Yorkshire beat Birkenhead 22-9 in their opening game of the BRITISH PARKS CHAMPIONSHIP as they look to retain the trophy they won last season for the first time in 20 years.

The defending champions were quicker out of the blocks in the home match at Pudsey Littlemoor, with debutant Craig Hebbard of the host club playing to his usual exemplary high standard and using his home green knowledge to card a 21-8 win.

Further victories from Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) 21-13 and Paul Bowes (Pudsey) 21-10 helped give Yorkshire a 29-point lead after four jacks.

Into the middle four, Yorkshire again carded three out of four winners – with Stuart King (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21-9 the pick of them – to extend their advantage to 51 points.

Yorkshire concluded the match with all four winners, Peter Jagger (Spen Victoria) producing a majestic performance for a 21-10 verdict. Further big wins from Harry Seehra (Spen Victoria) 21-9 and James Davison (Eccleshill) 21-7 ensured a convincing 95-point margin and a 12-2 success.

Away from home, at Victoria Park in Tranmere, Yorkshire had a mixed start.

Pudsey duo Mick Smith and Ian Shaw returned 21-15 and 21-16 winning cards but with Gary Wike (Pudsey) managing only ten points and John Armitage (Brighouse Sports) 14, the visitors trailed by seven chalks.

In the middle four, debutant Thomas Lawrence (Pudsey) made a winning start with a 21-12 card and was followed by Andy Gilroy (Eccleshill) 21-10, Paul Rooks (Eccleshill) 21-16 and David Hilliam (Pudsey) 21-14.

Everything looked rosy for the Yorkshire boys, particularly when Peter Clark (Cross Roads) won 21-15 at block nine as his side moved 31 points on front.

But then the wheels fell off as Birkenhead took the last three games to edge the aggregate by a mere three chalks and ensure a 7-7 draw.

However, the three bonus points were never in doubt for Yorkshire following their convincing home win and a tight away performance and they will look for more of the same against next opponents North Staffordshire on Sunday, June 17.

Home – Yorkshire 241 (12), Birkenhead 156 (2): Craig Hebbard (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21-8, Paul Bowes (Pudsey) 21-10, Tony Green (Hollies) 18-21, Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) 21-13, Robert Whitfield (Brighouse Sports) 13-21, Stuart King (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21-9, Simon Walder (Spen Victoria) 21-16, Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports) 21-18, Peter Jagger (Spen Victoria) 21-10, Harry Seehra (Spen Victoria) 21-9, Rob Carroll (Garforth Rec) 21-14, James Davison (Eccleshill) 21-7.

Away – Birkenhead 203 (7), Yorkshire 200 (7): Gary Wike (Pudsey) 10-21, John Armitage (Brighouse Sports) 14-21, Ian Shaw (Pudsey) 21-16, Mick Smith (Pudsey) 21-15, Thomas Lawrence (Pudsey) 21-12, Andy Gilroy (Eccleshill) 21-10, Paul Rooks (Eccleshill) 21-16, David Hilliam (Pudsey) 21-14, Peter Clark (Cross Roads) 21-15, Jon Edmondson (Pudsey) 9-21, Ian Jacques (Shipley Club) 15-21, Neil Mylan (Eccleshill) 5-21.

* Yorkshire’s ladies return to action against Wirral on Sunday as they look to continued their 100 per cent start in the COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP.

They have already comfortably beaten South Staffordshire and Lancashire and will be confident of adding to that success against opponents who finished bottom of the table last year.

Yorkshire’s home team play their match at Meltham BC in Huddersfield and the away team travel to Thingwall BC, with both starting at 2pm.

Home team: Linda Gledhill (New Mill), Ann Hinchliffe (Lockwood Cons), Marie Lockwood (New Mill), Judi Hollingworth (Meltham), K Gant (Meltham), Julie Mallinson (Outlane), Lynn Carter (Cowcliffe Libs), Diane Radcliffe (Outlane), Jean Gee (Marsh Utd), Suzi Ladbroke (Lockwood Cons), Andrea Buckley (New Mill), Suzanne Howarth (New Mill).

