THE Worth Valley League is underway on local greens despite the cold weather.

The league, which is sponsored by McDowell Ltd, has three divisions and several cup competitions which are also sponsored.

The first division is also sponsored by McDowells with Newsome Manor Restaurant supporting Division Two. Phoenix Trophies give their backing to Division Three. Unlike all other Yorkshire leagues the association also runs a handicap section in each division giving all players a chance of success.

The league also runs the Valley Cup, a handicap knockout event, and the Supplementary Cup for first round losers.

Jim Cormican is the man in overall control and runs the league together with his other duties as Yorkshire County Secretary. He is available on 01535-604609.

Cross Roads A remain the team to beat and opened their account with a 10-0 victory over Sutton. Even at this early stage it looks a question of who will finish runners-up, with newcomers Crow Wood Park in contention.

Whins A will be trying to get back into the top flight together with Cross Hills A an Denholme A while Lund C and Silsden PF B have a similar task in mind as they try to climb out of Division Three.

The Doubles League on Tuesdays now has only seven teams with Cullingworth and Denholme A to the fore.

The Shipley League has already started with local hopes Whins wood losing heavily to Bingley Glen in the first game. Haworth's campaign in the Bradford league begins on Saturday.

Preliminary rounds in the Skipton Floodlit handicap take place on Sunday with the final the following Sunday.

Keighley Bowling Club did reasonably well in the British Club Championship at Irlam Steel, Manchester. They defeated Woodplumpton before being overwhelmed by top side Millhouses of Sheffield. Both Phil Anderson and Peter Deighton won both their games.

The saddest news of the week was the death of Oakworth's Jack Moore. The former club and Valley League secretary who was a life member of both organisations, died after a short illness.

Jack was a marvellous fellow, writes Roy Sanderson, who never complained about anything whether he won or lost. On his day he could beat anyone and reached the high point of a long career when he won the Yorkshire Websters Handicap back in 1970.

"In my early days, when we met regularly, Jack bowled the Jack one peg and his wood the other over the crown to confuse me completely, and yet when I beat him 21-4 in the semi-final of the Keighley Merit many years ago, he played with borrowed woods as he had forgotten his own.

"Revenge was his in one Valley Merit Final when he outclassed me 21-14. If everyone in bowls today had his attitude it would be a better game," Roy said.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.