Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) and Angela Carter (Pudsey Littlemoor) thwarted perennial champions Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports) and Tracey Lawrence (Heckmondwike) on their way to victory in the Bradford Mixed Pairs Merit.

They beat Stuart King (Pudsey Littlemoor) and Sharon Gadd (Shipley Club) 21-10 in the final of the Texere Yarns-sponsored event. Riley and Lawrence had been looking to make it five titles in five years but were despatched 21-10 in the semi-finals.

Quarter-finals – Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) and Angela Carter (Littlemoor) 21, Maurice Carter and Kath Bywell (Littlemoor) 8; Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports) and Tracey Lawrence (Heckmondwike) 21, Josh Mordue (Brighouse Sports) and Pam Lindley (Tyersal) 13; Robbie Ellis Jnr (Royd House) and Margaret Wood (Guiseley) 21, Matthew Jacques and Pat Lonsdale (Shipley Club) 14; Stuart King (Littlemoor) and Sharon Gadd (Shipley Club) 21, Michael Jagger and Irene Bulman (Queensbury) 9. Semi-finals – Hillam & Carter 21, Riley & Lawrence 10; Ellis Jnr & Wood 14, King & Gadd 21. Final – Hillam & Carter 21, King & Gadd 10.

Matthew Jacques (Shipley Club) was the winner of the Junior Handicap.

The competition is sponsored by the Law Family in memory of Les Law of Queensbury. Jacques came through a tough semi-final, winning 21-14 against Josh Mordue (Brighouse Sports), before defeating Jack Bowes (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21-10 in the final.

Quarter-finals – Jack Bower (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21, Chris Jacques (Shipley Club) 17; Hannah Turner (Guiseley) 21, Hannah Wilczynski (Wibsey) 15; Matthew Jacques (Shipley Club) 21, Kate Stockdale (Guiseley) 4; Emma Ramsey (Guiseley) 11, Josh Mordue (Brighouse Sports) 21. Semi-finals – Bowes 21, Turner 18; Jacques 21, Mordue 14. Final – Bowes 10, Jacques 21.

Liam Griffin (Pudsey) and Jon Sneddon (Maltby) were the latest qualifiers in the Shipley Classic, sponsored by Giles Insurance and Yorkshire Building Society.

Griffin opened up with a comfortable win over Phil Chalkley (Hillcrest) 21-19, before tough games against Andy Mailer (Meersbrook) 21-18, and Andy Deighton (Bridlington) 21-19, saw him through to finals nights, going one better than last season. Sneddon, a last-minute reserve showed his liking of the Shipley green, took out favourite Callum Wraight (Shropshire) 21-20 in the final game.

Draw for Week Four of qualifying (on Friday) – Gary Whelan (Guiseley) v Scott Fisher (Morton House), Neil Howlett (Grove Hill) v Gareth Owen (Asa Briggs), Mark Hughes (Crossgates) v Bob Whitfield (Brighouse Sports), Alex Wolfenden (Eccleshill) v Roy Nicholson (Halifax), Craig Gant (Netherton Cons) v Stewart Watson (Pudsey), Gary Mills (Barrow in Furness) v Dave Fisher (Morton House), Adrian Briggs (Wyke) v Hedley Kettlewell (Brighouse Sports), James Davison (Eccleshill) v Ashley Southwell (Asa Briggs).

Yorkshire defeated Staffordshire 466-398 in the Senior County Championship to build on their victory over North Midlands in May.

In the home match at Thongsbridge, Yorkshire carded eight winners, with Ashley Tattersley (Morton House) and James Wilcox (Crossgates) both carding 21-6 victories, helping Yorkshire to a 45-point success. In the away match at Cannock, Yorkshire had seven winners, and a 23-point victory. Yorkshire’s final match is against Cheshire on Sunday, July 3, and they will be favourites to progress.

