SHARON Gadd (Shipley Club) and Stuart King (Asa Briggs) won the Damart-sponsored Mixed Pairs Merit after beating Jon and Alex Edmondson (Pudsey) in the final.

The weather was not particularly kind for the 22 duos who were looking to win the first trophy of the season at Peel Park – but it was Gadd and King who took the title for the second successive year and the third time in four.

Semi-finals: Sharon Gadd & Stuart King (Shipley Club/Asa Briggs) 21 Pat Lonsdale & Matthew Jacques (Shipley Club) 3, Alex & Jon Edmondson (Pudsey) 21 Sally Turner & Paul Kaye (Clayton) 18. Final: Gadd & King 21 A & J Edmondson 13.

* Yorkshire defeated Lancashire 457-376 in their opening match of the British Crown Green County Championship.

The White Rose team carded ten home winners in the match at Ossett Flying Horse, with Gary Siswick's (Crosland Moor) 21-2 the pick of them.

Jack Dyson (Netherton Con) produced a great 21-8 in the away match at Garswood Hall, helping Yorkshire win the away aggregate.

Next up for Yorkshire is a match against Cheshire on Sunday, June 5.

Home scores – Yorkshire 238 Lancashire 179 (Yorkshire names): Harry Seehra (Lower Hopton) 21-18, Craig Newton (Lower Hopton) 21-18, Craig Gant (Netherton Con) 21-8, Wayne Moseley (Lockwood Con) 21-19, Dave Fox (Kirkheaton Con) 19-21, John Spinks (Pudsey) 21-15, Ashley Tattersley (Lower Hopton) 21-20, Simon Walder (Lower Hopton) 21-9, Steven Gilroy (Crossgates) 9-21, Gary Siswick (Crosland Moor) 21-2, Robert Hitchen (Lower Hopton) 21-18, Ashley Daykin (Netherton Con) 21-10.

Away scores – Lancashire 197 Yorkshire 219 (Yorkshire names): Thomas Hanson (Pudsey) 21-12, Scott Fisher (Denby Grange) 21-12, Chris Mordue (Pudsey) 18-21, James Hanson (Pudsey) 21-16, Kevin Burns (Ossett Flying Horse) 21-19, Graeme Wilson (Lower Hopton) 21-17, Jack Dyson (Netherton Con) 21-8, Ian Booth (Lower Hopton) 15-21, James Davison (Thongsbridge) 21-10, Phil Dowgill (Clayton) 21-19, Liam Griffin (Pudsey) 8-21, Nicky White (Thongsbridge) 10-21.

* The Bradford Pairs Merit, sponsored by Martin S Lonsdale Estate Agents, takes place at Cleckheaton Sports on Sunday with a start and scratch of 10.30am.

Entries are still being taken and anyone interested should contact Martin Hayton on 07825-740281.

* The Shipley Classic, sponsored by H H Birch & Son Ltd and RSK Fastenings, gets under way a week on Friday with the opening qualifying round.

There are many local bowlers in action, including Littlemoor duo Glen Pratt and Marc Armitage opening up with tough first-round matches against Callum Wraight (Shrewsbury) and Andy Cairns (Rossendale) respectively.

Week one qualifying draw (practice from 6pm for 6.30pm start): Mark Dobson (Pudsey) v Gareth Lally (Crossgates), Glen Pratt (Littlemoor S&SC) v Callum Wraight (Shrewsbury), Neil Slattery (Crosland Moor) v John Armitage (Littlemoor S&SC), Paul Mottram (Horbury WMC) v Paul Hillam (Eccleshill), Joel Abdy (Lower Hopton) v Lisa Rice (Pudsey), Lee Schofield (Hanging Heaton) v Keith Hall (Eccleshill), Tom Lawrence (Pudsey) v Mark Taylor (Crossgates), Andy Cairns (Rossendale) v Marc Armitage (Littlemoor S&SC).