CHRIS SLATER picked up the Tom Beverley Memorial Handicap at the Raikes Hotel in Blackpool during a successful weekend.

He faced Blackpool star Bill Hewitson in the final and pulled off a thrilling 21-18 victory. Chris later teamed up with his wife, Diane, in the New Mills Mixed Pairs event at Buxton where they again reached the final, but this time slipped to a 21-18 defeat.

The final of the Craven Floodlit Competition takes place tonight at Craven Bowling Club when eight finalists go to post including local hopes David Smith, Richard Dunhill and Les Foster who will be hoping for a change of luck after a disappointing season. In-form bowler Chris Slater will also be on show.

The Valley Merit, the league's premier competition, will be played on Sunday at Bradshaw Park, Halifax, starting at 9.30am.

Holder Trevor Hargreaves defends his title against 35 rivals including four past winners including 'yours truly' Roy Sanderson who has won the title a record four times and also lost in another five finals.

The draw is: 9.30: P Rooke v R Littlewood, R Hargreaves v C Cadwallader, G Foster v K Baker, B Rowan v C Lomax. 10.15: D Hewitt v D Cadwallader, D Fielden v Ed hall, T Hargreaves v A Downing, K Ridding v B Hobson. 11.00: C Wortley v M Baker, G Lomax v A Drummons, E Bland v D Hobson, R Sanderson v J Cormican. 11.45: A Nicholls v H Jarvis, B Harrison v S Pickles, L Buxton v G Beck, M Swarbrick v K Harrison. 12.30: P Anderson v S Swain, L Hutchinson v P Roach.

The Dick Keighley Memorial Trophy Finals are also on Sunday at Cononley with eight finalists going to post in an event held in memory of a former -Skipton District Secretary. Matches start at 1.30 with local representatives including Jean Smith and Colin Woodwiss in action.

This week also sees the finals of the Johnson, Lambert and Ellis Cups in the Skipton district. League Champions Keighley A made an early exit from the Johnson Cup after suffering their first defeat of the season at the hands of Devon A. Other casualties were Silsden PF A and Silsden A who went down to their B team.

Holders Oakworth are still in the Lambert Cup along with Cononley B and lowly Lund B. There will be a full report next week.

The Skipton Inter-District team hit a brick wall in the quest for fame when they lost 12-9 to past winners Leeds. The away squad shared the spoils at Crossgates but they were well beaten at Whinfield where there were only three winners. The last game in the series is against Harrogate on Friday, September 13, when they hope their luck will change.

Preliminary Rounds of the Norman Johnson competition are to be held on Monday in memory of the extrovert Rolls Royce player of many years ago. Greens in use include Broughton Road, Colne Legion, Whinfield and Devon.

For those looking to keep their woods in action into the autumn there is the Peter Holden Four Person Knockout consisting of one pair and two singles. Preliminares are to be played on Saturdays in October. For details contact Phil Todd on 01422-248279

There is also the Brighouse Winter Bowls Competition to take place the Hipperholme and Lightcliffe Club starting on November 3. Contact: Tony Naylor on 01924-476755.