TWO local finals brought early season competitions to boiling point on Sunday -- and kick-started the local season.

In the Foster Cup at Highfield, sponsored by David Gallagher, both favourites, Graham Lomax and Stephen Pickles lost in the semi-finals, but the final itself provided excitement to the final end.

Homester Lenny 'the Lion' Buxton came out a 21-20 winner over 'Oxenhope International' Brian Potts, after Potts had held a 13-4 lead in the early stages.

Potts then dashed off to the Skipton Spring Handicap finals at Gargrave where, suffering from exhaustion, he lost in the semi-final to Neil Hargreaves of Keighley Bowling club.

Hargreaves, one of the game's quiet men, met Nick Squires of Whinfield - another man of few words - in the final.

With the match locked at 19-all Squires contrived to bowl his woods nowhere near the jack, letting Hargreaves gain the two points for a narrow win. Jamie Cunningham (Silsden PF) was the other semi-finalist.

Cross Roads A have reached the Hebden Sunday Morning knockout final yet again. They overwhelmed Mytholmroyd BC A, who failed to register a winner. Another one-sided game is in the offing when the Roadies play in the final on Sunday.

Chris Slater returned to County action with the Yorkshire ABA as they defeated Cumbria with some ease in both legs. Chris won 21-9 at Lindal Bolwing Club.

The Skipton Vets Inter-District team get their campaign underway today (Friday) when they meed Bradford at Horton Park and Skipton Devond at 2pm. the locals have been wooden spoon men for many seasons, but will be hoping for better things under new captain Dougie Stone (Sutton), a slong as he stops shaking hands with allthe top players.

The Skipton SpringDoubles are played to a finish on several local greens on Sunday from 1.30pm.

The preliminary rounds of the Skipton Team Knockout event, the Clarkson Cup are on Tuesday. Holders Keighley A have a tricky tie against Cross Hills A at Steeton, while last year's runners-up, Sutton C, receive a bye until June 3

The draw also includes: Steeton A v Silsden PFA (at Suton); Lund B v Rolls Royce A (Broughton Rd); Cross Hills B v Addingham C (Cononley), Whinfield A v Addingham B (Rolls Royce), Grassington B v Silsden A (Whinfield), Colne Legions A v SPC C (Craven); Sutton B v Cononley B (Whins); Addingham A v Foulridge (Gargrave); Silsden B v Grassington A (Devon)

Keighley C v Whinfield B (Silsden PC).