. The committee was delighted to learn that Marsh Liberal club are to field an extra 10-man team in......

SUMMER BOWLING TASTER 2

The Inter-District matches kick off 2 May when Huddersfield will try and regain their preeminence in the competition having last won the grouse trophy in 2021 and sinking as low as 5th in last seasons competition. It was felt that last year the draw gave......

SUMMER BOWLING PREVIEW

One of the highlights of the veterans bowling season is the Hickson Trophy, last won by Huddersfield in 2021. Thirteen 12 person district teams compete for Yorkshire Veterans’ Crown Green Bowling Competition, aka the Hickson Trophy after the original sponsors.  In 2025 the honour for......

New season promises exciting times

  The officials and committee of the Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association would like to wish everyone connected to veterans bowling a happy, successful and prosperous 2025! We are now heading into the new year knowing that the new season is now in sight. Plenty of......

ROLAND SWALLOW

  Kirkheaton Con bowler Roland ‘Ron’ Swallow passed away in December, just three months after he had picked up the Bistro Trophy on behalf of his teammates. Although not well enough to play in the final at Brockholes his teammates insisted on him collecting the......

ANOTHER MYSTERY

This photo has been found in the Armitage family archives and we only have one name and that’s our father Ronnie who is second left partially hidden. What we know is that there are two ten-man teams playing in an HVBA competition, presumably a final.......

Fightback of the Year 2024

Congratulations to Howard Crowther of Shepley BC who is the Well Bowled 2024 Fightback of the Year winner. There were many outstanding entries in this year’s competition and picking an outright winner was a big challenge for our judge Nick Blackburn of Well Bowled. Howard’s......

FRANK GRIFFIN

It is with great sadness that we have to report the passing of one of the stalwarts of Huddersfield bowling – Frank Griffin who died on 1 November. There is no doubt that the Huddersfield Bowling Association will rank Frank as one of their most......

2024 End of season presentations

We had our traditional presentation of trophies at the 2024 half-year General Meeting which took place on 14th October. Whilst the competition trophies were all presented to the winners on the day of the competition, these had since been gathered up, polished and engraved. Not......

A PAUL ENGLISH PROFILE – BOB BOOTH

This is the first of a series of profiles written by Competition Secretary, Paul English. ANYONE reading this article with a good memory may well think “we’ve been here before” and it’s true, because Thongsbridge bowler Bob Booth was featured in May 2023 when he......

THIRD TIME LUCKY FOR TIM

FINALLY! Clayton West bowler Tim Poulter won the 2024 John Hoyle Trophy after twice being the beaten finalist in this competition. Poulter was beaten 21-14 by Mick Cox in the inaugural final of this competition in 2021 and lost by the narrowest of margins to......

CHRIS SYKES WINS LOWER DIVISIONS TROPHY

SLAITHWAITE bowler Chris Sykes won the https://www.print-pod.com/ Lower Division Trophy with a comprehensive display in heavy rain at Ravensknowle Park. Chris had previously won in 2019 when he defeated Farnley Tyas player Geoff Sykes at Outlane, Unfortunately a number of bowlers had to pull out of......

FINAL 27 SEPTEMBER

What has become the finale of the HVBA season takes place tomorrow 27 September at 1.30pm. It’s the fourth year of the John Hoyle Trophy, hosted by Huddersfield Recreation at their Moldgreen Con home with a stellar line-up of bowlers. 32 bowlers bowled down to......

LOWER DIVISIONS INDIVIDUAL TROPHY

Thursday 26 September, 1.30pm at Ravensknowle Park The Lower Divisions Individual Trophy is a relatively new competition for the association for bowlers playing in Divisions 3, 4 and 5 of the 10-man league. First played in 2007 and aimed at encouraging bowlers in the lower......

GRAHAM HIRST RETAINS ROSEBOWL

LOWERHOUSE bowler Graham Hirst retained the P & J Muff Rosebowl with a dominant display in the 2024 final against Garry Senior of Kirkheaton Con at Netherton Con. Hirst had won the Rosebowl in 2023 with a narrow success in last year’s final over Ray......

ROSEBOWL FINAL

Thursday 19 September, 1.30pm at Netherton Con. The Rosebowl is the HVBA’s most coveted individual trophy. Initially called The Examiner Rosebowl and now the Peter & Judith Muff Rosebowl after the Examiners sports correspondent who did so much for bowling in Huddersfield, not only reporting......

CARL BURGESS NOTCHES 90

Today I had the pleasure of presenting an ex-teammate his Certificate of Achievement from the HVBA for reaching 90 and still bowling competitively. Many bowlers will know Carl not as a bowler but as a fearsome footballer and later both a football and bowling referee.......

QUALIFYING ROUND 20 SEPTEMBER

The Qualifying Rounds are being played on Friday 20 September at Huddersfield Recreation (Moldgreen Con) The following bowlers will bowl in the morning session commencing 11am: Stuart England, Clayton West Edwin Haigh, Clayton West Malcolm Gilbert, Clayton West Graham Sigsworth, Cowcliffe Ray Whitwam, Crosland Moor......

Over 70s Pairs Final – results and photo gallery

  DEREK FROST and MICK WENZEL head off the challenge of Waterloo’s Alan Stephenson and Robert Mudd to claim the Over 70’s Pairs Trophy at Lowerhouses. The pair, who play for David Browns Sports in Division 5 of the Huddersfield Veterans ten-man league competition and......

ENTRY CLOSING DATE EXTENDED

The closing date of entries has been extended to Friday 13 September. Details can be found on our earlier post https://www.hvba.co.uk/call-for-entries-the-seasons-finale/. In addition to a flurry of entries personal donations have also been received for the Kirkwood fund. More entries means the more the Association can......

Bistro Final – Results and photo gallery.

The final of the long running Bistro competition culminated in two Division 1 teams slugging it out at Brockholes, Kirkheaton Con A had a 3 handicap whilst Longwood had a slight advantage with a 6 handicap. We returned to Brockholes, the traditional home of the......

BISTRO FINAL

Friday 6 September, 1.30pm at Brockholes Bowling Club. The Bistro competition is one of the HVBA’s most popular team competitions with all teams in the 10-man league starting the long road to the final early in our season. This years finalists, Longwood BC and Kirkheaton......

Lower Divisions Individual Trophy first round details

LOWER DIVISIONS TROPHY  Following late withdrawals this competition is now down to eight entries and so the Preliminary Round scheduled for Thursday 5th September is no longer required. The remaining bowlers will now go directly into the Quarter Finals stage on Finals Day which takes......

Libs overcome Cons with breath-taking fightback

IT looked all over a victory for Division 5 side Netherton Con B at the halfway stage of the Subsidiary Team Knockout Final at Broad Oak. They went into the final with a 23-point start on the handicap over Division Three rivals Lindley Lib B,......

SUB-TEAM KNOCKOUT FINAL

Thursday 29 August, 1.30pm at Broad Oak Bowling Club. It’s just 40 years since our HVBA forebears had the prescience to initiate a trophy specifically for teams in the lower echelons of our leagues. In that time there have been some illustrious winners who have......

CALL FOR ENTRIES – THE SEASON’S FINALE

2024 will see the fourth running of the John Hoyle trophy which has become the finale to the HVBA season. Not only is it the final individual competition of 2024 but it’s also our community event when bowlers come together and raise much needed funds......

MORAL BOOST AT END OF DISAPPOINTING SEASON

David Armitage, the Home team manager writes… The Huddersfield vs Aire & Wharfe fixture on Friday 23 August saw good wins for both home and away teams. The home side won 24 – 4 and the away side won 16 – 12 giving us 40......

Over 70s Pairs venue and bowler draw details for 30th August

We can now confirm that Slaithwaite and Springwood clubs will be the venues for the Over 70s rounds to be played on Friday 30 August. The bowlers have been drawn to the venues shown below and are asked to arrive at their respective venues by......

FINAL FIXTURE vs NEWBIES AIRE & WHARFE

Huddersfield’s last match of the season is versus new opponents – Aire & Wharfe who entered the league for the first time this season. Huddersfield are currently sitting fourth in the table with Aire & Wharfe in sixth 37 points behind. Bradford are just one......

A reminder for team captains as we approach September

With September fast approaching team captains are reminded of the following rules:   Team captains in the 6-man League need to make sure they do not select an ineligible player for the final four fixtures of the season due to them not having played sufficient......

ROSEBOWL DRAW

Entries for our flagship individual competition have now closed and the draw made for the preliminary and first round draws. The P & J Muff Rosebowl, previously referred to as the Examiner Rosebowl will start on Thursday 22 August and the final will be at......

Fight-back of the Year Competition 2024

“Fight-back of the Year” is back, bigger and even better than before, with fantastic bowling luggage and accessories up for grabs. We’ve seen some excellent entries to date and all very hard to separate, so much so it has been decided to allow more than......

MUST WIN MATCH vs BRADFORD

Bradford give us another crucial match in the Yorkshire Veterans Inter District League on on Friday 9 August 1pm. Playing away at Asa Briggs  the team is: T Poulter, R Stopford, E Haigh, P Hopkinson, D Pollard, M Gilbert (c), T Butterfield, A. Cooper. Reserve:......

Walker flies home with vintage show – Over 80s results and photos

GORDON WALKER put in a classic show of Crown Green bowling to defeat Mick McCluskey in the Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association Over 80s Final at Skelmanthorpe Windmill on Thursday (August 1). The Kirkheaton Con bowler won the first two ends and with both bowlers starting......

New Mill topple Waterloo – 2024 Julie Fuller full results and picture gallery.

  DIVISION TWO side New Mill picked up the Julie Fuller Trophy at Skelmanthorpe Windmill on Thursday thanks to a 60-48 success over Waterloo. Waterloo, who currently sit third in the Division One league table, were fancied by many to overturn a ten-point handicap deficit......

Over 70s Pairs reduced number of rounds

 Due to the number of entries in this year’s Over 70’s Pairs competition we will not be holding a preliminary round on Friday, August 2. The competition will start on Friday August 30 at venues which will be advise shortly. Any queries please contact the Competition Secretary......

DISAPPOINTING RETURN TO THE INTER-DISTRICT FOR HUDDERSFIELD

Disappointing, or disastrous according to the Home team manager David Armitage in his report. Disastrous day for the Huddersfield Inter-District teams in their latest match against West Riding. Only two winners home and away and losing both games by 20 points to 8. John Bloomer......

All love and joy for the Over 80s

AFTER the unseasonal windy weather in the preliminary round at Ravensknowle Park two weeks ago the quarter finals held at Primrose Hill went ahead in beautiful conditions at a venue that was also hosting a wedding reception. All four ties, drawn on the day, went......

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......

Important update for competition entrants

Rosebowl and Lower Divisions Individual Trophy. A record number of teams and fixtures resulted in a very full 2024 league calendar with limited days free for competitions. To fit everything in, some rounds of the Rosebowl and the Lower Divisions Individual Trophy were set to......

Summer is here, so it’s time to get out your handwarmers

If like many bowlers you have treated yourself to some rechargeable electric handwarmers for the winter, now is the time to get them out.   Like all rechargeable devices, the internal batteries of handwarmers do not always take kindly to being left unused for long......

12th July Final – don’t miss one of the year’s biggest events

The Hickson Trophy is an annual team competition in which all the Yorkshire regions compete together with our near neighbours Barnsley and Sheffield. The event has become an annual celebration of Veteran’s bowling and its scale requires venues with two greens. It is hosted on......

Shepley Bowling Club attracts £1.6 million of investment for new ground

Shepley bowling club have landed the largest investment deal in bowling history. Ex-Shepley resident and multi-billionaire businessman Richard Ambrose-Pringle (93) has announced his intention to make available an astonishing amount of money to his old bowling club. A great headline, and a nice thought, but......

