The second competition in the Airedale and Wharfedale Crown Green Bowls Association calendar took place on Sunday in absolutely perfect conditions.

The Frank Mitchell Trophy was held, as it is every year, at West Bradford Bowling Club. Twentysix entrants battled it out to see who would be the victor.

With a possible five games to play to get to the final it was a test of will and stamina to see who could stand the heat, pressure wise as well as from the baking sun.

On a fast and sometimes tricky green several players were outstanding. Alistair Whittaker from Royd House won three very good games to be pipped into the final by Donald Jackson, also of Royd House.

Mark Reynolds of Wayside, who has knocked at the door of this trophy on more than one occasion, was just beaten to the final by one of the two home bowlers, Bill Hutchinson.

In the final Donald Jackson set off with a purpose, taking a 10-2 lead after nine ends. Bill kept plugging away trying to get Donald off a short straight mark that he was bowling exceptionally well. Eventually Bill clawed his way back to make the score 18-18 only to lose two points at the next end and then gain two at the end after to make the score 20-20.

At the final end Donald bowled a brilliant second wood to grab the last vital point in what was a very close and exciting final.

New faces as well as old took part in the competition, which can only be entered by bowlers who have not previously won an individual competition, thus putting a new name on the cup every year.

The trophy and prizes were presented by Michael Upton who is the competition secretary for the association. Many thanks to West Bradford for hosting this event once again and thanks to the steward for providing refreshments.

Monday Singles, Division One - Farsley A 182 (18), Rufford A 164 (12); Rawdon A 195 (21), Wharfemeadows A 150 (9); Guiseley Nuffield 194 (24), Woodside A 126 (6); Pudsey BC 192 (22), Ilkley A 154 (8); Rufford B 156 (9), Bramley Libs A 192 (21).

Division Two - Burley-in-Wharfedale A 180 (17), Grove Hill A 172 (13); Greenbottom A 166 (11), Rodley 191 (19); Ilkley B 204 (24), Rawdon B 145 (6); Bingley 186 (21), Guiseley B 153 (90; Hall Park 185 (16), Moor Allerton 185 (14).

Division Three - Bramley Libs B 166 (13), Yeadon Park A 182 (17); Woodside B 182 (11), Menston 194 (19); Tarnfield A 193 (21), Calverley A 170 (9); Horsforth Cons 210 (28), The Glen 130 (2); Yeadon Park B 153 (13), Farsley B 155 (17).

Division Four - Calverley B 158 (11), Holt Park 182 (19); Pudsey Brit 189 (19), Greenbottom B 162 (11); Wharfemeadows B 184 (20), Tarnfield B 158 (10); Grove Hill B 180 (18), Burley-in-Wharfedale 164 (12).

Tuesday Pairs, Division One - Myrtle Park A 84 (24), Bingley Glen 35 (0); Shipley Club B 72 (13), Northcliffe 69 (11); Baildon A 77 (18), Shipley Club A 53 (6); Salts 72 (17), Rufford A 53 (7); West Bradford A 84 (22), Idle 48 (2).

Division Two - Tarnfield 79 (20), West Bradford B 45 (4); The Glen B v Royd House postponed; Rufford Park B 66 (8), The Glen A 78 (16); Shipley Club C 61 (14), Baildon B 54 (10).

Wednesday Pairs, Division One - Rufford A 116 (21), Woodside A 79 (3); Burley-in-Wharfedale A 103 (14), Wharfemeadows A 97 (10); Guiseley Nuffield 124 (24), Grove Hill A 70 (0); Meanwood Park 113 (21), Rodley 75 (3); Yeadon Park A 114 (10), Greenbottom A 117 (14).

Division Two - Hall Park A 102 (9), Menston A 117 (15); Rawdon A 114 (22), Holbeck 72 (2); Calverley A 124 (24), Burley-in-Wharfedale B 55 (0); Tarnfield 121 (18), Guiseley B 96 (6); Woodside B 92 (7), Stanningley A 109 (17).

Division Three - Stanningley B 124 (23), Ilkley 83 (1); Bramley Libs 124 (24), Rawdon B 66 (0); Wharfemeadows B 121 (21), Calverley B 84 (3); Menston B 115 (17), Hall Park B 99 (7); Greenbottom B 109 (15), Yeadon Park B 97 (9).

Wednesday's Singles: Combined Division - Burley-in-Wharfedale A v Farsley withdrawn; Guiseley 121, Myrtle Park A 155; Shipley Club A 154, Bingley Glen A 105; Rawdon Park A 158, Tarnfield 100.

