SPONSOR Peter Dowgill was the happiest man on the Silsden Playing Fields green after watching his son Phillip win the Ogden Trophy handicap Final on Sunday.

Phillip, of Cross Hills pulled off a narrow 21-19 victory over Alan Downing of Denholme in an exciting final. There was some first class bowling with close ends of shorter marks.

Losing semi-finalists on a day of excellent play which was well controlled by Valley secretary Jim Cormican were Steve Pickles of Cross Roads and Charlie Allott of Whins Wood.

Valley action continues on Sunday at Oakworth with one of the best events of the season, the popular Valley handicap, which starts at 9.30. The event is sponsored by Hamnet Transport of Halifax and features title holder Steve Pickles who meets catering organiser Margaret Hutchinson in the first round.

The draw is - 9.30: M Baker v J Cormicon, D Hobson, A Abel, C Allott v A Reddihough, S Pickles v W Hutchinson.

10.15: A Downing v R Laird, W Hobson v R Jones, D Hemsley v E Hall, P Lightowler v R Littlewood.

11.00: R Sanderson v K Baker, L Hutchinson v T Bugeja, S Wilkins v G Perry, D Hewitt v S Swain.

11.45: M Hemsley v A Hewitt, B Harrison v C Wilson, E Boocock v C Wilkins, P Andrson v D Fielden.

12.30: V Ambrose v E Bland, A McLean v B Rowan, R Lightowler v L Buxton.

The Valley Supplementary Cup Final will be held on August 17 at 6.30 at Cross Hills and features Craven B against Cullingworth.

The Veterans knockout Cups have reached the semi-final stage which will be held on Monday, September 10. Division One - Burgess Ford Cup: Silsden v Whinfield A (at Lund Park); Sutton A v Lund A (Highfield). Division Two - John Holmes Cup: Silsden PF B v Whinfield B (Steeton), Steeton A v Lund B (Silsden PF).

Cross Roads A remain close to the leaders in the first division of the Halifax League after beating Hill Crest A 9-3, but the other teams have a game in hand. Oxenhope A remain next to bottom.

Oakworth's improvement in Division Two came to abrupt end with an 11-1 defeat at Greetland A. the locals face a couple of tricky games in the next week in their battle for survival. Oxenhope B still head Division Four just ahead of Elland C and BC C. Denholme remain too close to the drop for comfort in Division Five while Cross Roads B are second in Division Six despite a 9-3 defeat at Mixenden, the team right behind them.

n Sue Finnie and Margaret Slater of Whinswood represent Yorkshire County Ladies in their match against Shropshire at Cross Hills Bowling Club on Sunday. The action starts at 2pm.

n One of the last surviving links with the great days of bowling has died suddenly.

Garry Hargreaves was a good all round player who over the years represented Keighley Bowling Club, Devonshire Park, Highfield and Prince Smiths down Dalton Lane in a long career at local level.