Over 80s champ blown away

UNSEASONAL windy weather greeted the ten bowlers in the preliminary round of the Over 80’s Knock-out competition at an otherwise glorious Ravensknowle Park. It was a case of holding onto your hat as Marsh United’s Trevor Sykes defeated Baldwin Walsh of Linthwaite Hall 21-10, the......

A brief introduction to our new President

Richard Armitage was elected as hvba President at this year’s AGM having previously held the role of Vice-President through 2023. As a long-standing Thongsbridge player Richard has been a familiar face on our greens for many years. He has also been a member of the......

BANISH POST ELECTION BLUES

Most bowlers won’t be suffering from post-election blues and will be glad it’s all over but for those that voted for an unsuccessful party we have the antidote with the Hickson Trophy. This is an annual team competition named after the original sponsors and hosted......

OVER 90’s ACHIEVEMENTS

For many years our Association has awarded certificates of achievement to bowlers who have reached their 90th birthday and are still active. I have already awarded two this year to two bowlers who are very active bowlers and both winning most of their matches and......

Over 80s First Round Draw

  WHILST most eyes will be on the outcome of the General Election on July 4 ten bowlers from the Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association leagues will start their campaign to win the 2024 Over 80s individual competition.    Thirteen bowlers have entered the competition so......

NEW VENUE FOR WAKEFIELD MATCH

Huddersfield’s next match is against Wakefield on Friday the 28 June commencing at 1.00 pm. The Away venue is Outwood WMC and the team is as follows: D Pollard, T Poulter, A Cooper, G Senior, M Gilbert (c), R Stopford, D Hewitt, T Butterfield. Reserves: E Haigh,......

Longwood are 2024 Team Knock Out Champions – Full results and picture gallery.

  Another finals day and another afternoon of blue skies to welcome bowlers and spectators to Kirkheaton Con for the 2024 team Knock Out final. Both finalists, Longwood BC and Cowcliffe BC, were no strangers to team finals. Longwood were hoping to add the Team......

TEAM KO FINAL 2024

The HVBA’s first team final of 2024 takes place at Kirkheaton Conservative Club on Friday 21 June, start time 1.30. Longwood playing off 9 versus Cowcliffe Libs off 5 are not new to finals but neither has lifted this trophy before. The programmes are printed......

LAST CALL FOR OVER 80’s

Only one more week to go before entries close on 24 June for this competition which is always fought keenly by our octogenarions. The present entries are shown on Bowlsnet and the prelims/first round will be on polling day, 4 July. Competitors will only be......

HUDDS VICTORY IN LOCAL DERBY

Report by David Armitage, the Huddersfield home team manager. A good win for the Huddersfield home side beating Halifax by 20 points to 8. 3 winners and 1 loser in each half. Good wins for Andy Carter and Peter Kain and a brilliant comeback for Stephen Haigh......

HUDDS vs HALIFAX TABLE TOPPER

Our Huddersfield Inter-District team is currently lying third in the table on 96 points and breathing down the necks of leaders Bradford on 102 and second placed Halifax on 101 who we play this Friday 14th June. Playing to an away/home format the away fixture......

How we came close to no competitions in 2024

For the second year running we were facing a season without a Competition Secretary. In 2022 it was only possible to put on a full complement of competitions thanks to the generosity and hard work of Dave Sykes who took on the roles of both......

HUDDERSFIELD VICTORS OVER LOWLY CASTLEFORD

Reported by David Armitage, manager of the Huddersfield Home team. A much better result for Huddersfield in third round of Yorkshire County Vets League. Home side winning 26-2 and away side losing 12-16 and an overall score of 38-18. However this result was bettered by......

2024 Over 70s Winner Mick Cox – Full results and picture gallery.

  Congratulations to Mick Cox of Lockwood Con. our winner of the 2024 Over 70s final today. Mick was presented with his trophy and winners cheque by hvba President Richard Armitage. You will notice Mick came well prepared with microphone in hand to thank everyone......

HUDDERSFIELD vs CASTLEFORD

On Friday 31 May our opponents are Castleford, 1 pm start and the teams and venues are: Away at Allerton Bywater Green, Community Centre, Station Road, WF10 2BP. T Butterfield, A Cooper, M Gilbert (c), Edwin Haigh, P Hopkinson, D Pollard, G Senior, R Stopford. Reserves: D......

OVER 70’s TROPHY FINAL

Thursday 30 May is the final day of the Over 70’s Trophy at Lockwood Conservative Club, start time 1.30 pm. This will be our second final of the season after an excellent Pairs comp at Almondbury Liberal Club. It’s also one of our oldest competitions......

CHAMPIONS SHADE FIXTURE AGAINST HUDDS

Report from David Armitage, the home team manager. An improvement in Huddersfield home result with 5 winners and a score of 17 – 11 but we lost ground overall with the away side going down by 19 – 9 and the overall result showing a......

HUDDERSFIELD vs TITLE HOLDERS

This coming Friday, 17 May, Huddersfield face their first stiff task of the 2024 campaign against Leeds who surprised everyone in 2023 coming from nowhere to win the title. The away team play at Harehills Park, directions below, and the team is: T. Butterfield, A.......

2024 Pairs Competition – Full results and picture gallery

    The Pairs finals was a closely fought event played out under beautiful skies. The quality and closeness of play provided a great afternoons entertainment for everyone who turned out at Almondbury. The winning Waterloo pairing of Ian Lunn and Alan Stephenson added a......

2024 Pairs winners Ian Lunn and Alan Stephenson

Congratulations to Ian Lunn and hvba Treasurer Alan Stephenson (above with President Richard Armitage) who found themselves in the money when they clinched the 2024 Pairs Shield at Almondbury Liberal Bowling Club. The full results and picture gallery will follow shortly:        ......

STUTTERING START FOR HUDDERSFIELD

Match report from David Armitage, the home team manager. An under par performance from home team at start of the Yorkshire County Vets season.   Fortunate to scrape a 14 – 14 draw with Skipton. Only 3 winners and winning the aggregate by 1 point.......

HUDDERSFIELD KICK-OFF 2024 CAMPAIGN

The date is Friday 3 May, the venue Meltham S&SC and the time is 1 pm and Huddersfield line-up against Skipton. The home team squad is Alan Bamforth, John Bloomer, Andy Carter, Tony Cross, Ashley Daykin, Robert Dickinson, Stephen Haigh, Peter Kain, Ray Whitwam and......

Over 70s singles competition green allocations

HVBA OVER 70s SINGLES VENUES Rounds of 32 and 16 to be played on Thursday 25 April 2024 The event start time is 1.30pm prompt. Please arrive by 1.15pm as the ACTUAL draw will be at 1:30pm at the venue. Also please remember to bring......

Pairs Knock-out green allocations

The Pairs Knock-out first round takes place on Thursday 18th April and the draw to allocate players to our two host greens, Thongsbridge BC and Brockholes BC, has been completed. Details are below. The start time at both venues is 1.30pm prompt when the draw......

Well Bowled Fight-back of the Year Competition 2024

“Fight-back of the Year” is back, bigger and even better than before with some fantastic bowling luggage and accessories up for grabs.   Last year our “Fight-back of the Year” Competition celebrated some incredible games where players battled from a long way back to snatch......

VETERANS BOWLING LEAGUE ADDS THE PREMIERSHIP TOUCH

THANKS to our friends at Denby Dale we now have an ‘early’ fixture on alternative weeks and a lunchtime fixture to boot! All home matches of the Denby Dale 6-man team will start at 10:30am so they kicked off our season with a fixture against......

CLICK AND PAY ON THE DAY!

CLICK AND PAY ON THE DAY! Bowlers wishing to enter any of the individual or pairs competitions organised by the Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association can now do so online and pay their entrance fee on the day of their first match. With postal charges increasing......

Important information for the new season

With the new 2024 season fast approaching there are a few things for players to be aware of this year:   Prerequisite “three games” waived for selected competitions We have the largest number of teams entered in the leagues for over a decade, which means......

Greenhead Park – PLEASE KEEP OFF THE GREEN!

Greenhead Park BC have asked us to remind bowlers that the Greenhead Park green is closed until the start of the new season on April 1st. Unfortunately a number of bowlers from other clubs have been using the green and there is concern about the......

GEORGE NASH FUNERAL ARRANGEMENT

I have been asked by George’s friends to advise bowlers that the funeral is at Huddersfield Crematorium at 10.30 am on Thursday 11 April.   First published on 7 March GEORGE NASH PLAYS HIS LAST CORNER Last April I attended a very pleasant celebration at......

DAVE SYKES BECOMES LIFE MEMBER

At our recent AGM David Sykes was elected as a Life Member of Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association. At a hastily convened Management Committee meeting whilst David was otherwise occupied we agreed to bestow this accolade on David at the end of proceedings and I had......

Competition Secretary

We are very pleased to announce that Paul English of Primrose Hill Liberal Club has stepped forward to offer his services as Competition Secretary. As well as an abundance of enthusiasm Paul brings with him a background in sports media and experience helping run rugby......

2024 LEAGUE DIVISIONS & CALENDAR

With all team entries now received the league structures for 2024 have been established. The total number of teams entered for the 10-man league is again 60. While Bradley & Colne have withdrawn their team (and entered the 6-man instead) this has been counter balanced......

MORE TEAMS FOR 2024

Monday 8 January was the deadline for clubs to submit their teams for the 2024 season and it showed a healthy increase in the number of teams playing in our leagues. The 10-man league which plays on Tuesdays lost a team from Division 2 when......

2024 INTER-DISTRICT LEAGUE

The 2024 fixtures for the Yorkshire Inter-District Veterans league have been published on Bowlsnet. There’s yet another addition to league structure with Aire and Wharfe joining the league from 2024. This follows their entry to the Hickson Trophy in 2023 and a very creditable semi-final......

2024 COMP HOSTED BY BRADFORD

The 2024 Yorkshire Veterans’ Crown Green Bowling Competition (Hickson Trophy) is due to be hosted by Bradford. The rota for hosting now runs to 2036 when it will return to Halifax after they hosted a very successful competition in 2023. 12 teams competed in Halifax......

ASSOCIATION DONATES £550 TO THE KIRKWOOD

On Friday 24 November HVBA presented a wopping cheque to The Kirkwood for £550. This is the third year running and our donations are now over £1500 since running the inaugural John Hoyle Memorial Trophy in 2021. John Hoyle was General Secretary for four years......

TROPHY TIME AT GREENHEAD PARK

On Tuesday 7 November our President Frank Greenwood was invited to the Junction Inn at Gledholt for the annual prize presentation for Greenhead Park Veterans Bowling Club. Unfortunately Frank couldn’t attend for health reasons and the writer deputised at a very hospitable gathering. Greenhead Park......

Fightback of the Year 2023

Congratulations to John Topham of Greenhead Park who is our 2023 Fightback of the Year winner. John is seen above receiving his trophy this week from hvba Vice President Richard Armitage. John also received a voucher for £50 to spend at Well Bowled which he......

October 2023 End of season presentations

The 2023 half-year General Meeting took place earlier this month. Below are some photos from the presentations made by President Frank Greenwood: Above President Frank Greenwood presents the Special Achievement award to Lockwood Con’s Eddie Haigh in recognition of their seven successive years as Division......

Competition Secretary vacancy

Can you help run our Veterans Association? The Association currently has a vacancy for an individual, or alternatively two people in a ‘job share’, to act as Competition Secretary next year. We have to fill this position if singles and pairs competitions are to take......

NEW NAME ON THE CUP

On Friday 6 October the final rounds of the John Hoyle Cup, played at Brockholes produced a new name on the cup and a new bowler on the block destined to win more of our trophies. The new format for the competition drew quarter finalists......

FINAL FINAL

It’s the final final of the veterans bowling season, the finale in fact! Friday 6 October at Brockholes Bowling Club, 1.30 pm This season has brought some changes to this competition, the entry requirements were relaxed and the entry fee reduced and it resulted in......

