HOLDER Stuart King has not only successfully defended his Wednesday Merit crown but also won it for a third time.

The Asa Briggs member came through a tough field at the new venue of Spen Victoria, defeating Paul Bowes (Pudsey) 21-17 in the final, which was played on the bottom green in bright sunshine after the earlier showers.

Bowes, who favoured a short jack and was bowling consistently, opened up a 6-3 lead after seven ends, and after 19 ends he was 13-12 ahead.

But then King, not for the first time on the day, found another plane and notched six straight points.

Bowes wasn't done, however, and pulled back to 18-17 down, but his lead deserted him and King punished him with a double on his way to the finishing line.

King is only the fourth person to win a third Wednesday Merit crown.

Mark Regan was therefore denied back-to-back trophies after winning the Hospital Handicap, and there was no last-eight appearance either for Paul Hillam.

King faced the highly-rated Marc Armitage (Littlemoor) in his quarter-final and led 10-4 after 11 ends and 17-13 after 24.

However, Armitage levelled at 17-17 and, after a couple of singles each, it was 19-19 before king finished his man off with a double.

Pete 'The Cat' Ellis (Spen Victoria), who had rolled back the years with a couple of 21-20 victories, faced the up-and-coming Nathan Dobson (Littlemoor) in his last-eight match and went into a 16-1 lead.

Dobson fought back to 18-9 before Ellis won 21-9, while it was closer between veterans Paul Gill (Clayton) and Bowes.

The latter led 12-4 after 12 ends and 15-11 after 19 and, although Gill narrowed the deficit to 16-14, a Bowes double took him over the line from 19-15.

Mellor was never in danger against Greg Fairhead (West Bradford), leading 11-5 and 17-7 before winning 21-7.

In the first semi-final, Ellis lead King 6-1 after six ends but the latter then showed why he ism one of the top bowlers in Bradford by reeling off a 20 break to triumph.

Bowes was 10-4 in front of two-time winner Mellor in the other semi-final after 10 ends, and it was 16-10 after 19 before five singles took Bowes over the line.

On Saturday, it is the Cleckheaton Sports Classic (10.30am), which has £2,100 prize-money, with £100 minimum going to anyone who wins three matches.

Entry: Chris Brown, James Davison, Chris Bly, James Grimstone, Mark Regan, David Scott, Danny Sillitoe, David Poole, Graham Hirst, Liam Baxter, Kes Smith, Damian Morrison, Callum Wraight, James Martin, John Blackburn, Ralph Taylor, Michael Sweeney, David Walker, Billy Thornton, Rob Swift, Dave Gwilliam, Stuart Mort, Neil Simpson, Josh Mordue, Thomas Boyd Jnr, Simon Walder, Michael Leach, Ben Gloag, Ashley Daykin, Colin Scorah, Martyn Watkins, Paul Firth, Matt Stewart, Jack Hargreaves, Gareth Coates, Andy Spragg, Chris Mordue, Paul Ingleby, James Wilcox, Gary Ellis, Andrew Sykes, Carl Armitage, Chris Kelly, Simon Hargreaves, John Lester, Richard Goddard, Martin Lally, Graeme Wilson, Joe Cranston, Robert Hitchen, John McDonnell, Richard Jackson, Brian Lee, Andy Thornton, Paul Burke, Gareth Lally, Mark Johnson, Ian Booth, Alec Heeps, Tommy Johnstone, Ira Collier, Ashley Tattersley, Stephen Gilroy, Simon Coupe.

In competition with it is the Bradford Merit, which is being sponsored by Ken Green's family, at Brighouse Sports.

Bradford play their veterans' inter-district league match tomorrow against Castleford, with the home leg at West Bradford (1.30).

Bradford team: P Hillam, N Esposito, M Iles, H Kettlewell, I Johnson, M Hall, M Bastow, R Bastow.