THE bowling season starts to swing into action this weekend with the preliminary rounds of the Hebden Royd Sunday Morning knockout event.

There is also a full Hebden League programme on Monday night when Cross Roads A will set out on their quest for another title success in Division One. Their closest rivals could be their newly promoted B team. The usual struggles for Haworth, Oxenhope, Cullingworth, Whins Wood and Oakworth continue at this level, along with Lund A who survived relegation last season. The other two divisions remain quite open.

The Halifax League starts on Wednesday with Division One champions Cross Roads a at home to Clayton Victoria as they start their title defence. Oxenhope continue in Division Two where they finished third last season but may again find one or two teams just too good for them. Newly promoted Cross Roads B meet rivals Oakworth in Division Three and Denholme continue in Division Five and could go well.

The Roy Parker Memorial Trophy is at Salts on Sunday with several stars on show, including some who have used the indoor facilities at Salts to keep in trim for the coming season. The competition starts at 10am.

The opening Wakefield Mixed pairs event saw Denholme's Alan Downing team up with Ann Rose of Huddersfield to reach the finals. Sadly their effort came to naught as they were easily beaten by Castleford's Stewart Thompson and Mo chambers.

In the second event Oakworth's Liz Bland and Roy Sanderson reached the semi-finals with some strong performances, only to lose 14-15 at the last end, when your bowling correspondent made one of his well known 'muck ups' to put it mildly!