CONGRATULATIONS – ARNOLD ROBERTS

On Monday 25 September President Frank Greenwood presented a congratulatory certificate to Arnold Roberts to commemorate him still bowling at 90 years-old. The event took place at Marsh Libs where Arnold’s Shepley B team were playing their last match of the season. Arnold, who is......

LAST CALL FOR ENTRIES

The entry deadline for the John Hoyle Memorial Trophy has been extended to midnight Tuesday 26 September. Bowlsnet is currently showing 25 but several more have entered through this site and the figure is now nudging towards 32 who will play the first round down......

GRAHAM HIRST LIFTS ROSEBOWL

The 2023 Rosebowl champion is Graham Hirst from Lowerhouses CBC, but it was tightest final you could imagine beating Ray Whitwam 21-20. The last 8 played on Friday 22 September at a sunny Netherton Con green. The line-up featured Paul Rangeley who has sponsored the......

ROSEBOWL FINAL

Another day and another final. This one is our most prestigious individual competition, a comp that’s been run every year except the Covid year since the creation of our association. The final, sponsored by Paul Rangeley, who is also featured in the line up, will......

LONGWOOD BISTRO WINNERS – WITH FULL PHOTO GALLERY

But it was anything but a walk in the park and Brockholes pushed them all the way. Division1 vs Division 3 – everyone thought Longwood were odds on favourites but Brockholes showed exactly why they’d overcome the odds in the earlier rounds of the competition.......

BISTRO BROCKHOLES v LONGWOOD

The Bistro competition final is this coming Thursday 21 September, 1.30 pm at Almondbury Bowling Club. All 60 of the 10-man league teams started off on the road to Almondbury in May and the climax is on Thursday at a new venue as Brockholes are......

ALL CHANGE FOR THE JOHN HOYLE TROPHY

The association has reluctantly had to change both the venue and dates of the John Hoyle Memorial Trophy to allow remedial work on the green at Moldgreen Con/Huddersfield Recreation. This event has become the finale to our season and has been played at Huddersfield Recreation......

OUTLANE STKO CHAMPIONS 2023

The Sub-Team Knockout final was played in glorious sunshine on an immaculate Broad Oak green today, Thursday 14 September. The competition is played in the same format as the 10-man league matches with four singles and three pairs except that the only thing that matters......

EDDIE HAIGH 2023 OVER 80’S CHAMPION

On Friday 8 September the Over 80’s semi-finals and final saw Eddie Haigh of Lockwood Con fame lift the coveted trophy for the first time. The preliminary rounds of the competition had been blighted by no shows resulting in bowlers getting to the quarter-finals without......

PRESIDENT GETS ONE TOO!

During the summer months Frank Greenwood has been visiting greens to present the associations 90 years achievement certificates to those bowlers who are still bowling at 90 years old. Last Friday the boot was on the other foot when the writer had the pleasure of......

VICTORS AND VANQUISHED

The final of the Julie Fuller Trophy took place on Friday 8 September at a new venue for this particular competition. Netherton Con and Thongsbridge A competed in what turned out to be a tightly run affair with only 5 points separating the victors Netherton......

SUB-TEAM KO FINAL

We’re into September and it’s the business end of the season and we have another Final day on Thursday 14 September at Broad Oak, 1.30 pm. We have Outlane vs Huddersfield Recreation, both in Division 3 and both off 5 handicap but in very different......

Start time of ROSEBOWL ROUND 1 Thursday 7th Sept now 1:00pm (brought forward from 1:30 due to hot weather)

An amber hot weather warning has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency for our region. As a consequence, and in accordance with our hot weather guidelines, Round 1 will be starting at the earlier time of 1:00pm. This is to accommodate additional breaks......

GOLCAR LIBS, FRIDAY 8 SEPTEMBER

Well two finals actually! First we have the semi-finals of the over 80’s tournament. We have the current champion, and homester, Frank Greenwood off 2 versus Eddie Haigh off scratch in one semi and Trevor Sykes off 2 versus what must be our first Portuguese......

LEEDS ON THE WINNERS PODIUM

With all the intriguing possibilities of the last matches in the Yorkshire Veterans Inter-District League the league table looks surprisingly similar to that before this round of matches, with Leeds topping the table ON 250 points, Huddersfield just 8 points behind on 242, West Riding finished......

ROSEBOWL ROUND 1 Thursday 7th Sept 1:00pm (brought forward from 1:30 due to hot weather)

Following the deadline for entries 31 players will contest this years Rosebowl KO. Round 1 will take place at Almondbury Lib and Springwood BC on Thursday 7th Sept 1:00pm. Players please check the list for your venue.  ...

Broad Oak bowling pair are July Fight-back winners

Congratulations to Broad Oak bowlers Alan Ainley and Mike Stringer our July winners in the Well Bowled Fight-back of the Year competition. Playing away from home for their 10-man team Alan and Mike made a terrific come back after finding themselves 3-20 down with thirteen......

FINAL ROUND OF INTRIGUING CAMPAIGN

On Friday 1 September the destination of the Grouse trophy will be determined but it could go to any one of 5 times. A helicopter will be circling with the trophy between Halifax, Bradford, Leeds, Huddersfield and wherever West Riding call their home. Leeds currently......

FINALISTS

On Friday 25 August the finalists of the Julie Fuller Trophy were confirmed as Netherton Con and Thongsbridge who both overcame Division 2 opponents Slaithwaite and Holmfirth respectively, each having a 4 advantage from the handicap. Netherton Con overcame Slaithwaite quite comfortably but Thongsbridge had......

GOLCAR LIBS TEAM KO CHAMPIONS

On Thursday 24 August Golcar Libs A team overcame Cowcliffe Libs in what turned out to be a one-sided final to win the Team Knockout Trophy for the second year running. The trophy had new sponsors this year and was hosted by Kirkheaton Con on......

HANDICAPS

We are now receiving entries for the John Hoyle Trophy which is the finale to our season. As announced earlier we have extended entries in an endeavour to make it a bumper event and we can finish on a high. In addition to present and......

Congratulations to Walter Pell

Congratulation to Walter Pell on reaching his 90th milestone. Walter plays for Lindley BC in the Brighouse vets and for Marsh United B in our hvba 10 man league. So it was an ideal opportunity for President Frank Greenwood to catch up with Walter this......

HUDDS NARROW DEFEAT, BUT STILL IN CONTENTION

On Friday 11 August Huddersfield suffered their second consecutive defeat this season in the penultimate round of a very tightly contested league but are still in with a shout of the title thanks to their early season form. Bradford won the match 30-26 but other......

CONGRATULATIONS DEREK AINLEY

On Tuesday 8 August it was the writers privilege to present a 90 year Certifimcate of Achievement to Derek Ainley of Huddersfield RUBC. Derek wasn’t selected that day when his team were playing at Ravensknowle Park but if the team had needed him I’ve no......

CURRENT OVER 80’s CHAMPION QUALIFIES FOR FINAL

The first preliminary rounds of the Over 80’s competition took place today at Marsh United and Paddock I&C. The qualifiers will be posted later and also on Bowlsnet but the current Champion and looking to extend his run of titles, our President Mr Frank Greenwood,......

PENULTIMATE ROUND

Friday 11 August at 1.00 pm is the start for Huddersfield’s final push for the 2023 title versus Bradford. We’ll be trying to bolster our narrow 6 point lead over West Riding and the new kids on the block Leeds ahead of the final match......

CALL FOR ENTRIES

The grand finale of our season is the John Hoyle Memorial Trophy and 2023 will the third running of the competition sponsored by the Hoyle family in memory of one of our hardest working Presidents and General Secretary. It is also an HVBA community project......

OVER 80’s PRELIM & ROUND 1 Friday 4th August 1:30pm

There are 21 players contesting this years over 80’s individual KO. Prelim and round 1 will be held at the venues listed below. Players please ensure you are at the relevant green by 1:15pm for a 1:30 start. Good luck all. The draw will be......

HUDDERSFIELD LOSE BUT STILL TOP THE TABLE

Round 5 of the Yorkshire Inter-District Veterans League resumed on Friday 28 July after a five week break for the Hickson Trophy. The Huddersfield home team played Leeds at Marsh United whilst Leeds entertained the away team at Rothwell. Huddersfield lost both legs of the......

Norman Priestly notches up another win as he celebrates reaching his 90th

Congratulations to Norman Priestly of Netherton Con who this week was presented with a 90th Achievement Certificate. Norman has some 20 years experience and is still bowling on a regular basis, so President Frank Greenwood was hoping to catch up with him at his home......

Congratulations to Bob Harper our June Fight-back winner.

Congratulations to Lockwood Con bowler Bob Harper who is our June winner in the Well Bowled Fight-back of the Year competition. Yet again our judge Nick Blackburn of Well Bowled had a difficult decision to make with some outstanding entries. In the end Bob just......

WHAT WE DO FOR OUR SPORT!

The writer attended the most recent TRY BOWLING event in Greenhead Park on 23 July, the fourth of 5 scheduled dates and the third to be blighted by atrocious weather. It was looking fairly forlorn but two ladies did attend after seeing a promotion and......

HUDDERSFIELD TAKE ON TITLE CHALLENGERS

The Inter-District league continues this coming Friday, 28 July when one of the key features will be Huddersfield taking on one of the title challengers, Leeds. This is the first year that Leeds have entered the competition since 2019, pre Covid and pre the reduction......

John Stoner reaches 90th milestone

Congratulations to John Stoner of Denby Dale Bowling Club who this week was presented with a 90th Achievement Certificate. John is a recent convert to crown green bowling, having taken up the sport three years ago when he stopped playing golf. Pictured is John receiving......

AND THE WINNERS WERE…

WEST RIDING What a contrast on finals day compared to the blistering sunny day of the round robins on 7 July. Friday 14 July started with a drizzle at both semi-finals venues, two more testing greens were chosen by the hosts Halifax. Halifax having qualified......

HICKSON TROPHY FINALS

Huddersfield bowed out of this years Hickson Trophy narrowly losing to West Riding. The results of the round robin stage of the tournament played Friday 7 July was: Group 1 played at Hipperholme BC, Aire & Wharfedale 488, Wakefield 419, Castleford 352 Group 2 played......

PREVIEW

The Yorkshire Veterans’ Crown Green Bowling Competition, proverbially known as the Hickson Trophy after the initial sponsors, kicks off on Friday 7 July. Inter-district teams are on a rota to host the competition and this year the honour falls upon Halifax. Entrants have traditionally been......

Congratulations to Paul Harburn our May Fight-back winner.

With holidays getting in the way we are a little late announcing the result but many congratulations to Paul Harburn who is our May winner in the Well Bowled Fight-back of the Year competition. It was another tough job for our judge Nick Blackburn of......

DENIS GARNER & PAUL WINTERBURN NEW OVER 70’S PAIRS CHAMPS

A great days bowling yesterday at Lowerhouses BC who hosted and sponsored the over 70’s pairs cup finals day. Denis Garner and Paul Winterburn from Netherton Con are the new champions after defeating John Abbot and Peter Kain from Lockwood 21-17 in an exciting final.......

HUDDERSFIELD GO TOP

Huddersfield took on Wakefield in the Round 4 match of the Inter-District League on Friday 23 June. The first away team defeat of the season took place at Outwood WMC, report from Alan Sharpe, the away team manager. Just one man for them and one......

TRIBUTE TO DERRICK RADLEY

DERRICK RADLEY 1930 -2023 Derrick was raised a stone’s throw away from Skelmanthorpe Central Bowling Club and spent all his bowling life there in which time he filled every position within the club. Not an outstanding bowler, but no dummy either, his main claim to......

BOWLS WORLD MOURNS DERRICK RADLEY

We have been advised that Derrick  Radley died yesterday (19 June 2023) at the age of 94. Derrick was well known throughout the area and represented Huddersfield at Yorkshire level. The most recent Yorkshire handbook sees him listed as Treasurer and Secretary for eleven year......

