Arnie Ripley led a string of local qualifiers for the Waterloo Handicap, despite having to keep his cool when a stripogram ran onto the green.

He was joined in the line-up by Chris Slater, Brian harrison, Brian Potts, David Leeming and Colin Wortley.

The annual Yorkshire v Lancashire Ladies clash took place on Monday with the White Rose side winning by 45 points to retain the trophy. Rita Bland from Sutton was in the team and suffered a narrow 21-19 defeat, but her points were a valuable contribution to the overall 230-185 victory.

On Sunday the Yorkshire Ladies bowling squad play South Staffordshire in the semi-final of the County Championships. The home leg is at Almondbury, Huddersfield, and the away team travels to Heath Hayes Constitutional Club, Cannock. Local interest is Sue Finnie, on the anchor leg at Cannock.

If they make it through the Count Finals will be held at the Waterloo Hotel, Blackpool, September 15.

Although Cross Roads have almost sewn up the Valley and Hebden Bridge leagues again, but they have a fight on their hands in the Halifax League where they were second in Division One behind Elland. A poor home performance against lowly Siddall proved expensive and Elland also crashed to two defeats to third placed Walsden who took advantage to go top and become the new title favourites.

Skipton Devon's run in the Henry Taylor Cup came to an end at the semi-final stage at Brighouse when they lost by 16 points to Schaler. Club stalwarts Tomy Ackers and Howard Baker met the full force of ex-Yorkshire starts, Brian and David Walker, and were well beaten.

There is a busy programme of Valley events this weekend, starting tonight at Haworth with the Supplementary Cup Final between Highfield B and the 'black hand gang' of Steeton B who are both in Division Three. A close game is anticipated, starting at 6.30.

Tomorrow sees the Valley Cup Final at Cross Hills starting at 2.30. For a change there isn't a Cross Roads team involved and Third Division Keighley Bowling Club take on Bradshaw A who are currently bottom of Division One.

On Sunday the Leading ladies Open Mixed Doubles, sponsored by Parkinson's Printers, starts at Highfield at 9.30am. Viv Ambrose is current holder and the draw is:- 9.30am: B Harrison v D Burgess, E Whiteoak v S Ambler, C Burnett v S Ramsey, R Ellis v D Hobson. 10.00am: J Buxton v A Bennett, J Brinton v K Kennedy, J Pickles v R Bland, V Ambrose v I Garnett. 10.30am: P Bugeja v B Heaps, P Wilkins v J Ellis, P Lightowler v S Finnie, E Bland v K Baker. 11.00am: I Stone v M Hutchinson, J Trueman v A Coppen, T Balmforth v B Rowan, K Ridding v H Seward. 11.30am: E Thornton v W Chaplin, H Cartwright v J Taylor, W Stephenson (bye).

The Skipton Summer Doubles also takes place at Settle and Grassington on Sunday and with several players turning out in both competitions it could be time for the secretaries of both leagues to get together before the seasons start and try to avoid similar fixture clashes in the future.

The Valley End of Season Doubles also clashes with Silsden's Featherstone Trophy competition, another clash which could be avoided.

The Clarkson Cup Final is on Monday at Cross Hills featuring double-chasing Keighley A and lowly Sutton C of Division Three who will be hoping to draw on all of their 115-point start to survive. The match starts at 7.pm.

The end of season Skipton team handicap events start on Tuesday with the Ken Johnson, Richard Lambert and Alan Ellis Cup events. The finals of all the competitions are to be held on August 29.

In the Johnson Cup holders Devon a meet Keighley A at Steeton and Lambert Cup holders Oakworth meet Keighley B at Whins Wood. Steeton B defend the Ellis Salver starting with a game against Devonshire C at Cross Hills.

Johnson Cup: Whinfield A v Silsden PF B (at Grassington); Whins Wood v Cross Hills A (Haworth); Cononley A v Sutton A (Oakworth); Keighley A v Devon A (Steeton); Silsden PF A v Broughton Road (Gargrave); Colne Legion A v Foulridge (Rolls Royce); Silsden A v Silsden B (Craven); Lund A v Settle A (Addingham).

Lambert Cup: Rolls Royce A v Lund A (Silsden); Cross Hills B v Haworth (Keighley); Addingham A v Cononley B (Foulridge); Gargrave A v Colne Legion B (Broughton Rd); Broughton Rd B v Steeton A (Devon); Devon B v Whinfield B (Silsden PF); Keighley B v Oakworth (Whins Wood); Grassington A v Craven A (Settle).

Ellis Salver: Steeton B v Devon C (Cross Hills); Silsden PF C v Rolls Royce B (Cononley); Addingham B v Settle B (Whinfield); Keighley C v Whinfield C (Colne Legion); Sutton B v Sutton C (Lund Park); Addingham C v Craven B (Cononley, Wednesday); Gargrave B v Grassington B (Broughton, Wed); Broughton C v Settle C (Rolls Royce, Wed).

The John Rycroft Trophy at Broughton road ended in victory for Roy Nicholson (Elland) with a 21-17 victory over favourite Brian Duncan to prove you are never too old to win a big competition. Local bowler Ben Ridding reached the last eight in an excellent game played in front of a good crowd in wet conditions.

Qualifiers in the Craven Classic include Les Foster (Devon) and Richard Dunhill (Silsden PF) who beat ex-Yorkshire Champion Bob Hitchen 21-13 in his last game.

The Hebden League continues with Cross Roads A again in line for the Division One title. Whins A remain third, but Lund A are bottom and look likely to be relegated.

Haworth head Division Two with Cross Roads B chasing them all the way while Cullingworth B stay at the bottom. Cross Roads C are also joint bottom of Division Three with Old Town B.

Doubles League

P Pts

Lund Park A 8 40

Highfield 8 29

Denholme A 6 28

Cullingworth 8 22

Denholme B 9 19

Cross Roads 9 18

Lund Park B 8 13