Scores from Thongsbridge – Graham Higgins (Lower Hopton) 21-18, Craig Gant (Netherton Cons) 21-16, Dave Fisher (Morton House) 21-10, Steven Hirst (Netherton Cons) 18-21, Dave Fox (Kirkheaton Cons) 19-21, John Spinks (Alverthorpe WMC) 14-21, Mick Robinson (Morton House) 18-21, Jack Dyson (Netherton Cons) 21-18, James Wilcox (Crossgates) 21-6, Ashley Tattersley (Morton House) 21-6, Graham Hickey (Lower Hopton) 21-18, Ashley Daykin (Netherton Cons) 21-16. Yorkshire 237, Staffordshire 192. Scores from Cannock – Kieron Smith (Crossgates) 19-21, Robbie Fitzpatrick (Morton House) 15-21, Scott Fisher (Morton House) 21-17, Graeme Wilson (Lower Hopton) 21-15, Liam Griffin (Pudsey) 21-13, Dave Cooper (Littlemoor) 19-21, James Davison (Eccleshill) 21-14, Jon Edmondson (Pudsey) 18-21, Mark Regan (Brighouse Sports) 21-16, Chris Mordue (Brighouse Sports) 11-21, Robert Hitchen (Lower Hopton) 21-12, Nick White (Thongsbridge) 21-14. Yorkshire 229, Staffordshire 206.

The Spen Valley Pairs Merit takes place next Wednesday, with two qualifiers each from four venues (Churwell Park, Cleckheaton Sports, Heckmondwike, Spen Victoria). All games will be 15-up, with a 6.35pm scratch and a 6.45pm start.

Churwell Park – M Walton & R Wilkinson (Harold Club), A Broadbent & N Broadbent (Rastrick), R Firth & I Wilson (Spen Victoria), A Wood & K Wood (Brighouse Sports), N Bastow & P Rooks (Eccleshill), R Brook & A Sykes (Mirfield Old Bank), A Wilcock & N Wood (Crossgates), R Hobson & M Potter (Spen Victoria), P Brooke & A Page (Cleckheaton Sports).

Cleckheaton Sports (Back green) – V Cleary & N Jagger (Harold Club), D Billington & P Warwick (Spen Victoria), F Cullen & D Talbot (Rastrick), J Wood & M Wood (Crossgates), P McGowan & A Orme (Blakeboroughs), J Mordue & R Wormald (Brighouse Sports), D Arnold & I Firth (Spen Victoria), J Stockdale & R Stockdale (Eccleshill), J Mellor & C Sowden (Harold Club).

Heckmondwike – M Maguire & C Wilson (Spen Victoria), J Hopkinson & B Jenkins (Mirfield Old Bank), R Icke & J Glazzard (Cleckheaton Sports), S Cooper & AW Green (Crossgates), B Marsden & A Fox (Rastrick), AW Riley & partner (Brighouse Sports), G Dennison & R Walmsley (Western Flatts), H Seehra & S Walder (Spen Victoria), C Boldy & K Hardaker (Harold Club), M Smaith & J Stocks (Drighlington).

Mirfield Old Bank – J Blackburn & A Ellis (Spen Victoria), S Rothwell & D Stansfield (Brighouse Sports), D Dyson & D Fountain (Brighouse Sports), C Bray & R Bentley (Cleckheaton Sports), G Dawson & E Hill (Spen Victoria), M Briggs & M Morris (Hanging Heaton), P Berry & K Wilson (Heckmondwike), M Hughes & K Smith (Crossgates), T Benn & N Tordoff (Harold Club), J Armitage & M Armitage (Pudsey Littlemoor).

Saturday is the closing date for the Wednesday Merit, which takes place at Peel Park on Wednesday, June 22, with a start and scratch of 10.30am. Entry fee is £2. Anyone interested should contact Norman Lickley on 01943 884323.

The Bradford Merit, sponsored by St Enoch’s Garage, takes place on Sunday at Harold Club, with a start and scratch of 10.30am. Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) will be looking to defend his title, and in his current form, stands every chance.