ROUND 4 OF INTER-DISTRICT LEAGUE

The next round of the Yorkshire Veterans Inter-District League takes place this coming Friday 23 June where Huddersfield take on Wakefield. The home team have opted for a change of venue to Marsh United, Thongsbridge having already hosted 3 of the 4 permitted games, the......

CORDIAL MATCH AT ALMONDBURY LIBS

As though it was not enough of an all liberal affair with Golcar Libs playing Lindley Libs the hosts Almondbury Libs made it a day to remember at the team knockout match. The Almondbury Liberal club ladies (Heather Dyson and friend) provided a continuous supply......

HUDDERSFIELD PLAY OUT A SCORE DRAW WITH WEST RIDING

On Friday 9 June Huddersfield came up against what they considered their main rivals for the championship and whilst they played out a 28-28 draw over the Home and Away fixtures Leeds sneaked up on the rails to pip Huddersfield by 2 points at the......

HUDDERSFIELD VS WEST RIDING

Round 3 of this years Yorkshire Veterans Inter-District Bowling League takes place this coming Friday, 9 June when Huddersfield take on West Yorkshire. West Yorkshire are the reigning champions from 2022 when Huddersfield were unusually ranked fourth. Huddersfield are currently top of the table with......

NEW NAMES ON THE PAIRS SHIELD

Thursday 1 June 2023 saw Andy Carter and Steve Mallinson of Marsh United lift the trophy and £120 prize at a cold but welcoming Almondbury Liberal club, sponsors of the competition. The winning pair saw off two pairs from Longwood, Ian Crawford and Barry Tinker......

HUDDERSFIELD vs CASTLEFORD MATCH REVIEW

There’s no news like old news! Photo shows Peter Kain who played number 1 with his opponent John Lynch and the referee Ray Tunnacliffe at the start of the game. John Lynch got off to a good start and was 10 – 3 up after......

TRY BOWLING PROMOTION

Huddersfield Bowls Development, an initiative from this association, are holding their next Try Bowling event in Greenhead Park on Sunday 18 June. The last two events have been blighted by awful weather and the last event also clashed with Huddersfield Towns last match of  the......

OVER 70’S PAIRS START DATE DELAYED

Due to a lower than hoped for number of entries for the over 70’s pairs the competition will now be delayed until Thursday 22nd June where qualifying games will be played on 2/3 greens down to the last four pairs for finals day at Lowerhouses......

Colin Firth reaches 90th milestone

Congratulations to Colin Firth who was yesterday presented with a 90th Achievement Certifcate by hvba President Frank Greenwood at Greenhead Park prior to their match agains Marsh Liberal Club in the 6 Man league. Frank was given a very warm welcome on the day and......

Stan Hoyle and John Taylor fight-back to win in April.

We are pleased to announce our first winners in the new Well Bowled Fight-back of the Year competition. All the contenders for April pulled something special out of the bag and it was a tough job for our judge Nick Blackburn of Well Bowled. But......

HUDDERSFIELD vs CASTLEFORD

Huddersfield’s next opponents are Castleford and the match is once again being playing at Thongsbridge on Friday 19 May commencing at 1300, the team is the same as played against Skipton. J Bloomer, R Dickinson, B Gibson, S Haigh, P Kain, G Sigsworth, R Whitwam,......

PAIRS SHIELD ROUND 1 at LINDLEY LIB on Thursday 18/05/2023 – 1:30pm

16 pairs remain and will battle it out this week to determine the final 8.  THE DRAW WILL BE MADE ON THE DAY Alan Crowther/David Walkden (2)      Longwood Alan Leonard/Tim Bolton (3)               Golcar Lib Allen Chapman/Baldwin Walsh......

HUDDERSFIELD GET OFF TO A FLYER

Friday 5 May saw the first round of the seasons Inter-District Veterans Bowling League where Huddersfield had a commanding win against Skipton. The overall result was a 45 -11 in favour of Huddersfield with the away team contributing 23 of those points. Our picture shows......

BOB BOOTH WINS HIS FIRST EVER CROWN GREEN MATCH

What’s so special about that I hear you say? Well Bob is registered blind and is very partially sighted only being able to see a couple of yards in front of him and discern huge objects across the green. Keith Collins of Huddersfield Rec recommended......

TIGHT GAMES AND FIGHTBACKS IN OVER 70’s FINAL

The over 70’s final took place at Lockwood Con on Thursday 27 April and was won by Graham Hirst of Lowerhouses. 3 of the 7 games were won to all but whilst there were a couple of outstanding fightbacks. Graham Hirst, the new Over 70’s......

2023 CAMPAIGN

The 2023 Inter-District kicks off Friday 5 May with Huddersfield playing Skipton. The home match starts 1 pm at Thongsbridge and the away team are at Skipton Whinfield. The teams are: Away at  Skipton Whinfield Donald Booth, Tony Butterfield, Malcolm Gilbert (Captain), Edwin Haigh, Derek......

OVER 70’S FINALS DAY, WILL HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF?

Thursday 27/04/2023 – 1:30pm at Lockwood Con With last years winner (Eddie Haigh) and runner up (Tim Poulter) both in the last 8 and in separate halves of the draw a repeat of last years final is on the cards. However I am sure the......

HAPPY 100TH GEORGE

On Tuesday 18 April I had the pleasure of carrying out a presentation to George Nash to commemorate his 100th birthday on 12 April. I was standing in for Frank Greenwood, our President, who is unfortunately in Calderdale Royal Infirmary with a bronchial condition. Huddersfield......

CLOSING DATES EXTENDED

In an effort to encourage more entries individual competition closing dates have been extended as follows…. Pairs Shield – Closing Date now 07/05/23 – 1st Round 11/05/23 Over 70’s Pairs Shield – Closing Date now 28/05/23 – 1st Round 02/06/23 Over 80’s Trophy – Closing......

WATTS WINS LOWER DIVISIONS TITLE

David Watts of Meltham won the first trophy of the year at a cold and windy Outlane bowling green on Thursday 13 April. The Lower Divisions Individual Trophy is aimed at bowlers plying their trade in Divisions 3, 4 and 5 of the 10-man league.......

Incorrect sharing of player information

On 30 March 2023 an email was sent to the official representatives of 23 Veterans League member clubs asking for help to bring Bowlsnet up to date with players details. This included attachments with the name, date of birth and BCGBA number of 998 players......

Well bowled sponsors Fightback of the Year competition

We are pleased to announce our new “Fight-back of the Year” competition will be sponsored for 2023 by Well Bowled – stockists of all things bowling. Every month a ‘Fight-back of the Month’ award will recognise the player(s) who have made the most impressive recovery......

New season, new rules.

With a new season almost upon us all team captains and players should make sure they are familiar with the match play and competition rules for the year, especially as there have been some key changes for 2023.  The full set of rules are available......

Allan Dobson

It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of Allan Dobson yesterday, previous President and Life Member of the Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association, and highly respected county referee. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to all of Allan’s family and friends. A......

YEAR BOOK COLLECTION

The 2023 HVBA Year Book/My Bowling Diary is ready for collection by Club Reps on Monday 27 March at 11-12 noon at Paddock I&C. The publication follows the format we trialled in 2022 when it was widely acclaimed. The diary section gives you week by......

Get your entries in for the Lower Divisions and Over 70’s Individual Competitions

A reminder that the Lower Divisions Individuals and Over 70s Competitions start early this year Due to a packed schedule for this season these competitions are starting earlier than usual and therefore closing dates for entries are that much sooner: Lower Divisions Individual Competition entries......

Announcing a new competition for 2023

  Every season we hear about epic games with players fighting from a long way back to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. We’ll, it’s time to start celebrating those gritty, game winning recoveries and we are pleased to announce the brand new Well......

Updated Handicaps

As some have noticed, the handicaps initially entered in Bowlsnet for the Bistro, Team KO and Sub Team KO competitions were not correct. Unfortunately gremlins managed to get into the works and we ended up with some quite strange numbers in the system. It was......

ARE YOU READY?

No, I’m not talking about the 3 April and the start of our bowling season! Do you think that crown green bowling and Huddersfield is ready for this? https://www.thebowlsclubldn.com/ Anyone interested in making it happen contact me!  ...

FIFTY-SECOND AGM OF ASSOCIATION

The end of the Associations 53rd year brought our 52nd Annual General Meeting reporting on the 2022 season and looking forward with optimism to 2023. Alan Stephenson, our Treasurer gave a conservative outlook saying we should break even at the end of this financial year......

PETER MUFF LEGACY

At today’s AGM of the Association it was announced that the late Peter Muff, a Life Member of our Association had left the association 1/50th of his estate. Peter was well known in bowling circles as the bowling correspondent of the Huddersfield Examiner. Not only......

2023 CALENDAR – INDIVIDUAL AND PAIRS COMPS NOW ADDED

The 2023 veterans bowling calendar has been added to the site. Click here https://www.hvba.co.uk/2022-calendar-fixtures-comps-and-finals/ or find under Association tab....

RE-BALANCING OF LEAGUES

In July 2022 the Management Committee agreed to balance the divisions from the 14,14,12,12 and 10 format of previous seasons and informed clubs of this decision. We advised clubs that 2 promotions from each division would be honoured and that it was likely that more......

ANNOUNCEMENT

Alan Hirst has stepped down as our President a couple of weeks before he was due to hand over the chain of office to Frank Greenwood at the AGM on 20 February. This has been Alan’s second spell as President after joining the Management Committee......

2023 FIXTURES

The fixtures for the Yorkshire Inter-District Veterans League have now been published on Bowlsnet. 2023 sees the return of Leeds to the fold so we have a league of 8 districts without any byes this year. The fixtures for Huddersfield are: Friday 5 May versus......

INDIVIDUAL AND PAIRS COMPS

Steve Lee, our new Competitions Secretary will be looking to revitalise the individual and pairs competitions this year to reverse the decline in numbers and attract more entrants. Some of the changes will be: The period between preliminary rounds and the final will be condensed......

THE BIG REVEAL

Our fixtures for the 2023 season will be published on Bowlsnet at 9 am on Friday. We’ve tried to find a celebrity for the launch but David Sykes comes in cheaper!  ...

SNOW STOPS MEETING – THE SEQUEL

Meanwhile, back at Meltham, the deliberations about the league structures continued. In my last report I said that 5 x 12 team divisions were likely but the committee were considering another solution when snow stopped discussions. The committee felt this this was the ‘simple’ solution......

SNOW STOPS MEETING

The Management Committee were due to meet today at Meltham to start planning for the veterans bowling season. There was a full turnout including our new Competition Secretary Steve Lee and John Pearman who has come forward with a view to taking over as General......

NEW YEAR GREETINGS

HVBA wish all our bowlers and officials at club and association level a very happy and healthy 2023. Each of the last few years has brought it’s own challenges and we expect 2023 will do so as we endeavour to maintain our pre-eminence as one......

HVBA DONATE £400

Our Association is donating £400 to Kirkwood Hospice. The hospice is the chosen charity of John Hoyle’s family. 2022 is the second year that we have run the John Hoyle Trophy in memory of our President who passed away in 2020. The trophy has replaced......

NEW FORMAT FOR 2023

The Yorkshire Veterans’ Crown Green Bowling Competition, aka the Hickson Trophy after the original sponsors, will have a new format for 2023. The 2021 competition was hosted and won by Huddersfield whilst the 2022 event was hosted by Skipton and won by Sheffield. It has......

SHEPLEY 6-MAN CHAMPIONS

2022 6-man Divison 1 champions Shepley A are seen here at their home ground in proud possession of the McEwan Younger Shield for the second year running. In retaining the shield Shepley were the only Div 1 team to end the season undefeated at home.......

CELEBRATORY HALF-YEARLY MEETING FOR THE VETS

The 2022 half-yearly General Meeting of HVBA was held on Monday 17 October at Meltham Sports Complex. A change of the usual agenda gave the meeting a celebratory and feel good feel at the end of a very successful season of veterans bowling in Huddersfield.......

