THE Valley's challenge in the annual Inter-City event ended in disappointment.

They beat the home side, Leeds, at New Wortley and followed up with victory over Harrogate, but were defeated by the eventual group winners Shipley.

Skipper Mick Walsh kept his 100 per cent record throughout the competition together with Neil Hargreaves and Les Foster, but there could be a major re-think over the rest of the squad.

Skipton qualified for the semi-finals at Armley Park as best runners-up and looked to be going out in a game against Shipley, but David Hoskins ran out in the final game to ensure a narrow victory. However, the inevitable defeat came at the hands of Bradford at Armley Conservative Club, when the locals were well beaten despite wins by Barry Turnbull, Jocky Wilson, Stephen Lofthouse and Trevor Hargreaves. Even the event's sponsor, Keith Moore, of Spot On Print and Design was defeated.

There were even more shocks at the Haslingden Bowling Club when Oakworth's Graeme 'Ben' Ridding reached thefinals of the Whitsuntide Handicap, only to lose decisively 10-21 to John Conroy of Manchester in an event which was spoiled by the weather.

Other local successes include Arnie Ripley's Arnie Ripley's qualification for the Yorkshire Merit Finals after a 21-14 success over Chris Slater at Settle and Roy Sanderson's qualifying success in the Addingham Floodlit Merit.

David Siddle (Cross Roads) and former Yorkshire champion Roy Nicholson were thefirst local qualifiers for the British Parks Merit finals to be held at Spen Victoria on July 26.

Cross Roads and Whins Wood are both in action agains this Saturday in the Yorkshire Cup and on Sunday there is the Valley Super Sixes event sponsored by Watkinson's Haulage together with early rounds in the Rycoft Trophy at Broughton Road and the Devonshire Classic.

The draw for the Super Sixes is: Preliminary rounds (Lund Park): Highfield v Oakworth B No2 at 10am, Cross Roads v Oxenhope No1 at 11am, Cullingworth v Whins Wood A No2 at 11am.

Round One (Highfield): Illingworth v Oakworth A 10am, Whinswood B v Lund Park 11am, Bradshaw v Highfield or Oakworth at 12.00. Wins A or Cullingworth v Cros Roads or Oxenhope at 1pm.

n Saddest news of the week was the death of well known bowler Jim Peers after a long illness.

Jim began his career at Lund Park in the 1960's and also played for Highfield in their hey-day when they won the Yorkshire Parks Wood Cup in 1968.

He transferred to Denvonshire Park and Keighley Bowling Club in the 1970's and remained a loyal team man for many years.

Bowls correspondent, Roy Sanderson, was a team mate of Jim's at Keighley for many years and enjoyed playing alongside a team bowler of no little ability.

He writes: "Although Jim supported local events andwon the Keighley Merit in 1982, he was a club bowler. Like myself he was a little outspoken at times against officialdon, but he was probably right most of the time. My condolences and those of all local players go to his wife and all her family."

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