Wednesday's Singles: Waddilove Division - Baildon A 117, Yeadon Park B 89; Northcliffe 113, Baildon B 92; The Glen A 100, The Glen B 70.

Wednesday Singles: Half-Holiday Division - Grove Hill A 156, Rufford B 112; Yeadon Park A 156, Grove Hill B 96; Wharfemeadows 167, Burley-in-Wharfedale B 109; Horsforth Cons 143, Rawdon Park 127.

Saturday Singles: Division One - Wayside A 182, Wharfedale A 160; Whinswood 185, Oxenhope 158; Bingley Glen A 196, Oak 164; Myrtle Park A 194, Shipley Club A 140; Armley Cons v Baildon A, result not available.

Saturday Singles: Division Two - Grove Hill A 201, Greenbottom A 137; Pateley Bridge A 171, Holbeck Moor 168; Ilkley A 158, Burley-in-Wharfedale A 161; Idle A 201, Rawdon Park 157; The Glen A 167, Farsley 173.

Saturday Singles: Division Three - Baildon B 172, Starbeck 161; Shipley Club B 175, Myrtle Park B 152; Burley-in-Wharfedale B 122, Yeadon Park A 207; Northcliffe 180, Shipley Club C 152; Adel A 186, Tarnfield 170.

Saturday Singles: Division Four - Horsforth Cons 182, Adel B 164; Greenbottom B 160, Grove Hill B 166.

Saturday Singles: Division Five - Tarnfield B 138, The Glen B 145; Shipley Club D 151, Myrtle Park C 109; Yeadon Park B v Bingley Glen B, result not available; Holbeck WMC 156, Menston B 101; Wharfemeadows B 164, Wayside B 102.

Saturday Singles: Division Six - Wayside C 65, Royd House 118; Salts 108, Shipley Club E 96; Yeadon Park C 120, Yeadon Park D 70; Idle C 93, Dacre Bank 106; Wharfemeadows C 120, Baildon C 90.

The Airedale Wharfedale programme of team cup competitions continues this week with the first round of the Jennings Crackles 2001 when Ilkley A play Shipley Club A, Whinswood play Baildon A, Idle A play Wayside A, Burley-in-Wharfedale play Pateley Bridge, Farsley play Myrtle Park A, The Glen A play Greenbottom A and Rawdon Park play Grove Hill A on Saturday, May 19, all matches to start at 2.30pm.

The Ronnie Collins Cup Competition gets under way on Friday, May 15, when Rufford A play Oxenhope, Greenbottom A play Grove Hill B, Grove Hill A play Guiseley A, Farsley B play Greenbottom B, Wharfemeadows play Farsley A, Tarnfield play Guiseley B, Menston play Shipley Club and Yeadon Park play Rufford B, all matches to commence at 6.45pm.

The Dobson Challenge Shield continues with the first round on Saturday, May 19, when Starbeck play Yeadon Park, Knaresborough play Idle B, Tarnfield A play Menston A, Grove Hill B play Horsforth Cons, Greenbottom B play Burley-in-Wharfedale, Myrtle Park B play Ilkley B and Adel B play Shipley Club B.

The Yorkshire County Parks programme of single and team competitions began on Sunday, May 13, with the Ladies' Individual Merit competition at 10.00am, at Salts Bowling Club, Saltaire. Thirty-eight entries were received for the day. In the main competition Angela Carter (Littlemoor) beat Sylvia Lowther (Rufford) 21-11 with Eileen Newbould (Northcliffe) and Diana Dibb (Lister Park) the losing semi-finalists.

In the consolation competition for the first round losers Alice Pooley (Harehills) beat Margaret Whitham (Littlemoor) 21-18 in the final.

Maurice Carter, the president, had the pleasure of presenting his wife, Angela, with the Winner's Shield.

Yorkshire County Parks play their first match of this season's competition in Section A in the Veteran's Section with games against Central Lancashire on Sunday, May 20. The home team play at Shipley Club and the players include: Peter Loftus (Bingley Glen), Malcolm Whitham (Myrtle Park), Derek Myers (Crowghyll Park). The away team at Syke Bowling Club includes Graham Oliver (Guiseley), Ronnie Whitham (Farsley), Brian Dowling (Farsley), Brian Tighe (Pudsey Ltd)..

The first game in the Senior programme also takes place on Sunday, May 20, with the home team playing at Birkenshaw Park and the away team playing at Owley Wood Number One when Yorkshire play Mid Cheshire. Local players include: D Kirkbright (Rufford), B Cater (Guiseley), M Allman (Pudsey Littlemoor), M Upton (Myrtle Park).