PRIZE PRESENTATION & GENERAL MEETING

The Association’s Prize Presentation and 6-monthly general meeting is being held at Meltham Sports Complex on Monday 17 October at 2 pm. All prize winners for the individual and pairs comps will be welcome, as will divisional trophy winners. Club Representative should endeavour to attend......

IAN KINLOCH

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of Ian Kinloch.   Ian has been a stalwart of the Management Committee for many years and more recently the Vice President 2020-2022. Ian took over the Vice Presidents role during a period of......

MICK COX WINS JOHN HOYLE MEMORIAL TROPHY

The rain delayed John Hoyle Memorial Trophy was played out on Sunday 2 October in sunshine on a rapidly drying Huddersfield Recreation green which was a marked contrast to what we left on Friday. The quarter finals were reduced to two by the non appearance......

RAIN STOPS PLAY

How often have we heard that phrase? Well not very often this season when comps have been re-arranged due to the heatwave but it’s happened today. Our flagship tournament, the John Hoyle Memorial Trophy has been postponed until 1.30 on Sunday 2 October. As officials......

TARGET 500

This Friday, 30 September, eight of our top bowlers play in the John Hoyle Trophy and no doubt they’ll have but a single thought – lifting the trophy and pocketing the prize money generously donated by the Hoyle family. However, the Association have their eye......

LOCKWOOD CONS NEW BISTRO CHAMPIONS

On Thursday 22 September Lockwood Cons won the annual Bistro knockout competition for all teams in the 10-man league. Playing off scratch on another rainy day at Brockholes they proved a bridge too far for plucky Linthwaite Hall who had a start of 20 due......

2022 FINALE

We bring the curtain down on our 2022 season with the John Hoyle Trophy on Friday 30 September. This will be the second year where the final individual competition takes place at Huddersfield Recreation starting 1.30 pm. This trophy replaces the Select Players Trophy and......

CAN LINFIT HALL ADD ANOTHER TITLE?

Linthwaite Hall have already won the sub-team knockout and by the time you read this they may have added the Division 3 title to their trophy cabinet and they still have a date with destiny on Thursday. More exactly the Bistro final facing the mighty......

FIRST TROPHY IN THE BAG FOR LINTHWAITE HALL

Linthwaite Hall Bowling Club won what could be the first part of a treble in the Sub Team Knockout final at Broad Oak. On a cool but fine day they were emphatic winners over Marsh Libs who themselves can take credit for punching above their......

SUB-TEAM KO FINAL

Another week another final, and one to savour! Thursday 15 September, 1.30 pm at Broad Oak Bowling Club and it’s the culmination of the competition designed specifically for clubs in the three lower divisions. Division 1 and 2 players are not allowed to bowl in......

QUEENS FUNERAL

The funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II is scheduled for 11 am on Monday 19 September. The day has been declared a bank holiday. Our 6-man league has scheduled fixtures starting 1.30 pm on the same date and the Association has therefore postponed all matches.......

WHAT A FINAL – OVER 70’S PAIRS

The Over 70’s pairs final was played out to an enthralled and very wet crowd at Brockholes Bowling Club. The competition. in it’s second year, is sponsored by DWH of Brockholes and the semi-finals featured a home pairing of Keith Hilton and David Oldham playing......

BROCKHOLES OVER 70’s PAIRS FINAL

This coming Friday, 9 September, we have the semi-finals and final of the Over 70’s pairs starting 1.30 at Brockholes Bowling club. The draw is: P Rangeley & B Gibson(2) Meltham v C Doran & M Thornton (4) Lindley Libs M Cox & P Kain......

ROLL UP YOU INTER-DISTRICT BOWLERS

The John Hoyle Trophy is the finale to our season and will be played Friday 30 September at Huddersfield Recreation in honour of our dearly departed President. The trophy has replaced our Select Players trophy and is competed for by current and ex inter-district players.......

ANDREW WIKE – LOWER DIVISIONS TROPHY WINNER

Andrew Wike of Huddersfield Recreation won the 2022 Lower Divisions trophy on Outlane Bowling Club. Outlane have sponsored this trophy for several years now the last time being 2019 when Chris Sykes was the winner. This is quite a unique trophy in the HVBA trophy......

LOWER DIVISIONS TROPHY

It’s the business end of the season and finals are coming thick and fast, this week it’s the Lower Division Trophy at Outlane Bowling Club on Friday, starting 1.30 pm. The Lower Divisions Trophy doesn’t get much coverage but it’s a unique competition for players......

TEAM KNOCKOUT CHAMPIONS – GOLCAR LIBS A

The Team Knockout 2022 final went the way of Golcar Libs A who beat Lindley Libs A winning 126-105 including the plus 5 handicap that Lindley received. The competition is the same format of the 10-man league with 3 pairs matches and 4 singles but......

2022 TEAM KNOCKOUT

Thursday 18 August brings this season’s first team final for the 10-man leagues with the Team Knockout taking place at Lindley Bowling Club. It’s an all liberal final – Golcar Libs taking on Lindley Libs at one of our most picturesque and well kept greens.......

BISTRO SEMI-FINALISTS

The quarter-finals of the Bistro team knockout were played on Thursday 11 August. The competition is for 5 pairs. The results were: 81 Clayton West  v.  Lockwood Con. A  87 Slaithwaite withdrawn  v.  Cowcliffe (scr)   BYE 93 Lindley Lib. A (+4)  v.  Longwood (scr)  93......

NEW CHAMPIONS

Hemplow Bowling Club was the scene of a giant killing final on Friday 12 August. Neither of the contestants in the final had won the trophy before so there was always going to be a new name on the Shield. Clayton West, a Division 2......

FRANK GREENWOOD 2022 CHAMPION

Frank Greenwood retained his Over 80’s crown on another sweltering day at Hemplow on Friday 12 August. Three of 2021 semi-final line-up made it to the semi’s again in 2022, Mikey Wood from Brockholes being the newcomer to the party and he made his presence......

FINAL 2022 MATCH

Huddersfield play the final match in the Yorkshire Inter-District Veterans League on Friday 19 August against Halifax with only the runners-up spot to play for. West Riding have finished their campaign with 220 points in the bank, Halifax are currently second placed on 170 and......

ALL LIBERAL TEAM KNOCKOUT FINAL

Lindley Libs and Golcar Libs both qualified today for the team knockout final. Longwood Bowling Club were beaten by Lindley Libs A team who played off a handicap of 5 but that wasn’t needed with such an emphatic win 143-101 in favour of Lindley. Meanwhile......

PENULTIMATE ROUND

Round 6 of the Yorkshire Veterans Inter-District League takes place this coming Friday 5 August when Huddersfield take on Bradford at 1 pm. The home team return to their favourite hunting ground of Thongsbridge for the last time this season as the bye-laws state that......

ROSEBOWL

The finals day of the Rosebowl took place on Friday 29 July at Brockholes Bowling Club. The results were: Quarter-finals A Carter (scr) Marsh Utd  21  vs  R Stopford (scr) Rastrick      11 P Kain (scr) Lockwood Con  21  vs  B Gibson (scr) Meltham         13 A......

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS

The semi-finals of the Julie Fuller Trophy were played today 1 August and the results were as follows: 62 Clayton West (+4)  v.  Golcar C&BC (+4)  55 played at Marsh Libs 60 Lockwood con (+4)  v.  Slaithwaite C&BC (+8) 40 played at Primrose Hill Libs.......

BISTRO QUARTER-FINAL DRAW AND VENUES

The quarter-finals of the Bistro team knockout take place on Thursday 11 August at the usual start time of 1.30. The draw and venues are: Clayton West v. Lockwood Con. A at Almondbury Bowling Club Slaithwaite (+12) v. Cowcliffe (scr) at Holmfirth Bowling Club Lindley......

TRY BOWLING – GREENHEAD PARK, SUNDAY

This Sunday brings the culmination of much work by Huddersfield Bowls Development with an event in Greenhead Park, 12 – 5 pm when we’re hoping to attract lots of new bowlers to our sport. The concept of the event and HBD started at our October......

HUDDERSFIELD’S TITLE HOPES SEVERELY DENTED

Friday’s round 5 match against West Riding served a severe blow to Huddersfield’s hopes of retaining the Yorkshire Veterans Inter-District League’s title for a third consecutive year. The Home team had 3 winners at Huddersfield RUBC whilst the Away team could only muster 2 winners......

OVER 90’s PRESENTATIONS

This is an appeal to learn the names of bowlers in their 90’s who are still enjoying our sport. The association has always honoured our bowlers who have reached this milestone. Last year the then President Alan Sharpe toured the greens and made a presentation......

ROUND 5 AND NEW VENUE FOR HUDDERSFIELD

This coming Friday, 22 July brings Round 5 of the 2022 competition and Huddersfield are taking on West Riding, probably a championship decider. West Riding have a lead of 21 over Huddersfield but have played a game more. Even with 56 points available each match......

ADVERSE WEATHER

The Association has refined its position on adverse weather conditions that are forecast for Monday and Tuesday 18 and 19 July. ALL HVBA FIXTURES ARE POSTPONED ON THE ABOVE DATES Fixtures may be re-arranged between captains and the fixture completed before 16 August. All fixtures......

LOWER DIVISIONS TROPHY – FINALS LINE-UP

The preliminary and first rounds of the Lower Divisions Trophy were played at Thorpe Green on Tuesday 12 July (results are on Bowlsnet) and determined the line up for the final. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will be played at Outlane Bowling Club on Friday......

SHEFFIELD 2022 CHAMPIONS

Sheffield ran out worthy winners of the 2022 of the Yorkshire Veterans’ Crown Green Bowling Competition referred to as the Hickson Trophy in honour of the original sponsors. Eight teams competed this year in Skipton who were hosting the competition. The teams were Sheffield and......

ROSE BOWL FINALS DAY LINE-UP

The final eliminating round of the Rose Bowl was played out on Thursday 7 July at Kirkheaton C&BC with a stellar line-up but without the reigning champion, Mick Cox. Paul Rangeley, the competitions sponsor, will have to watch from the sidelines after being defeated by......

SUB-TEAM KNOCKOUT QUARTER FINAL DRAW

The Sub-Team Knockout played down to the last 8 in the competition on Tuesday 5 July, the full results are available at BowlsNet: HuddVets/10Man which now leaves the following teams to play for places in the semi-finals. Linthwaite Hall (+25) v. Marsh United B (+25)......

OVER 70’s PAIRS PRELIMINARY ROUND DRAW

The Over 70’s Pairs competition kicks off at Thongsbridge Bowling Club on Friday 15 July 1.30 pm when 8 pairs will play down to 4 to go through to Round 1 proper. The draw and handicaps are as follows: A Starkey & J Portelli (6)......

HUDDERSFIELD PUT THEIR TITLE ON THE LINE

The reigning holders of the Hickson Trophy are Huddersfield and they have their bags packed courtesy of kitman Bob Haigh who recorded the winners at the 2021 final. This year Skipton are hosting the tournament of the inter-district squads plus Barnsley and Sheffield. Huddersfield’s squad......

TEAM KNOCKOUT QUARTER-FINAL DRAW

The Team Knockout for the top 32 ranking teams is getting down to the serious stage now with the quarter-finals taking place on Thursday 14 September at 1.30 pm. The draw is: Golcar Lib A (scr) v. Marsh United A (+5) On Broad Oak. Lockwood......

SUB-TEAM KNOCKOUT ROUND 2 DRAW

The second round of the Sub-Team Knockout is on Tuesday 5 July at 1.30 pm where 16 teams are reduced to 8. The draw for this round is: Skelmanthorpe Windmill (+20) v. Linthwaite Hall (+25) On Kirkheaton Cons. Marsh United B (+25) v. Holmfirth B......

PAIRS CHAMPIONS REIGN SUPREME

The 2019 pairs champions Tim Poulter and Edwin Haigh kept hold of the trophy in the first defence of their title on Friday 1 July at Almondbury Liberal Club. It wasn’t, however, plain sailing as they had a closely fought quarter-final tie with Mick Fisher......