Away team: Dawn Bray (Ossett Flying Horse), Lisa Rice (Harold Club), Amanda Hagen (Ossett Flying Horse), Louise Whiteley (Hove Edge), Karen Hill (Hanging Heaton), Marjorie Haigh (Heckmondwike), June Johnson (Ossett Flying Horse), Sharon Gadd (West Park), Alexis Lunn-Gadd (Morton House), Helen Gilroy (Eccleshill), Laura Bond (New Mill), Jacqui Roper (Meltham).

* Bradford will be looking to retain the YORKSHIRE PARKS INTER-CITY competition when the city hosts the event on Sunday.

The defending champions find themselves in Pool B and open with a match against Barkston Ash at Cleckheaton Sports (number two green), before taking on Heavy Woollen at Spen Victoria (back green).

Bradford then face Sheffield at Spen Victoria (top green) in what looks set to decide which team qualifies for the final.

Pool A features Aire-Wharfe, Hebden Royd, Leeds ABA and Leeds Ladies, with Leeds ABA favourites to make it through to the final. This takes place at Hightown Libs at 5.30pm.

Pool A – 10am start: Hebden Royd v Aire-Wharfe, at Brighouse (number two green); Leeds v Leeds Ladies, at Cleckheaton Sports (number one green). 12.30pm: Hebden Royd v Leeds Ladies, at Spen Victoria (top green); Aire-Wharfe v Leeds, at Brighouse (number one green). 3.30pm: Hebden Royd v Leeds, at Harold Club (top green); Aire-Wharfe v Leeds Ladies, at Spen Victoria (bottom green).

Pool B – 10am start: Barkston Ash v Bradford, at Cleckheaton Sports (number two green); Heavy Woollen v Sheffield, at Brighouse (number one green). 12.30pm: Barkston Ash v Sheffield, at Brighouse (number two green); Bradford v Heavy Woollen, at Spen Victoria (bottom green). 3.30pm: Barkston Ash v Heavy Woollen, at Harold Club (church green); Bradford v Sheffield, at Spen Victoria (top green).

* Mick Hall (Guiseley) and Nigel Roper (Pudsey Littlemoor) were the first qualifiers in the SHIPLEY CLASSIC, sponsored by Yorkshire Building Society and the Trustees of Neville Harrison.

Hall bowled superbly throughout to card wins over Ian Bernard (Cross Roads) 21-4, Paul Jacques (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21-16 and Andy Webb (Cas Town) 21-8 to make it through to finals night, drawing number two. He also took the £25 highest break prize, sponsored by HB Clark & Co.

Roper had a tough start against late reserve Kieron Smith (Crossgates) but came through 21-15, before an easier 21-13 win over Steve Griffiths (Denholme).

In the final game Roper was up against Chris Mordue (Brighouse Sports) and was always in control, eventually running out a 21-16 winner and drawing number six for the finals.

First round: Steve Griffiths (Denholme) 21, David White (Thorner) 14; Nigel Roper (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21, Kieron Smith (Crossgates) 15; Richard Matthews (Rawdon) 16, Peter Clark (Cross Roads) 21; Phil Vayro (Pudsey Littlemoor) 18, Chris Mordue (Brighouse Sports) 21; Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) 11, Paul Jacques (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21; Ian Bernard (Cross Roads) 4, Mick Hall (Guiseley) 21; Andy Webb (Cas Town) w/o Matt Ford (Stoke); Colin Scorah (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21, Adam Mellor (Pudsey Littlemoor) 9. Second round: Griffiths 13, Roper 21; Clark 11, Roper 21; Jacques 16, Hall 21; Webb 21, Scorah 8. Third round: Roper 21, Mordue 16; Hall 21, Webb 8.

