JOHN Stocks and David Burns (Peel) were shock winners of the Bradford Pairs Merit, sponsored by Martin S Lonsdale (Estate Agents), after defeating hot favourites Phil Dowgill and Graham Reay (Cononley) 21-17 in the final.

Close on 32 pairs took part in the season's first Bradford competition at Cleckheaton Sports but it was the Peel Park veterans who came through a strong field to become champions – and with it a place in the end-of-season Victor Ludorum (Champion of Champions).

Quarter-finals: Bob Hiley & Ken McCafferty (Asa Briggs) 0 Phil Dowgill & Graham Reay (Cononley) 21, Paul Gill & Paul Kaye (Clayton) 18 Peter & Stuart Wilson (Greengates) 21, Kevin Siddle & Adam Conlon (Crossgates) 17 Richard Hobson & Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports) 21, Mally Fowler & Scott Bloodworth (Ladyhill) 13 John Stocks & David Burns (Peel) 21. Semi-finals: Dowgill & Reay 21 P&S Wilson 12, Hobson & Riley 14 Stocks & Burns 21. Final: Dowgill & Reay 17 Stocks & Burns 21.

* YORKSHIRE play their first match of the British Parks Crown Green Senior County Championship against North Shropshire on Sunday, with the home match at Littlemoor S&SC and the away match at Hadnall Bowling Club.

Both get underway at 2pm and Yorkshire will be looking for great support at the two venues as they look to improve on last year's performance.

Home draw (Yorkshire names first): Simon Walder (Whitkirk) v Martin Lloyd (District BC), Neil Tordoff (Wyke) v Dave Gourlay (Bridgewater BC), Tony Green (Whitkirk) v Cedric Bancroft (Woore BC), Josh Mordue (Pudsey) v Ian McDonald (Woore BC), Kristian Walder (Whitkirk) v Richard Pullen (Hanmer BC), Craig Hebbard (Littlemoor) v Jack Butler (Hanmer BC), Nicky Bastow (Eccleshill) v Jock Timlett (Nantwich Park Road BC), Marc Armitage (Littlemoor) v Chris Stretch (Adderley BC), Andrew Tate (Brighouse) v Greg Fordham (Bridgewater BC), Stuart King (Asa Briggs) v Jack Hewitt (Malpas Sports), Chris Mordue (Pudsey) v Andy Smith (Chester Road BC), Richard Stockdale (Eccleshill) v Gary Beff (Woore BC).

Away draw (Yorkshire names first): Robbie Ellis (Shipley Club) v Keith Wall (Hodnet BC), Dean Scarth (Pudsey) v Andrew Foster (Bridgewater BC), Paul Wilczynski (Shipley Club) v Scott Moseley (Hadnall BC), Tom Lawrence (Pudsey) v Tim Jordan (Hadnall BC), Neil Mylan (Eccleshill) v Derek Wright (Wem United SC), Matthew Jacques (Shipley Club) v Matt Beeston (District BC), Peter Clark (Cross Roads) v Jamie Brookes (Malpas Sports), Michael Sweeney (Overthorpe Sports) v Conner Whitehall (Adderley BC), Andrew Gilroy (Eccleshill) v Tony Sherratt (Adderley BC), Ian Jacques (Shipley Club) v Colin Smith (Wem United SC), Ian Shaw (Pudsey) v Gary Whitehall (Adderley BC), Paul Rooks (Eccleshill) v Adrian Smout (Bridgewater BC).

* YORKSHIRE also start their campaign in the British Parks Crown Green Veterans' County Championship on Sunday as they tackle the East Midlands.

The home match is at Rufford Park, with the away match at Stretton Anglesey.

Home draw (Yorkshire names first): Mick Bastow (Ilkley) v Kevin Kelly-Walley (Belvedere), Trevor Holliday (Negas) v David Fox (Derby Co-op), Barry Turnbull (Clayton Victoria) v Alan Lewsley (Belvedere), Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) v Grahame Bartter (Belvedere), David Hemsley (Baildon) v Philip May (Belvedere), Mike Kane (Shipley Club) v Clive Gascoigne (Henhurst Club), Dave Norris (Guiseley) v Jim Shorthouse (Belvedere), Rod Bastow (Ilkley) v Brian Varty (Stretton Anglesey), Dave Rankin (Guiseley) v David Brennan (Netherseal), Nino Esposito (Clayton Victoria) v David Redfern (Stretton Anglesey).

Away draw (Yorkshire names first): Malcolm Fowler (Harold Club) v Graham Jones (Henhurst Club), John Watson (Hanging Heaton) v Alan Johnson (Stretton Anglesey), John Stocks (Peel Park) v Dave Halstead (N/A), John Beverley (Asa Briggs) v Steve Atkin (Winshill BC), Paul Hardy (Whitkirk) v Lawrence Stubbs (Stretton Anglesey), Mick Armitage (Hanging Heaton) v Cliff Robinson (Littleover BC), David Kaye (Rothwell) v Dave Press (Stretton Anglesey), John Sharp (Asa Briggs) v Terry Bosworth (Netherseal), Frank Griffin (Spen Victoria) v Ray Robinson (Rolleston BC), Mick Maguire (Spen Victoria) v Ian Woodward (Netherseal).

* CLUBS are reminded that the closing date for the Howarth Cup, Pairs Knockout and Four-A-Side Knockout is Thursday, June 1. Entries and names should be sent to competition secretary Martin Hayton.