REVISED LOWER DIVISIONS TROPHY DRAW

Due to 2 entrants having played games in division 1 or division 2 teams a redraw has had to be made from the remaining 17 entrants to comply with our bye laws. The new draw is Preliminary round J Townend (5) Paddock I&C   v   A......

BISTRO ROUND 3 DRAW & VENUE

The next round of the Bistro club knockout takes place on Thursday 21 July at 1.30 pm. The draw is as follows: Netherton Con. A (+8) v. Clayton West (scr) On Almondbury Lib. Denby Dale (+20) v. Lockwood Con. A (scr) On Broad Oak Slaithwaite......

RESOUNDING VICTORY FOR HUDDERSFIELD

Huddersfield resumed their pursuit of a second successive league title. Our picture shows the line-up of the Huddersfield home team playing at Thongsbridge. The team played the Thongsbridge green excellently on a day when the green was absolutely screaming. They recorded 7 out of 8......

ROUND 4 FIXTURE VS SKIPTON

Round 4 of this years Yorkshire Veterans Inter-District League takes place on Friday 24 June with Huddersfield hoping to continue their winning run against Skipton. Huddersfield now trail West Riding in the league table with 79 points whilst West Riding, having played a game more,......

OVER 80’s RESULTS AND FINAL DRAW

The quarter-finals of our Over 80’s knockout comp were played Friday 17 June at Golcar C&BC. The results were: T Sykes (3) Marsh Utd 17 G Walker (3) Kirk Con 21 R Sutton (3) Slaithwaite 21 E Haigh (scr) Lockwood Con 20 F Greenwood (1)......

EDDIE HAIGH – THE FIRST NAME ON 2022 LEADER BOARD

The final of the over 70’s knockout trophy was played yesterday, 17 June, in glorious weather on the Lockwood Cons green. Two Lockwood Cons bowlers lined up with more inter-district players and only a couple of players off handicaps. The green was flying a real......

ROSEBOWL ROUND 2 DRAW

The next round of the Rosebowl Trophy will be played at Kirkheaton C&BC on Thursday 7 July starting 1.30 pm. This is our most prestigious trophy and dates back to 1971 just one year after the Association’s inauguration. Mick Cox, our longest serving champion, hasn’t......

HICKSON TROPHY DRAW & VENUES

The 2022 knockout trophy for inter-district teams is being hosted by the Skipton veterans association. The date is Friday 8 July. Six of the Yorkshire Inter-District Veterans league teams are joined by Barnsley and Sheffield. 12-man teams of over 65 year-old veterans bowlers lock horns......

LOWER DIVISIONS TROPHY – CALL FOR ENTRIES

The draw and entry deadline for the 2022 Lower Divisions Trophy is Monday 27 June so plenty of time to get your entries in either through this website https://www.hvba.co.uk/competition-entry/ or via your club representative. The qualifying rounds are on Tuesday 12 July when there are......

BCGBA Coaching Course 20 May 2022

Training of Huddersfield’s newest bowling coaches started at Lindley Bowling Club with the course being led by the CEO of BCGBA, Mark Bircumshaw. During the day, the attendees came to realise that there’s a lot more to coaching than technique and tactics. Safety and the......

OVER 70’S FINAL DAY

The first final of the year will be the Over 70’s on Thursday 16 June, 1.30 pm and the line-up is: Eddie Haigh (scr) Lockwood Con G Walker (3) Kirkheaton Con M Gilbert (scr) Clayton West P Kain (scr) Lockwood Con J Sharp (1) Rastrick......

ROSEBOWL DRAW

The Rosebowl is the oldest individual competition in the HVBA history dating back to 1971, and the most prestigious. Last played for in 2019 and won by Mick Cox of Lockwood Con. The 34 entrants play down to 16 on Thursday 9 June with the......

OVER 80’S 2ND ROUND AND QUARTER FINAL DRAW

The 2nd round draw for the Over 80’s competition takes place on Friday 10 June, scratch time 1.30 pm. The draw gives Frank Greenwood, the current holder a bye through to the quarter finals where he’ll be drawn against J Webster who also had a......

JULIE FULLER TROPHY QUARTER FINAL DRAW

Following last Monday’s Round 2 ties the next round of this competition for the 6-man teams is: Marsh United A (+4) vs Clayton West (+4) at Brockholes BC Golcar C&BC (+4) vs Brockholes A (scr) at Holmfirth Almondbury Libs (+12) vs Lockwood Con (+4) at......

PAIRS FINALS DRAW

The draw for the quarter final for the pairs final day is: T Poulter & E Haigh (scr) M Fisher & A Balmforth (2) S Lunn & R Mudd (3) G Senior & T Butterfield (2) R Dickinson &I Briggs (scr) T Chatfield & T......

JACK AND JEAN ISHERWOOD VETERANS COMP

This competition is open to all bowlers over 60 years old, male or female. This year a preliminary round is being hosted by Kirkheaton C&BC on Friday 17 June, 10.30 am start and the final is on 20 July, venue to be confirmed. Entry fee......

CROSLAND MOOR – PARKING

We have been asked by Mark Atkinson of Crosland Moor Bowling Club to advise all bowlers playing there to park sensibly and respect their neighbours. The club is no longer permitted to park in the old Manor House car park, bollards have now been installed......

PAIRS DRAW & HANDICAPS FOR ROUND 1

The first round draw for the Open Pairs comp is as follows and the first round proper is played at Crosland Moor with a 1.30 pm scratch, on Thursday 26 May. M Walker & G Walker (3) T Poulter & E Haigh (scr) At Crosland......

HUDDERSFIELD’S MATCHES ROUND 2

Friday 20 May is Round 2 day for the Yorkshire Inter-District Veterans League. The venue for the home game is Thongsbridge Bowling Club and the away team are playing at Castleford Town. The teams are: Teams and reserves (not in playing order or reserve preference)......

OVER 80’S PRELIMINARY DRAW

The preliminary draw of the over 80’s competition  is below. The matches take place on Friday 27 May and will be played at Crosland Moor which is a last minute changed from the original venue. An entrant plays that has not played 3 matches for......

AMENDED HANDICAPS OVER 70’s FIRST ROUND DRAW & VENUES

The first round proper of the Over 70’s competition takes place on Thursday 2 June at 1.30 pm prompt. The draw, handicap and venue for the games are listed below. We reduce 32 to 8 in this round....

AMENDED HANDICAPS OPEN PAIRS DRAW

The preliminary round of the Open Pairs competition will be held on Thursday 19 May scratching at 1.30 pm prompt. This round is played on 3 greens and will reduce numbers to 16 for the first round proper on 26 May. K Manning & G......

OVER 70’s PRELIMS DRAW

The preliminary round takes place on Friday 13 May, at Brockholes Bowling Club, and start time is 1.30 prompt. 9 preliminary matches bowl down to 9 individuals who go through to the 1st round proper draw. The draw is:...

NEW ENTRY DATES FOR COMPS

The association have deferred entry dates to our individual competitions to allow bowlers more time for entries. This is the first year we’ve run individual comps since 2019 and we’re hoping as many bowlers as possible take the chance of another days bowling with veterans......

TEAMS AND VENUE ANNOUNCEMENT

The teams and venues for the opening fixture of the 2022 campaign on Friday 6 May have been announced. Home team ALAN BAMFORTH, KEVIN BROWN,  ANDY CARTER, TONLY CLEGG, MICK COX, ROBERT DICKINSON, BARRY GIBSON, EDDIE HAIGH, PETER KAIN, CARL TAYLOR, ROLAND SWALLOW Manager &......

JUBILEE DATE CHANGE

To avoid a clash with the Jubilee celebrations and the Yorkshire Merit we have changed the date of the final rounds of the pairs comp from 3 June to Thursday 26 May which has been updated in the calendar https://www.hvba.co.uk/2022-calendar-fixtures-comps-and-finals/  ...

2022 YEAR BOOK

Most clubs have now received their year books and we’re receiving some very favourable comments about the new fixture format which we appreciate. The clubs yet to collect their copies are Crosland Moor, Elland C&BC and Marsh Libs who know who to contact to arrange......

WE HAVE WINNERS

The annual raffle for clubs was conducted yesterday at the Management Committee meeting under the strictest security conditions, Camelot would have been proud of the arrangements! And the winners were: Marsh United won £100 with the winning ticket 213 Lindley Bowling Club won £50 with......

YEAR BOOKS – WE HAVE LIFT OFF

The all new 2022 Year Book is now available and club reps are invited to collect your clubs allocation on Friday 8 April between 11 am and 12.30 from Paddock I&C. Extra copies will be available to buy at £1 each. The new diary format......

YEAR BOOK & WEBSITE

Our season starts on Monday and I’m sure everyone will be eager to get back on the green playing competitive bowls. Unfortunately the season will be starting without our new format Year Book which I was personally hoping everyone would be saying WOW! The format......

PETER MUFF, OUR PRESIDENTS REFLECTIONS

Peter Muff, a HVBA Life Member passed away peacefully on Wednesday 2 March aged 92. He will be remembered for his position of Sports Editor for the Huddersfield Examiner, a post he held for many years. His sporting interests were many and varied covering horse......

2022 FIXTURES

The fixtures for Huddersfield’s Inter-District matches were release today. They are: Fri 6th May Huddersfield Home v. Wakefield Away Fri 20th May Huddersfield Home v. Castleford Away Fri 24th Jun Huddersfield Home v. Skipton Away Fri 22nd Jul Huddersfield Home v. West Riding Away Fri......

DOUGLAS BARROWCLOUGH

Thongsbridge Bowling Club sadly announce the death of Douglas Barrowclough, passing away peacefully in his sleep at HRI on Thursday 10 March, aged 88 years. Douglas took up bowling ‘reluctantly’ on his retirement thinking it was an old mans game but said he never regretted......

REFLECTIONS – PETER MUFF

Peter, one of our association’s Life Members passed away recently and www.huddweb.co.uk published an excellent obituary with many personal tributes. The associations newly elected President is penning his views on the contribution that Peter made to the game in general and our association in particular......

ANOTHER NEW COMMITTEE MEMBER

The HVBA Management Committee have welcomed another new member in Peter Allen of Hemplow Bowling Club. Peter has been playing bowls now for three years and is enjoying it immensely. His game has improved over this time and who knows the heights he’ll achieve if......

LOSS OF PETER GREEN

Peter Green, a stalwart and trustee of Brockholes Bowling Club has sadly passed away on Thursday 10 February, aged 82. The funeral will take place on Friday 25 March at 3 pm at Grenoside Crematorium, 5 Skew Hill Lane, Grenoside,  Sheffield S35 8RZ. After the......

NEW MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER

The Management Committee are pleased to announce that Phil Warbrick has agreed to join the committee. Phil responded to the committee’s commitment to help the members clubs with their recruitment by offering his views on the process we should take. He was invited to attend......

2022 CALENDAR

The 2022 calendar has been added to the Association drop down menu of this website so it’s easily accessed throughout the season...

WE’RE ON THE UP

The Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association can now announce that we have an increase of 5 teams competing for the 2022 season. We have lost a 6-man team from Oakfield Tennis and Bowling but some of their members are bowling elsewhere whilst Linthwaite Hall have re-joined......

A BIG THANKYOU

David Sykes our League and Comps Secretary gives a big thumbs up to all league reps for getting in their team intentions before the 10 January deadline. With just one or two teams still to decide it’s clear we’ll have a healthy increase in teams......

RING IN THE NEW

The HVBA wish all our member clubs and bowlers a happy new year and dare we hope for a very normal season? David Sykes, our League and Comps secretary is gradually getting in all the team intentions with only a few outstanding for the 10......

MERRY CHRISTMAS BOWLERS

The Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association wish all our bowlers a wonderful Christmas and we look forward to a 2023 season. Although we’re only half way through our seasonal break the officers of the association are beavering away in preparation for an early start in 2023......

