The bowling season is slowly getting into full swing with the Hebden Royd league kicking off first this season. This comprises three leagues with Cross Roads 'A' odds on to win Division One again. Other local teams in the top flight include Whins 'A', Oxenhope 'A', Oakworth, Cullingworth 'A' Denholme 'A', Lund 'A' and Howarth which insures several local derbies of these. Lund 'A', Howarth 'A' and Oakworth will be looking over their shoulders to avoid the dreaded drop.

In Division Two, Cross Roads 'B' will be hoping to go one better than last season but made an inauspicious start losing to Oakworth in the Sunday morning ko despite fielding a few "ringers." Whins 'B' are also still in Division Two.

Lund 'B', Cull 'B', Oxenhope 'B', Denholme 'B' and X Roads 'C' are all in Division Three.

The Sunday morning ko continues on Sunday when Cross Roads 'A', the holders, meet Whins 'A' in the top match.

The Halifax League has also begun with Cross Roads 'A' hoping to win the Division One title, after finishing as runners up last season. Holders Walsden now play at Langton and with both Elland teams also around, it might be just too much again for Cross Roads.

Oxenhope have now only one team who might not get all their own way in Division Two whilst Oakworth have to readjust to life in Division Three. Cross Roads 'B' will be hoping for more good fortune in Division Four, whilst Denholme continue in Division Five.

The Skipton League begins on April 22 whilst the Valley begins on Saturday with the Valley Cup Round One games. Holders Keighley meet Sutton 'A'.

Draw: Cross Roads 'A' v Denholme 'A' (Cullingworth), Oakworth 'A' v Devon (Steeton), Sutton 'B' v Bradshaw 'B' (Keighley), Oakworth 'B' v Lund 'C' (Whins Wood), Sutton 'A' v Keighley (Silsden PF), X Hills 'B' v Craven 'A' (Devon), Lund 'B' v X Roads 'B' (Haworth), Whins 'A' v Silsden PF (Sutton), Bradshaw 'A' v Highfield 'B' (Lund Park No 1), Cullingworth v Haworth (Cross Roads), Whins 'B' v Lund 'A', (Oakworth), Steeton 'A' v Denholm 'B' (Craven), Highfield 'A' v Steeton 'B' (X Hills), Craven 'B' v X Hills 'A' (Highfield). Next Round May 24.

With the Highfield Pairs cancelled, interest turned to the Ray Parker Memorial at Salts when several local top class players crashed out early on. Brian Potts (Oxenhope) was still in the last eight going to press.

Mick Bastow and Viv Ambrose won the first Wakefield Mixed Pairs defeating local rivals Chris and Diane Slater 15-13.

Following their travels of two seasons ago, Roy Sanderson and Ben Ridding are now concentrating their efforts in the East Lancashire Super Premier League playing for Colne Legion in a team destined to finish bottom. It's a new challenge for the dynamic duo who both, after one game, have 100 per cent records -- and Ben lost!

n The local bowling fraternity has lost two more of its members recently. Bob Jones was a popular player of Lund Park whilst Norman Grimshaw was a Whins Wood stalwart for many seasons, grinding many of his opponents into the dust with slow, slow play to good effect.

Our condolences go to both families.