Colin and Winifred Wortley won the Valley Mixed Pairs title after a marathon 12-hours of play on Sunday.

On a fast Highfield green they battled it out against the best partnerships in the distrcit, eventually beating Peter and Sue Finnie 15-11 in the final. Losing semi-finalists were J D Smith and Ann Coppen, Dennis Smith and 'Gordon' Bennett.

The area's only current county player, Sue Finnie, also excelled recently for Yorkshire in the annual Roses challenge match, the Pennine Cup. They took on Lancashire at Elland where Sue enjoyed a great win, but her joy was short-lived as she was dropped for the next county match as they challenge for the championship. The Silsden ladies star was rather 'miffed' at the selectors. Some you loose Sue and ... Some you loose!

The Valley Supplementary Cup was won comfortably by Craven A who defeated Whins Wood B at Cross Hills. The losers were outgunned with the wily veteran Alan Stacey producing their only win.

The Valley Cup itself is tonight (Friday) at Craven and is a family affair between Steeton A and Steeton B when no doubt a variety of coloured gloves will be on display. The 'A' team are odds-on favourites if all goes to plan, but 'Charlie' Chaplin and his crew are not just there as extras in this particular show.

The Skipton Summer Doubles are on Sunday and are sponsored once again by Spot-on Print of Keighley. Matches get underway at 1.30pm with the preliminary rounds at Keighley Bowling Club, Silsden PF, Silsden BC and Haworth. Two pairs from each green will qualify for the finals which take place at Addingham from 6.30.

The Skipton league has ended with Keighley A once again Champions with Silsden PF A runners-up again. Lund A and Addingham A are relegated.

Devon B are champions of Division Two and are promoted along with Rolls Royce A. Settle B and Silsden PF C go down wile Sutton return to Division Two as champions of Division Three and are joined by Rolls Royce B.

Addingham C are bottom club again, but battle away bravely every season with no complaints.

The Inter-Divisional knockout event reaches the semi-final stage next week in the Skipton League and will be followed by the floodlit league which sees the season continue until October 16. A record 28 teams in four divisions will make up this year's event.

The Inter-District team met Wakefield tonight as the event draws towards its conclusion.

Cross Roads pulled of a 10-2 victory in the Halifax League takes them nearer to the Division One title with four games to go.

The Hebden A Crabtree handicap at Lund Park was won by Alan Downing (Denholme) who beat David Hemsley (Oxenhope) 21-15.

Lund Park was also the venue to the Invitation Veterans Teams Doubles event sponsored by The Knowle Funeral Service. It was narrowly won by favourites Keighley, who beat the home team.

While most of the talk is about bowling greats and top players, remember the lesser lights of the game - particularly Duggie Street of Oakworth.

He was the hero of many a game long gone but still plays, and still loses, day in and day out with only the odd verbal complaint. However, I am glad to report the battered journeyman of bowls has won a recent game against one of the fairer sex who wishes to remain anonymous. The date was August 'the Glorious' 12th when Duggie 'bagged' his bird. The lad is now considering taking up grouse bating and has already got a few cuttings from the heather!

Doubles League

P Pts

Lund Park A 11 45

Cross Roads 11 43

Denholme 11 33

Lund Park B 11 11