Paul Hillam of Eccleshill is the St Enoch’s Garage-sponsored BRADFORD MERIT champion after a narrow 21-18 win over Stuart Wilson (Greengates) in the final. Hillam first lifted the title back in 1972 while playing for Bradford Moor but still has a great desire to win and showed what a tough competitor he still is.

He had to come through a tough semi-final against Andy Wood (Brighouse Sports), edging it 21-18, before the nail-biting decider.

Wilson can feel proud with his day’s work, overcoming Paul Gill (Clayton) 21-16 in the quarter-finals and then Chris Mordue (Brighouse Sports) 21-20 when beating a two-inch bowl full corners with his final roll to take out the two-times former champion.

But Hillam had bowled consistently well all day and fully deserved his victory.

Quarter-finals: A Wood (Brighouse Sports) 21, A Walker (Harold Park) 14; J French (Queensbury) 4, P Hillam (Eccleshill) 21; P Gill (Clayton) 16, S Wilson (Greengates) 21; G McCafferty (Asa Briggs) 14, C Mordue (Brighouse Sports) 21. Semi-finals: Wood 18, Hillam 21; Wilson 21, Mordue 20. Final: Hillam 21, Wilson 18.

Andy Cairns (Rossendale) and Craig Gant (Netherton Cons) were the final qualifiers for the Giles Insurance Shipley CLASSIC.

Cairns came through a tough opening game against Phil Wakefield (Mexborough), winning 21-19 after trailing 19-14, before easing through the next two rounds 21-8 against Richard Stockdale (Eccleshill) and 21-7 against Dave Smith (Skipton Devon).

Gant, a last-minute replacement, was also impressive, taking out local favourite Liam Griffin (Pudsey) 21-10 in the final qualifying game.

First round: G Foulkes (South Leeds Cons) 15, K Shuttleworth (Sandal) 21; A Uttley (Skipton Devon) 5, C Gant (Netherton Cons) 21; G Whelan (Guiseley) 20, A Downing (Denholme) 21; S Wilson (Greengates) 3, L Griffin (Pudsey) 21; D Smith (Skipton Devon) 21, A Tattersley (Moor Green) 12; P Hillam (Eccleshill) 14, J Evison (Sandal) 21; W Wilson (Crossgates) 12, R Stockdale (Eccleshill) 21; P Wakefield (Mexborough) 19, A Cairns (Rossendale) 21. Second round: Shuttleworth 19, Gant 21; Downing 13, Griffin 21; Smith 21, Evison 20; Stockdale 8, Cairns 21. Third round: Gant 21, Griffin 10; Smith 7, Cairns 21.

The final takes place on Friday, with practice from 6pm and start at 6.30pm.

Graeme Wilson (Lower Hopton) is installed as 7-4 favourite but, with such a high-class field, it will be tough to call.

A large crowd is expected, with bar and refreshments available all evening.

Draw: N Roper (Littlemoor) v A Cairns (Rossendale), A Whittaker (Meersbrook) v GI Wilson (Lower Hopton), S Fisher (Denby Grange) v A Deighton (Bridlington), C Gant (Netherton Cons) v L Lawton (Lower Hopton).

The draws for the HOWARTH CUP and SUPPLEMENTARY CUP have been made, with one Howarth preliminary-round game to be played on Thursday, June 24. The quarter-finals of both competitions will be on Thursday, July 1.

Howarth Cup – Preliminary round: Harold Park (45) v Brackenhill (65), at Shipley Club. Quarter-finals: Harold Park or Brackenhill v Asa Briggs A, at Wyke; Drighlington (45) v Eccleshill (Scr), at Asa Briggs; Bradford Moor (45) v Shipley Club (Scr), at Peel; Wyke (50) v Asa Briggs B (35), at Wibsey.

Supplementary Cup – Quarter-finals: Peel (45) v Clayton (45), at Drighlington; Tyersal (35) v Birkenshaw (55), at Greengates; Guiseley (10) v Wibsey (35), at Clayton; Lister (45) v Greengates (20), at Shipley Club.