THE new format for the Spen Masters Invitational 16, sponsored by P&I Hopkins Butchers, proved to be a huge success and a large crowd saw Greg Smith (Alvechurch) defeat Stuart King (Asa Briggs) 21-16 to win the £600 first prize.

Sixteen of the country's top bowlers were invited to play, with Smith coming through the class field.

First round: Wayne Ditchfield (Preston) 12 Stuart King (Asa Briggs) 21, Carl Armitage (Warrington) 12 Andy Cairns (Rossendale) 21, Graeme Wilson (Lower Hopton) 21 Gary Ellis (Whitefield) 20, Ashley Daykin (Thongsbridge) 7 Kez Smith (Crossgates) 21, Tommy Johnstone (Poynton) 19 Greg Smith (Alvechurch) 21, Paul Dudley (Manchester) 21 Robert Hitchen (Lower Hopton) 15, Callum Wraight (Shrewsbury) 16 Jack Dyson (Thongsbridge) 21, Chris Mordue (Pudsey) 21 Simon Coupe (Preston) 10. Quarter-finals: King 21 Cairns 20, Wilson 21 Smith 10, Smith 21 Dudley 12, Dyson 16 Mordue 21. Semi-finals: King 21 Wilson 18, Smith 21 Mordue 17. Final: King 16 Smith 21.

* CHRIS Kelly (Thongsbridge) and Neil Grant (Sale Excelsior) were week seven qualifiers in the Rastrick Classic.

Kelly qualified with wins over Jon Wood (Crossgates) 21-11, Danny Radcliffe (Bradley & Colne) 21-15 and Andy Cairns (Rossendale) 21-13 to progress to finals night.

Grant made it through by seeing off Andy Walker (Harold Park) 21-17, Ryan Clarke (Thongsbridge) 21-19 and Paul Mottram (Horbury WMC) 21-13.

The final round of qualifying takes place on Sunday from 5.30pm, with Adam Mellor (Ladyhill) among those in action.

Week seven qualifying scores – First round: Chris Kelly (Thongsbridge) 21 Jon Wood (Crossgates) 11, Danny Radcliffe (Bradley & Colne) 21 Mark Regan (Brighouse Sports) 19, Dave Walker (Scholes) 8 Andy Cairns (Rossendale) 21, Chris Brown (Woodlands) 11 Ira Jeffers (Crossgates) 21, Andy Walker (Harold Park) 17 Neil Grant (Sale Excelsior) 21, Ryan Clarke (Thongsbridge) 21 Thomas Boyd Jnr (Woodlands) 17, Ian Vickers (Crossgates) 17 Paul Mottram (Horbury WMC) 21, Mark Connonlly (Brighouse) 19 Mick Wood (Crossgates) 21. Second round: Kelly 21 Radcliffe 15, Cairns 21 Jeffers 19, Grant 21 Clarke 19, Mottram 21 Wood 6. Third round: Kelly 21 Cairns 13 (draws No 14), Grant 21 Mottram 13 (draws No 4).

Week eight qualifying field: David Gwilliam (Glossop), Ben Gloag (Hyde), Adam Mellor (Ladyhill), Callum Wraight (Shropshire), Michael Coupe (Preston), John Hanson (Preston), Ian Booth (Lower Hopton), Craig Gant (Thongsbridge), Andrew Sykes (Mirfield Old Bank), Rod Collins (Rochdale), Jack Hargreaves (Hyde), Brian Lee (Alverthorpe), Glenn Pratt (Littlemoor), Paul Burke (Chapel Allerton), James Davison (Thongsbridge), Kevan Shaw (Westhoughton).

* IT WAS a West Bromwich double as Greg Smith and Elliott McGuiness were week seven qualifiers in the Brighouse Classic, sponsored by Damart.

Smith defeated Alex Wolfenden (Overthorpe) 21-11, Danny Petcher (Derby) 21-16 and Liam Griffin (Pudsey) 21-20 to make it through to finals night.

McGuiness qualified with wins over John Hanson (Chipping) 21-20, Gary Wike (Pudsey) 21-11 and Stephen Gilroy (Crossgates) 21-8.

Week seven qualifying scores – First round: Danny Petcher (Derby) 21 Simon Leeming (Hove Edge) 19, Alex Wolfenden (Overthorpe) 11 Greg Smith (West Bromwich) 21, Andy Ferris (Leek) w.o. Andy Gilroy (Eccleshill), Liam Griffin (Pudsey) 21 Paul Ingleby (Huddersfield) 15, John Hanson (Chipping) 20 Elliott McGuiness (West Bromwich) 21, Briam Thompson (Spen Victoria) 7 Gary Wike (Pudsey) 21, Chris Kearns (Stoke) 21 Gareth Nicholson (Halifax) 8, Stephen Gilroy (Crossgates) 21 Danny Sillitoe (Doncaster) 14. Second round: Petcher 16 Smith 21, Gilroy 9 Griffin 21, McGuiness 21 Wike 11, Kearns 18 Gilroy 21. Third round: Smith 21 Griffin 20 (draws No 6), McGuiness 21 Gilroy 8 (draws No 14).

* THE Bradford Mixed Pairs Merit takes place at Cleckheaton Sports on Sunday.

Partners do not have to come from the same club, although all bowlers must be registered in the Bradford League.

Anyone interested should contact Martin Hayton on 07825-740281.

* IT SHOULD be noted that Eccleshill won the Howarth Cup after defeating Asa Briggs A in the final, not against Clayton as published in last week's T&A.

* THE 2017 Farsley Winter Pairs gets underway on Sunday, October 1, with the finals on Sunday, November 12.

The entry fee is £20 per pair and spaces are available on all qualifying dates. For further details, contact Ian Swinfield on 07850-307536.

* THE Spen Floodlit League gets under way on Monday with a total of three divisions. Full fixtures can be found at www.bowlsnet.uk under Spen Floodlit League.