Whins Wood B pulled off the shock of the Valley Cup when they beat top local side Cross Roads A to take the title.

Cross Roads are one of Yorkshire's leading teams, and although they had to give Whins plenty of start on the handicap system, they were still expected to win comfortably.

But great efforts from Albert Edmondson and young John Robertson -- a star of the future -- ensured that Whins turned the tables.

Their effort was backed up by Whins B star Charlie Allott, the original 'striking miner' and a hero of Scargill's days, who won to secure the stunning victory. The competition was sponsored by Geoff Moore and Co of Haworth.

It has been a tough weekend for Cross Roads, because their hopes of a Halifax League success were dimmed by a defeat at Crow Wood Park A. They were also knocked out of the British Team Championships, a title they won not so long ago, in the preliminary round by a team from Barrow.

Chris Salter was on form in the Leeds Classic, picking up a £750 runners-up cheque after reaching the final. He was beaten 21-14 by David Walker of Manchester in a match which was closer than the scoreline suggests.

It was a bad day at Whins Wood where Heavy rain affected games in the Whiteoak Invitation Pairs, sponsored by Burgess Ford and the Balti House restaurant, Ilkley. Peter Finne and gust player David Cadwallader of Sutton emerged victorious after surviving a close encounter when they beat reigning champions Kevin Wordley and Margaret Wood 21-19 in a nail biting final.

Losing semi-finalists were drenched and exhausted Ted Barnes and Stevie Wood, Keith Ridding and Roy Sanderson.

Keighley A have retained the Skipton League Division One title after victories over Colne A and Rolls Royce in the last two games. The victory makes it fifteen wins out of 16 in the last seasons, but this year the team bowled badly and still won the title.

Silsden PF A return to Division One as champions of Division Two, but will have to improve to maintain their positions. Keighley B are also promoted.

A busy weekend ahead starts tonight with final qualifying rounds in the Yorkshire Parks Brotherton Cup, sponsored by Swinton Insurance. The finals are scheduled for the Aire-Wharfe area on September 6.

Local teams involved include past winners Cross Roads who play Walsden at Rufford Park, Haworth who play Myrtle at Wueensbury, Whins Wood who play Holbeck at West Bradford, Keighley who play Crow Wood Park at Asa Briggs and holders Silsden BC who play Wayside (Harrogate) at Littlemoor.

The Dick Keighley handicap finals start at 1.30 on Sunday. The event is held in memory of one of the Skipton League's greatest workers and attracts many entries from Division Two and Three, an exciting day is in prospect.

However, the area's most popular event is at Keighley Bowling Club on Bank Holiday Monday when the Horsfield family sponsor the popular Invitation Doubles event held in memory of the late Jack Horsfield of Lund Park.

The event will provide a tremendous day's bowling for players and spectators alike with several top players on view. There will also be refreshments galore and a tremendous atmosphere.

Draw (first name in each pair). 9.45: D Wright v B Morley; T Harney v K Wright, D Varley v D Fairless, A Cooper v Jim Horsfield.

10.30: N Wilkinson v D Ripley, C Later v A Croxall, A Marsden v P Loftus, J D Smith v C Shuttleworth.

11.15: B Turnbull v A Tate, D Metcalfe v P Sigsworth, C Fellows v D Slater, T Hargreaves v P Golding.

12.00: P Briggs v R Hargreaves, D Scott v Ben Ridding, G Ellis v A Pennington, R Sanderson v L Hesketh.

Yorkshire Juniors, the county team and the ladies team have reached the finals of this year's event and travel to Cheshire for all finals on September 20.

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