Draw for week two qualifying on Friday: Steven Gilroy (Crossgates) v Josh Mordue (Brighouse Sports), Andy Southwell (Asa Briggs) v Mike Sweeney (Morton House), Ian Shaw (Pudsey) v Danny Sillitoe (Dearne Sports), Ian Booth (Lower Hopton) v Gareth Owen (Asa Briggs), Mark Hughes (Crossgates) v Dave Rowson (Black Swan), Roger Crowther (Longwood) v Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports), Reserve v Gordon Bradford (Halifax), Andrew Sykes (Mirfield Old Bank) v Ashely Southwell (Asa Briggs).

* Simon Coupe (Preston) and Kevin Nixon (Doncaster) were the latest qualifiers in the JOHN SMITH’S CLASSIC at Cleckheaton Sports Club. Coupe drew nine for finals day in July and Nixon drew four.

First round: Simon Coupe (Preston) 21, Kerry Morris (Stoke) 18; Ian Booth (Halifax) 21, Mike Riley (Wales) 11; Tony Riley (Brighouse) 21, Danny Barwise (Merseyside) 14; Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) 18, Robbie Fitzpatrick (Liverpool) 21; Kevin Nixon (Doncaster) 21, Jack Hargreaves (Hyde) 18; David Watters (Preston) 20, Alan Hill (Atherton) 21; Chris Mordue (Brighouse) 21, Dave McDermott (Wirral) 19; Andy Wike (Huddersfield) 21, Gary Smith (Leeds) 12. Second round: Coupe 21, Booth 15; Riley 21, Fitzpatrick 15; Nixon 21, Hill 12; Mordue 21, Wike 11. Third round: Coupe 21, Riley 17; Nixon 21, Mordue 12.

* Bradford beat Skipton 34-22 in the second game of their YORKSHIRE VETERANS INTER-DISTRICT LEAGUE campaign.

* In the home match at Peel Park, Bradford managed a 21-7 success after carding six winners, Graham Oliver (Clayton) leading the way with a 21-8 effort.

The away match at Skipton Devon saw Bradford manage four winners, David Hodgson (Crowghyll) the pick of them with his 21-12 verdict, but they lost the aggregate by nine chalks.

Home – Bradford 158 (21), Skipton 122 (7): Graham Oliver (Clayton) 21-8, Alan Standing (Thornton) 17-21, Rod Bastow (Eccleshill) 21-18, Bill Hutchinson (Crowghyll) 21-11, Tommy Harney (Clayton) 21-14, Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) 21-14.

Away – Skipton 149 (15), Bradford 140 (13): David Burns (Peel) 21-20, Lawrie Walsh (Peel) 21-15, Tony Riley (Clayton) 20-21, David Hodgson (Crowghyll) 21-12, Gerry Hird (Wyke) 17-21, Ken Green (Wyke) 14-21, Bob Baines (Littlemoor) 5-21, Gerald Bromley (Peel) 21-18.

Positions (after two games): Bradford 80pts, Huddersfield 75, Skipton 58, West Riding 55, Halifax 54, Leeds 46, Wakefield 43, Castleford 37.

* The HOWARTH CUP qualifying round takes place on Thursday, May 31. The full draw is as follows:

Brackenhill (55) v Shipley Club (15), at Wyke; Birkenshaw (60) v Greengates (50), at Asa Briggs; Harold Park (50) v Guiseley (15), at Clayton; Eccleshill (Scr) v Clayton (40), at Drighlington; Wyke (50) v Drighlington (45), at Wibsey; Tyersal (45) v Asa Briggs B (40), at Shipley Club; Wibsey (40) v Bradford Moor (55), at Birkenshaw. Bye: Asa Briggs A.

* Tomorrow is the closing date for the YCCGBA YORKSHIRE MERIT, which takes place at Harold Club on Saturday, June 2 with a 2pm start. Anyone interested should contact Maurice Carter on 01274-664705.

Tomorrow is also the closing date for the JUNIOR HANDICAP, which takes place at Queensbury on Sunday, June 3 with a 1pm start. Anyone interested should contact Norman Lickley on 01943-884323.