Huddersfield Veterans Bowling Association

01 Oct THIRD TIME LUCKY FOR TIM

Posted at 10:32h in General News by Richard Armitage

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 Kirkheaton Con’s Gary Foulkes twelve months ago. He looked confident and assured in the 2024 final where he was pitched against Ray Whitwam – a fellow inter-district bowler which meant that both bowlers started the contest on scratch.

Whitwam was quickest to the block as he won the first two ends but Poulter hit back as he powered his way to take a 6-2 advantage after sevens ends. With two quality bowlers on the green it was nip and tuck; Whitwam leading 8-7 before the scores levelled out at 11-all after 19 ends. From there on Poulter had the upper hand as he conceded just two more points to finish the afternoon’s bowling as John Hoyle Trophy champion thanks to a 21-13 success.

Seven out of eight bowlers who contested the finals day were inter-district bowlers – the exception being Cowcliffe’s Steve Cameron. He was handed the task of facing Cowcliffe teammate Derrick Hewitt and was always in arrears, losing out 21-7.

Poulter’s afternoon had started with a game against Roger Lunn who bowls for Waterloo. Poulter finished 21-13 winner against Lunn who despite injury this year has bowled for the Wakefield inter-district side.

In the other half of the draw Garry Senior from Kirkheaton Con had a 21-17 success over Lockwood Con’s Eddie Haigh whilst Senior’s teammate Tony Butterfield went down to Whitwam. They had been level at 10-all but Whitwam then won seven consecutive ends to win 21-10.

Whitwam and Senior had a closely fought encounter in the semi-finals, Whitwam leading 19-11 at one point. Senior pulled that back to 19-all but Whitwam had the final say to finish with a 21-19 success.

Poulter, meanwhile, faced Hewitt in the other semi-final. That was another tight affair, 12-all at one stage, with the Clayton West bowler reaching the final thanks to a 21-14 success.

Once again the competition was generously sponsored by the Hoyle family who were on hand to present the trophy and prize money while the Huddersfield Rec club were excellent hosts as always.

Tim was presented with the trophy by Doreen Hoyle and she was accompanied for the presentation by grandsons Jacob and Joseph.

Over £1100 was raised before and on the day through raffle sales and a number of generous donations of winning prize money from the participating bowlers, with the money going to the Kirkwood Hospice charity.