THE familiar smell of bacon cooking greeted you as you entered the clubhouse of Whinswood Bowling Club, who were the hosts of this years I.B. Thompson Senior Individual Merit.

The weather was overcast, breezy and fine, but a lot cooler than of late. Only 22 bowlers had entered this competition, a very poor show indeed, and when nine of these players did not show up on the day, leaving only 13 to play for such a prestigious title, an air of disappointment was apparent.

But quality not quantity was the order of the day, Neville Lund of Oxenhope B.C. bowled really well to win two matches, 21-8 against Sandra Cooper (Baildon) and 21-19 against Bob Jeffrey, Bob had previously beaten Roy Cooper (Baildon), who is always favourite to be in the last four if not the last two, 21-11.

Ronnie Bowden beat one of the home bowlers Peter Finnie 24-22 in a cracking battle that saw Ronnie 23-11 up and Peter fight back to 23-22.

John Ramsey, last years winner, was drawn against one of his team-mates John Smith, but the champion could not repeat last year's performance and was well beaten 21-6.

There was a short break for lunch and it has to be said that the ladies of Whinswood put on a marvellous spread, from bacon sarni's in the morning to a selection of sandwiches for lunch with pie and peas and some lovely cakes and sweets, including a fresh strawberry and cream meringue that was mouth-wateringly good.

With the clouds rolling in, but still fine, the semis got underway. A close match between Neville Lund and John Smith saw John step into the final winning 22-15. Kevin Wordley soon joined him beating Ronnie Bowden 21-9 in a match where the score does not reflect the closeness of the game.

So into the final, two home bowlers met head to head with Peter Finnie, also of Whinswood, acting as referee. Kevin could do no wrong, after just seven ends he was 12-0 up and cooking on gas, but John never bows his head or gives in and the score was 13-9 when the rains came, light at first then heavier and heavier.

John clawed his way back to 16-16 but Kevin's consistency saw him win the day, putting on toucher after toucher in the closing stages to take the trophy 21-17.

A short but excellent days bowling was brought to an end when John Thompson presented the prizes and the trophy,thanking Whinswood Bowling Club for hosting the event, and the ladies for the wonderful catering.

The team cup competitions continue this week with finals day on Sunday. The Jennings Crackles competition will take place at Yeadon Park at 10 am when Farsley play Oxenhope. At the same venue at 12.30 pm Menston will play Greenbottom in the final of the Dobson Challenge Shield and then at 2.30 pm on the same green Salts BC will play Wharfemeadows B in the final of the Salts Trophy.

Local bowlers W Slater (Rufford), M Stocks (Yeadon Park), G Oliver (Guiseley), G Cherry (Farsley), B Dowling (Farsley) and W Cater (Guiseley) are in the Yorkshire County Parks teams to play in the British Parks veterans' county championships against Greater Leeds. The home side will play at Mytholmroyd and the away team at Whitkirk.

D Kirkbright and S Crowther (Rufford Park) won the preliminary round competition at Pudsey Ltd on Sunday in the ladies pairs competition. They beat D Wise and F Mason (Tarnfield) and now go forward to finals day in August.

Airedale and Wharfedale League results were:

Monday Singles Division One - Guiseley Nuffield 186 (18) Farsley A 170 (12), Woodside A 200 (26) Rawdon A 126 (4), Bramley Libs A 182 (18) Ilkley A 163 (12), Rufford A 210 (30) Pudsey BC 110 (0), Wharfemeadows A 195 (18) Rufford B 181 (12).

Division Two - Ilkley B 157 (8) Burley A 203 (22), Rawdon B 166 (12) Greenbottom 178 (18), Moor Allerton 174 (18) Guiseley B 150 (12), Grove Hill A 178 (19) Bingley 151 (11), Rodley 200 (20) Hall Park A 157 (10).

Division Three - Tarnfield A 189 (17) Bramley Libs B 176 (13), Calverley A 198 (24) Woodside B 147 (6), Farsley B 206 (28) The Glen 122 (2), Yeadon Park A 187 (20) Horsforth Cons. 158 (10), Menston 186 (21) Yeadon Park B 136 (9).

Division Four - Pudsey Brit. 203 (27) Guiseley C 115 (3), Greenbottom B 155 (11) Calverley B 181 (19), Burley-in-Wh. B 190 (22) Tarnfield B 143 (8), Holt Park 209 (29) Grove Hill B 107 (1)

Tuesday Pairs Division One - Shipley Club B 56 (8) Baildon A 71 (16), Myrtle Park A 80 (20) Northcliffe 49 (4), West Bradford A 63 (10) Bingley Glen 73 (14), Salts 74 (15) Idle 64 (9), Rufford A 55 (9) Shipley Club A 69 (15)

Division Two - The Glen B 79 (18) Rufford Park B 54 (6), Tarnfield 82 (22) Royd House 38 (2), Shipley Club 53 (5) Myrtle Park B 83 (19), Baildon B 51 (8) The Glen A 60 (16)

Wednesday Pairs Division One - Burley-in-Wh. A 118 (21) Rufford A 82 (3), Yeadon Park A 102 (13), Guiseley Nuffield 101(11), Meanwood Park 124 (24) Woodside A 59 (0), Rodley 111 (15) Greenbottom A 98 (9), Rufford B 123 (20) Grove Hill A 98 (4).

Division Two - Rawdon A 106 (13) Hall Park A 105 (11), Woodside B 107 (15) Holbeck 97 (9), Tarnfield A 111 (16) Menston A 98 (8), Guiseley B 103 (9) Holt Park 115 (15), Stanningley A 124 (20) Burley-in-Wh. B 73 (4).

Division Three - Grove Hill B 124 (24) Stanningley B 77 (0), Greenbottom B 106 (17) Bramley Libs. 87 (7), Wharfemeadows B 123 (21) Ilkley 84 (3), Calverley B 121 (10) Yeadon Park B 99 (6), Hall Park B 122 (23) Rawdon B 63 (1)

Saturday Singles Division One - Shipley Club A 204 Wharfemeadows 121, Oak 180 Oxenhope 174, Baildon A 187 Whinswood 164, Armley Cons 189 Bingley Glen A 161, Myrtle Park A 197 Wayside A 116.

Division Two - Rawdon Park 190 Greenbottom A 148, Burley-in-Wharfedale A 200 Holbeck Moor 145, Farsley 186 Pateley Bridge A 138, The Glen A 172 Ilkley A 151, Idle A 181 Grove Hill A 166.

Division Three - Shipley Club C 189 Starbeck 143, Yeadon Park A 200 Myrtle Park B 138, Tarnfield A 163 Shipley Club B 170, Adel A 199 Burley-in-Wharfedale B 128, Northcliffe 196 Baildon A 144.

Division Four - Pateley Bridge B 192 Adel B 178, Grove Hill B 174 Menston A 160, Greenbottom B 131 Knaresborough Thistle 197.

Division Five - Menston B 154 The Glen B 125, Wayside B 150 Shipley Club D 142, Wharfemeadows B 135 Yeadon Park B 111, Holbeck WMC 162 Tarnfield B 106.

Division Six - Dacre Bank 126 Royd House 52, Yeadon Park D 112 Shipley Club E 95, Baildon C 102 Salts 90, Wharfemeadows C 125 Yeadon Park C 77, Idle C 108 Wayside C 92.