GARY Wike of Pudsey won the Aire-Wharfe Champion of Champions competition after defeating Nicky Bastow (Eccleshill) 21-16 in the final at Idle.

A total of 16 bowlers were invited to play in the end-of-season finale, split into four groups of four with every competitor guaranteed three games.

Nicky Bastow came through a tough Group A with wins over Steve Fender (Burley in Whafedale) 21-7 and John Benson (Rufford) 21-17, finishing with a net aggregate of plus-16 to progress to the semi-finals.

Group A scores: Nicky Bastow (Guiseley) 19 David Cadwallader (Sutton) 21, Steve Fender (Burley in Wharfedale) 15 John Benson (Rufford) 21, Bastow 21 Fender 7, Cadwallader 19 Benson 21, Bastow 21 Benson 17, Cadwallader 21 Fender 10.

Derek Whitaker (Calverley) had stepped in as a late replacement for Steve Gardner (Stanningley), who failed to turn up, and it was Whitaker who finished top of Group B with wins over Brian Hall (Greenbottom) 21-16 and Paul Wilczynski (Shipley Club) 21-14.

Whitaker then decided he did not want to progress, so it was Wilczynski who advanced to the semi-finals having also won two of his three games.

Group B scores: Derek Whitaker (Calverley) 19 Steve Calvert (Rawdon) 21, Brian Hall (Greenbottom) 14 Paul Wilczynski (Shipley Club) 21, Whitaker 21 Hall 16, Calvert 13 Wilczynski 21, Whitaker 21 Wilczynski 14.

Group C saw Neil Nicholson (Farsley) and Wike both winning their first two matches and the duo knew it was down to their game as to who qualified.

It was Wike who edged that game 21-20 to progress after earlier victories over James Greenwood (Rufford) 21-12 and Ken Gilroy (Eccleshill) 21-16.

Group C scores: Neil Nicholson (Farsley) 21 Ken Gilroy (Eccleshill) 13, James Greenwood (Rufford) 12 Gary Wike (Pudsey) 21, Nicholson 21 Greenwood 17, Gilroy 16 Wike 21, Nicholson 20 Wike 21, Gilroy 21 Greenwood 15.

It also went down to the wire in Group D, with Kevin Wood (Shipley Club) the only player to win all three group games – including a decisive 21-15 success against Barry Sugden (Wayside) 21-15, who had won his first two games.

Group D scores: Sylvia Halliday (Crowghyll) 7 Kevin Wood (Shipley Club) 21, Barry Sugden (Wayside) 21 David Locke (Grove Hill) 3, Halliday 19 Sugden 21, Wood 21 Locke 10, Halliday 15 Locke 21, Wood 21 Sugden 15.

The first semi-final saw Bastow take on Wilczynski, with Bastow making the better start and leading 4-0 after two ends only for his opponent to turn the game around to lead 6-5 and later 11-7.

A five-break put Bastow back in front at 12-11 before Wilczynski levelled it at 13-across, at which point a decisive five-break put Bastow in control at 18-13, which he then extended to 20-17.

Wilczynski hit back to level it at 20-across but a bad lead allowed Bastow the chance to score the single he needed to edge the contest 21-20.

The second semi-final saw Wike up against Wood, who made the better start to lead 7-2 before Wike started to claw his way back and edge in front 16-11, which he soon extended to 20-12.

Wood hung in the game with a four-break before Wike scored the single he needed to make it through to the final with a 21-16 verdict.

Wike started off well in the final with a one-one-two combination but four singles saw Bastow level at four-across. Two doubles nudged Wike four clear again but Bastow pulled a couple back to be just two points behind at 7-9.

A seven-break then left Wike in the driving seat at 16-7 – but Bastow was not done yet and his own seven-break got it back to 16-14.

Two singles and a pair then took Wike to all but and although two singles brought Bastow back to 16, Wike bowled the winning wood at the next end and with it became the champion.

A big thank you must go to the members of Idle BC who showed what a great job they do for this Champion of Champions final day. Also thanks to everyone who marked, measured and generally helped out on the day, which was a great success.

* TICKETS are now on sale for the Bradford Association presentation evening, which takes place at East Ward Labour Club on Thursday, November 24 from 7.30pm.

They cost £4 each, with the option of an additional £2 for supper on the evening. Anyone interested should contact Maurice Carter on 01274-664705.

Clubs are reminded that the deadline for proposed rule changes and nominations for the 2016 bowler of the year is today, to be submitted to general secretary Tracy Preston.

* THE Aire-Wharfe Association presentation evening is on Friday, November 4 at Hollygarth Social Club in Ilkley. Tickets are £5.50 each and can be ordered through clubs or directly from organiser Cliff Dennis.

All competition and average winners should make an effort to be there to pick up their prizes. It is the final highlight of another very good season in the Aire-Wharfe calendar.

Another date for the diary is the annual meeting at Guiseley Factory Workers Club on Tuesday, November 15.