STEPHEN PICKLES saw his proud reign as Yorkshire Champion come to an end in game two of their year's competition.

He lost to his team mate Richard Hargreaves in the second prelim held at Oxenhope last weekend and Hargreaves also accounted for Les Foster and looked set to qualify until another team mate, Garry Foster, pipped him at the post. He will now go forward to the finals at Spen Victoria on July 10.

Graham Lummax used his local green knowledge to beat Trevor Hargreaves and book his place in the finals.

Trying to put the defeat behind him, Pickles won from Cross Roads in the Yorkshire Cup the following day, only for his fancied team-mates to be crushed by Thongsbridge of Huddersfield, a team strengthened by several Sheffield imports.

However, 'Pick' came up trumps on Sunday in the Valley Handicap Doubles at Broughton Road when he teamed up with Brian Harrison to win the event, defeating Briene Father, Keith and Jennie Greenbank 21-15 in a rain spoilt final.

Losing semi-finalists were Ronnie Cowman and Viv Ambrose, Andy and Gillian Johnson.

Skipton's teams in the Inter-District event lacked real class and quality as they failed to reach the final stages of the prelims at Newsome WMC, Huddersfield. They drew the first game with newcomers The East Coast before being outclassed by eventual finalists, West Riding, to come bottom of the three-team group.

The Hargreaves boys, Richard and Trevor, won both their matches to bring a ray of hope for next season.

The final between Bradford and West riding was abandoned due to heavy rain. Next year's event is on the East Coast - Whitby here we come!

Joanne Ellis (Devon) and Phillip Dowgill (Cross Hills) retained the Wilkie Mixed Pairs title in the Aire Wharfe League, defeating the 'Oxenhope Internationals' Brian Pam Potts 21-20 in a thrilling final after leading 17-2.

The Veteran Inter-District team are in action again today (Friday) at Cross Hills (2pm) when they meet what could be a strong Wakefield team.

The Federation team begin their fixtures on Sunday with a game against South Lancashire in Division Four and will face much stronger opposition this time around. Viv Ambrose leads the home team in action at Whinfield (2pm start) and Stephen Pickles leads the away team.

Pickles must now be suffering from exhaustion as he also appears in the Craven Classic tonight (Friday) at 7pm along with other locals, Mary and David Hemsley, Keith and Danny Moore who make it a family affair.