DATES AND OPPONENTS

At a meeting on Friday 5 November the following dates were confirmed for the 2022 season: Round 1 – Friday 6 May Round 2 – Friday 20 May Round 3 – Friday 10 June Round 4 – Friday 24 June Round 5 – Friday 22......

2022 DATE AND DRAW

The draw and date for the 2022 Hickson Trophy was made at the AGM on 5 November. Huddersfield hosted the tournament in 2021 and now have to wait until 2029 to host it again. It’s the turn of Skipton to host the 2022 competition on......

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

That’s Shepley Bowling Club who are celebrating winning the 6-man league first division championship in 2021. Shepley led the division for most of the season but were pushed all the way by Netherton Con and Thongsbridge B and only secured the title on the last......

HALF-YEARLY GENERAL MEETING – THE HIGHLIGHTS

Today, 12 October 2021, was the first opportunity for the Huddersfield Veterans Bowling League to have a half-yearly Council meeting since our Golden Jubilee meeting in February 2021. The meeting came at the end of what has been a very successful bowling season will all......

MICK COX FIRST WINNER OF JOHN HOYLE MEMORIAL TROPHY

The John Hoyle Memorial Trophy has been presented to our Association by the family of the late John Hoyle who sadly died whilst in office as President having been our General Secretary for four years. We felt it fitting that a competition of the elite......

WHAT A SHOUT

The shout from the players and supporters of Marsh United, the victors in the Bistro Trophy, could have been heard back in Marsh. The Final of the Bistro Trophy held at Brockholes Bowling Club on Thursday 23 September was one of the most exciting matches......

THE BISTRO CLIMAX

The Bistro competition reaches it’s climax this coming Thursday, 23 September with Cowcliffe Libs taking on Marsh United for this prestigious trophy. The match is being hosted by Brockholes Bowling Club and starts at 1.30 pm. All teams in the 10-man league participate in this......

FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

This coming Friday sees the inaugural game for the John Hoyle Memorial Trophy. The game is being hosted by Huddersfield Recreation at their Moldgreen Con home starting at 1.30 pm. The new trophy has been donated by John’s family and replaces the Select Players Comp......

LOCKWOOD CON – TEAM KNOCKOUT WINNERS

More pictures from the 2021 Team Knockout played 16 September at Lindley Bowling Club where after a close a game Lockwood Cons beat Longwood Bowling Club. Team photo of the winning team courtesy of David Armitage...

LOCKWOOD RETAIN TEAM KNOCKOUT

Lockwood Cons overcame a tough Longwood team to retain the trophy on a wonderful September day at a resplendant Lindley Bowling Club. The competition follows the same format as 10-man league matches in having three pairs and four singles matches but the title is determined......

TEAM KNOCKOUT THIS THURSDAY

It’s the last month of our season and the finals are coming thick and fast. Last week the sub-team knockout won by Huddersfield Recreation and this week the Team Knockout for the top 32 teams in the league at the start of the season. This......

HUDDERSFIELD RECREATION OVERTURN THE ODDS – IN STYLE

Huddersfield Recreation, the current Section 4 leaders beat Lowerhouses, the current Section 3 leaders, convincingly in the Sub-Team Knockout played at Broad Oak BC. The Rec got off to a flying start with 3 wins out of the first four singles and held a 24......

SUB-TEAM KNOCKOUT

Date: Thursday 9 September Time: 1.30 pm Venue: Broad Oak Bowling Club The contestants are Lowerhouses (+25) v. Huddersfield Rec (+30). The leaders of Section 3 take on the leaders of Section 4, a revitalised Huddersfield Recreation (formerly Canalside) so it will be interesting to......

BISTRO

The semi-finals of the Bistro resulted in the two qualifiers for the final being Cowcliffe Libs and Marsh Utd. Both teams will be off scratch for the final. The final will take place on Thursday 23 September kicking off at 1.30 pm. Venue Brockholes BC.......

THONGSBRIDGE LOSE TWO VETERAN BOWLERS

Thongsbridge bowling club regret to announce the passing of two bowlers, both on Thursday 2 September after long illnesses. Alan Sanders and Patrick Riley last played in the 10-man Section 4 team of 2019. Alan, aged 86 has been a stalwart of the club since......

GREENWOOD DOES IT AGAIN

Frank Greenwood of Golcar Libs won today’s (3 September 2021) final played at Kirkheaton C&BC. 17 entries from bowlers over 80-years old played down to 4 in two rounds of preliminary matches culminating in the semi-finals and finals played in fine but cool conditions on......

SLAITHWAITE WIN

Section C team Slaithwaite C&BC won the final of the Julie Fuller Trophy played at Kirkheaton C&BC today, 3 September. Marsh United won one on the three pairs matches but with the handicaps of 12 for Marsh and 18 for Slaithwaite it was an uphill......

FIRST FINALS OF THE YEAR

Friday 3 September brings the Association’s first finals of the 2021 season and the first for a couple of years. The event is being hosted by Kirkheaton C&BC and starts at 1.30 pm. Kicking off the event will be the Over 80’s semi-finals between Geoff......

BISTRO FINAL

The two qualifiers for the final are Cowcliffe Liberal Club and Marsh United A. Both finalists will be off scratch for the final to be held at Brockholes Bowling Club on Thursday 23 September.  ...

WEAVERS SHED SPONSOR I-D SHIRTS

The Huddersfield Inter-District home team players were proud to be wearing their new shirts generously sponsored by Mr. Jason Knowles of the Weavers Shed, Knowl Road, Golcar. Home team photo of the players, match referee Ray Tunnacliffe and Dougie Mellor representing the sponsor. Missing the......

HUDDERSFIELD WIN INTER-DISTRICT LEAGUE

Friday 27 August 2021 saw the final round of games in the 2021 Yorkshire Veterans Inter-District league which saw a reduced number of teams competing after the withdrawal of Leeds, Castleford and Wakefield. Huddersfield started the campaign with a bye so round by round they......

FINAL ROUND OF MATCHES

The final round of matches in the Inter-District League take place Friday 27 August. The top two teams play each other as Huddersfield take on Halifax  with a 24 point advantage but with 56 points at stake nothing can be taken for granted. The home......

THE FINALS,

The semi-finals and final of the over 80’s competition will be played on Friday 3 September at Kirkheaton C&BC. The draw is: G Firth, Elland C&BC (3) v G Walker, Kirkheaton Con (4) R Sutton, Meltham (3) v F Greenwood, Golcar Lib (scr) Sandwiched between......

NEW NAME ON TROPHY

The final of the Julie Fuller Trophy will be played on Friday 3 September at Kirkheaton C&BC. This will be the same day as the final of the Over 80’s competition – the only individual comp played this year. Therefore a whole day’s bowling to......

SUB-TEAM KNOCKOUT FINAL

The Sub-Team Knockout Final will be played on  Thursday 9 September at Broad Oak Bowling Club. The two qualifying teams are: Lowerhouses (+25) v. Huddersfield Rec (+30)...

REMINDER

All Section 1 and 2 matches in the 10-man league scheduled for Friday 27 August have been moved to 10 September. This was made after the Year Book was printed to allow an Inter-District match to take place on 27 August. Although the Year Book......

ALL COMPS THROUGH TO SEMI’S

With the completion of the Bistro KO Quarter-Finals all the line-ups and neutral greens for all four of the Veterans League KO competitions have now been finalised as below: The Bistro Semi-Finals will be played on Thursday 26 August Cowcliffe (scr) v. Kirkheaton Con. A......

BISTRO SEMI-FINAL VENUES

The draw and venues for the bistro semi-finals played on Thursday 26 August are Cowcliffe Libs (scr) vs Kirkheaton Cons A (8) at Holmfirth BC Marsh Utd (scr) vs Waterloo (4) at Milnsbridge BC Will we see a giant killing act from Section 2 team......

SEMI-FINAL DRAW

The semi-final draw for the Julie Fuller Trophy was drawn on Monday at the Management Committee meeting. These will be played on Friday 20 August starting 1.30 pm Longwood (6) vs Slaithwaite (18) at Golcar Lib Marsh Utd (12) v Honley Con (12) at Brockholes......

SUPERB AWAY TEAM SCORE BOOSTS HUDDERSFIELD’S HOPES

The Huddersfield Away team recorded a superb score of 24-4 to boost Huddersfield’s hopes of retaining the Inter-District League title. The scores and report below have been supplied by Frank Greenwood, the home team manager Skipton Home Huddersfield Away David Kirkbright 18 Roger Stopford 21......

JULIE FULLER FINAL POSITIONS

After 4 matches in the Julie Fuller Trophy maxi league the semi-finalists have been determined on total aggregate without having to resort to points against. Several teams have had points deducted after fielding an ineligible bowler including one of the semi-finalists but had they had......

COVID POSTPONEMENTS

Two matches in Tuesday’s 10-man league have been postponed. They are the Section 2 match Lindley BC A team vs Kirkheaton Con A and the Section 4 match Kirkheaton Con B vs Lindley BC B team. Lindley BC B team had a player confirmed positive......

That’s not the age limit to bowl in the vets but the number of games that players in the 10-man league Sections 1 and 2 can play before being barred from playing in a clubs B team or the 6-man league. FULL STOP. Our Rule......

HUDDERSFIELD vs SKIPTON

This Friday, 6 August, Huddersfield’s home team entertain Skipton whilst the away team are playing at Skipton Craven. The home fixture is being hosted by Thongsbridge Bowling Club, the match starts at 1 pm. The bar will be open and refreshments available. Overflow car parking......

ODD BOWLS AT PADDOCK I&C

Anyone who has played John Townend of Paddock I&C should look in their bowls bag as they might have odd bowls. The bowler he is looking for has Taylor De Luxe 2lb 8oz woods with red inserts and there is probably only one in his......

QUARTER FINAL DRAW

The quarter finals for the Over 80’s competition take place at Marsh Libs starting 1.30 pm on Friday 20 August. The contestants play down to 4 and the winners go through to the semi-finals on Friday 3 September at a venue to be confirmed. The......

SUB-TEAM KO SEMIS

The semi-finals of the Sub-Team Knockout take place on the Thursday 19 August with two teams from Section 3 drawn against each other at Netherton whilst Marsh United host the other semi-final with the revitalised Section 4 team of Huddersfield Recreation playing Greenhead Park, the......

FINAL QUALIFYING ROUND

The final round of the Julie Fuller Trophy maxi league takes place next Monday 2 August with semi-final places still up for grabs. The current table is as follows: Pos.       Team                                                     Points 1              Slaithwaite                                          219 2              Honley Cons                                       212 3              Marsh Utd          ......

INAUGURAL YEAR

24 September 2021 The family of our late President and General Secretary have kindly donated a new trophy to our association. The trophy will be competed for by individuals in the Inter-District squad at the Huddersfield Recreation green in Moldgreen. The start time will be......

BISTRO 1/4 FINAL DRAW

The quarter final draw for Bistro team comp is: Almondbury BC B (+24) v Cowcliffe (scr) on Paddock I&C Holmfirth BC A (+16) v Kirkheaton Con A (+8) on Crosland Moor BC Golcar Lib A (+4) v Marsh United A (scr) on Thorpe Green Shepley......

HOME & AWAY WINS FOR HUDDERSFIELD

Friday 23 July saw another home and away win for Huddersfield in the Yorkshire Inter-District Vets League. The team played a strong West Yorkshire side who had started their campaign with a Home and Away win and had won through to the final of the......

UPS & DOWNS

Contrary to some of the views we’ve heard all the HVBA leagues and divisions are having promotion and relegation in 2021. We made it very clear at the start of the season that the league structures and teams were carried over from our last completed......

HUDDERSFIELD vs WEST RIDING

Another sign of normality? This Friday, 23 July, Huddersfield home team entertain West Riding whilst the away team are playing at Thornhill C&BC. The home fixture is being hosted by Thongsbridge Bowling Club, the match starts at 1 pm. The bar will be open and......

LATE CHANGE OF VENUES

Due to fixture congestion at Marsh Libs the first round matches of the Over 80’s comp will now be held at Thorpe Green and Huddersfield RUBC. The previous post with the draw for the comp has been amended accordingly.  ...

OVER 80’S COMP

The first rounds of the Over 80’s competition are due on Friday 30 July. The competition (sponsored by our Treasurer Alan Stephenson and Pat Stephenson) is the only individual competition held this year with the exception of the inaugural John Hoyle Trophy. There are 17......

ALL KNOCK-OUT DRAWS

The team comps are coming thick and fast these days as we continue to squeeze 6 months bowling into 5. Our Comps Secretary has been burning the midnight oil to get these draws out to clubs. The team knockout has reached the quarter finals and......

THE DYNAMIC DUO

Sidney Goodwin and George Cushing have a combined age of 189 years between them and still going strong in the Meltham 6-man team. And a tip for anyone playing them – don’t take them in the corners! They can reach alright and you may live......

CAN ANY BOWLERS BEAT THIS?

That’s not 9 games won but the combined ages of Melthams pairing in the 6-man league! George Cushing at 92 years old is the baby of the pair whilst Sidney Goodwin at 97 years old must be one of our oldest bowlers in the league.......

HUDDERSFIELD WIN

Huddersfield played host yesterday 9 July to teams representing 7 areas in Yorkshire. Quarter finals were held at Holmfirth where Halifax beat Sheffield, Thongsbridge where Bradford beat Skipton and Milnsbridge where Huddersfield beat the holders of the trophy – Barnsley. The quarter final winners then......

HALF-TIME WHISTLE

We are fast approaching the half-time whistle at which point bowlers will be tied after playing more than 50% of the total league games. This means that any bowler in Section 1 and 2 teams who has played more than 13 games will not be......

SECOND ROUND DRAW

The next round of the Team Knockout will be on Thursday 15 July as follows: Lindley BC A (+15) v Cowcliffe (scr) On Holmfirth Clayton West (scr) v Broad Oak A (+10) On Springwood Brockholes B (+20) v Golcar Lib A (+5) On Almondbury BC......

BOWLERS OVER 90

Teams with bowlers who are 90+ will soon be receiving a surprise visitor to their match – Mr Alan Sharpe, our President. Alan will be presenting a Certificate of Achievement to the over 90’s bowlers to mark their achievement of reaching the milestone and still......

LATEST POSITIONS

The latest positions in the Julie Fuller Trophy maxi league are as follows: Slaithwaite and Netherton Con are showing an average score for Round 1 after their round 1 matches were cancelled due to their opponents withdrawing. The Round 1 figure will vary after Rounds......

WARNING – SPAM EMAILS

Our President has had his email address compromised, we don’t know how. If you receive any emails from either Alan Sharpe or Mary Sharpe bin them immediately and mark as spam. Do not open them  ...

BISTRO ROUND 3 DRAW

The next round of the Bistro is scheduled for Thursday 22 July We are now down to the last 16 The draw and venues are: Lindley BC B (28) v Hemplow B (32) at Golcar Lib Cowcliffe (scr) v Almondbury BC A (8) at Outlane......

SUB-TEAM KNOCKOUT LAST 8

The Sub-Team knock-out is now down to the last 8 Scheduled for Thursday 29 July The draw and venues are Lowerhouses (25) v Lindley BC B (35) at Crosland Moor New Mill B (40) v Springwood (25) at Almondbury BC Huddersfield Rec (30) v Almondbury......

HOME & AWAY WINS FOR HUDDERSFIELD

The outcome of today’s match against Bradford was a well deserved win, results as follows: Away at Wibsey Park PETER HOPKINSON 21 20, FRANK GRIFFIN 21-20., DEREK HEWITT 21-4, DAVE POLLARD 17-21, ROGER STOPFORD 21-13, EDWIN HAIGH 5-21, TIM POULTER 16-21, MALCOLM GILBERT 21-17. Aggregate......

UPDATE

Holmfirth B have now withdrawn from the Julie Fuller Trophy. This is in addition to the earlier withdrawal of Lindley Libs and has necessitated a further re-jig of the maxi-league structure of the tournament. The scores for the first round matches between Netherton Cons and......

HVBA are proud to be hosting the Hickson Trophy on Friday 9 July. The seven teams represent the Inter-District squads of Barnsley, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Skipton and West Riding. Teams consist of 12 players. The quarter finals start at 10 am and are being......

The Home team squad for this Friday’s match against Bradford at Lindley Bowling Club has been released. The squad is as follows: ALAN BAMFORTH, KEVIN BROWN, MICK COX (Captain), BARRY GIBSON, FRANK GREENWOOD, EDDIE HAIGH, GRAHAM HOWE, PETER KAIN, RONNIE MANNING, MICK McCLUSKEY. Final selection......

Lindley Libs have withdrawn their 6-man team from this trophy. This means that their games with Netherton Con on 29 June, Primrose Hill on 19 July and Skelmanthorpe Windmill on 2 August have been cancelled and also the game that they have played against Slaithwaite......

BOWLSNET

Bowlsnet has gone down today and although it’s now been recovered all the results for this week’s 6-man and 10-man sections have been lost. Can all team captains please add your teams results if you were the home team or verify the results....

CLUB LOTTERY WINNERS

The club draw was conducted at the management committee meeting on 14 June and the lucky winners were: 1st prize of £100 – Holmfirth Bowling Club 2nd prize of £50 – Golcar Liberal Club 3rd prize of £25 – Netherton Cons The treasurer of each......

INTER-DISTRICT OFF TO A FLYING START FOR WEST RIDING

The Inter-District league got of to a good start on Friday 11 June with Halifax playing Bradford and West Riding playing Skipton. There are just 5 teams in the league this year with Leeds, Castleford and Wakefield all withdrawing due to shortage of players. Huddersfield......

SUB-TEAM KNOCKOUT RESULTS

The results of Round 2 of the sub-team knockout played Thursday 10 June are as follows: LOWERHOUSES  160  V  LINDLEY LIB B  119 RAVENSKNOWLE PARK 144 V LINDLEY BC  B 170 NEW MILL B  168  V  HEMPLOW B  155 SPRINGWOOD  139  V  MILNSBRIDGE B  133......

BISTRO SECOND ROUND FIXTURES

The next round of the 10-man teams Bistro competition take place on Thursday 24th June as follows Primrose Hill Lib (+24) vs Lindley B.C. B (+28) on Holmfirth Hemplow B (+32 vs Almondbury B.C. B (+24) on Thorpe Green Thongsbridge A (+4) vs Cowcliffe (scr)......

JULIE FULLER TROPHY TABLE

Following the first round matches of this competition the league positions are Paddock I&C and Skelmanthorpe Windmill A have been deducted 5 points for playing an ineligible player. Clubs are reminded that players selected to play in the second round on 28 June must have......

URGENT NOTICE – ALL LEAGUES GOING AHEAD

Despite misleading information circulating about the cancellation by YCCGBA of all bowling leagues the advice to our association from YCCGBA is that it is not so. Our association have NOT been advised by YCCGBA that all leagues have been cancelled. We have been advised that......

ENTRIES FOR VETS INDIVIDUAL COMP

Entries are now being taken for the BCGBA Jack and Jean Isherwood Veterans Individual Competition. The Yorkshire qualifying round is at Sowerby Bridge Hillcrest BC on 16 July, 10.30 am start. The two finalists will be expected to attend the prestigious final at Press BC,......

LEEDS WITHDRAW FROM INTER-DISTRICT

The Leeds Inter-District team has withdrawn from this years competition and also the Hickson Trophy. This regretably leaves Huddersfield with a blank date for the first round of fixtures on 11 June. Both the home and away squads are continuing with their get together this......

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UPHOLDS DECISION OF LEAGUE SECRETARY

The Management Committee met this morning by conference call to discuss the results of Lockwood Cons A & B teams. It was agreed that the League Secretary made the decision to grant Lockwood Cons dispensation to play B team bowlers in the A team due......

BISTRO TEAM KNOCK-OUT ROUND 1

Thursday 3 June Bradley & Colne (+12) V. Primrose Hill Lib (+24)  On Slaithwaite Lindley B.C. B (+28) V.    Thorpe Green (+8)           On Almondbury Lib. Hemplow B (+32)     BYE Almondbury B.C. B (+24) V. Almondbury Lib. (+20)On Broad Oak Thongsbridge A (+4) V. Longwood (+4)  ......

JULIE FULLER FIRST ROUND OF MAXI LEAGUE

The first round of the Julie Fuller Trophy is Monday 31 May. This is the draw: Holmfirth B (18) v Netherton Con (scr) Lindley Lib (scr) v Slaithwaite (18) Shepley A (scr) v Brockholes B (18) Paddock I&C (scr) v Shepley B (18) Longwood (6)......

SUB-TEAM KNOCKOUT UPDATE

The first round of this competition is on Thursday 27 May and the up-to-date fixtures following the latest withdrawals are: Lowerhouses (+25) v Thongsbridge B (+35)  On Crosland Moor B.C. Lindley Lib. B (+20) v Marsh United B (+25)  On Netherton Con. Kirkheaton C &......

TEAMS WITHDRAW FROM BISTRO AND SUB-TEAM KO

Broad Oak B team and Netherton Con B team have withdrawn from the knock-out comps due to be played in the next two weeks. Both teams have withdrawn from Sub-team knock-out due to be played Thursday 27 May giving byes to Almondbury Libs and Holmfirth......

STILL TIME TO ENTER THE OVER 80’s KNOCKOUT

There’s a steady stream of entries for this competition which is the only knock-out comp planned for 2021. The comp will once again be sponsored by our treasurer, Alan Stephenson, and his wife Pat. The closing date for entries is Friday 16 July with rounds......

JULIE FULLER TROPHY APPROACHING

The first match in the new Julie Fuller Trophy is fast approaching for the 6-man teams. For 2021 this has been changed from a knock-out trophy to a maxi league of 30 teams all of whom have games in 4 rounds. The four leaders after......

PROGRAMME 2021

The league programme has now been updated. The major changes are Friday 27 August which is now the final match of the season for the Inter-District League which has facilitated moving the 10-man league fixture to Friday 10 September. The Inter-District League and Hickson Trophy......

THE GREAT DEBATE

To continue to have a Year Book or not to have a Year Book, that is the question! All clubs should now have their supply of 2021 Year Books and have distributed them to players. Do you find them useful? The club reps who attended......

INTER-DISTRICT FIXTURES RELEASED

Bowlsnet now has the fixtures for the 2021 season but as yet the venues haven’t been decided. Only six districts are competing this year, Castleford and Wakefield have both withdrawn. The districts are: Bradford Halifax Huddersfield Leeds Skipton West Riding   The first match is......

FOOTBALL, CRICKET, CROWN GREEN BOWLS

How about that for a daily round-up of sport on Radio Leeds? That happened yesterday when Paul Ogden interviewed Hazel Rangely about all things bowls in 2021, including the Big Bowls Weekend which had sparked Paul Ogden’s interest in our beloved sport. The opening rounds......

HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?

The first round of matches has just passed and we’d like to hear your views on how you felt the matches went? A discussion topic has been set up in our Forum so don’t hold back. If you felt that host club did well or......

MANAGEMENT MEETING

Another month goes by and we have the next meeting of the Management Committee is on Monday 10 May, by conference call on WHYPAY? There will be the usual agenda items plus progress on the Inter-District league and a review of the first weeks back......

EXTRA GAMES ADDED FOR DIVISION 5 OF 10-MAN SECTION

After yesterdays announcement of the withdrawal of Ravensknowle Park B team from Division 5 the League Secretary has acted quickly and created more games for the 10 remaining teams. The fixtures in the Year Book are still accurate but with the withdrawal of Ravensknowle Park......