Eccleshill’s Paul Hillam and Richard Stockdale have won the Bradford Pairs Merit, sponsored by Martin S Lonsdale (Estate Agents).

They defeated Wibsey’s Paul Wilczynski and Mick Frost 21-8 in the final.

Hillam made it three successive Bradford Pairs titles, after winning it in 2011 and 2012 with James Davison.

The victorious duo had their toughest game in the semi-final, beating Stuart King (Asa Briggs) and Danny Towning (Pudsey Little-moor) 21-15.

Scores – Quarter-finals: Mick & Kath Sansom (Asa Briggs) 7, Paul Wilczynski & Mick Frost (Wibsey) 21; Kevin & Andy Wood (Brighouse Sports) 19, Geoff Shores & Steve Alred (Crowghyll) 21; Scott Sansom & Andy Southwell (Asa Briggs) 14, Stuart King & Danny Towning (Asa Briggs/Pudsey Littlemoor) 21; Paul Hillam & Richard Stockdale (Eccleshill) 21, Andrew Heenan & Glen McCafferty (Asa Briggs) 11. Semi-finals: Wilczynski & Frost 21, Shored & Alred 10; King & Downing 15, Hillam & Stockdale 21. Final: Wilczynski & Frost 8, Hillam & Stockdale 21.

Yorkshire kicked off their 2013 campaign in the British Parks County Championship with a comprehensive win against North Derbyshire.

Although Yorkshire got off to a slow start at both venues, they finished strongly, posting seven winners from 12 in each contest.

Yorkshire had 14 winners overall, taking the aggregate both home and away, resulting in a 21-10 overall victory.

In the home leg at Pudsey BC, the first four jacks were shared, with a good performance from Hillam, winning 21-12, and a vintage display from Tony Green (Whitkirk), who beat Andrew Spragg 21-18.

Yorkshire won three close games in the middle four jacks, with Simon Walder (Spen Victoria), King, and, on his debut, Josh Mordue (Brighouse) attaining the required 21.

The back four jacks were also shared, with wins for Harry Seehra (Spen Victoria) and a great 21-6 from James Hanson (Pudsey).

A narrow aggregate win for Yorkshire of just nine chalks shows how well North Derbyshire played.

Initial news from the Derbyshire leg of the match was not promising, with only Mick Smith (Pudsey) managing a Yorkshire win in the first four.

In true white-rose spirit, however, the middle four dug deep with wins from Paul Rooks (Eccleshill) 21-7, David Hilliam (Pudsey) 21-9 and Towning – another young man on his debut – by 21-12.

The momentum continued to swing Yorkshire’s way with wins for the Eccleshill duo of Neil Mylan (21-11) and Stockdale (21-10) and Ian Jacques (Shipley Club), 21-19.

The final margin in Derbyshire was a 14-point win for Yorkshire.

Scores from Pudsey: Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) 21-6, Gary Wike (Pudsey) 17-21, Tony Green (Whitkirk) 21-18, Danny Fountain (Brighouse Sports) 10-21, Rob Whitfield (Brighouse Sports) 12-21, Simon Walder (Spen Victoria) 21-17, Josh Mordue (Brighouse Sports) 21-17, Stuart King (Asa Briggs) 21-18, Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports) 14-21, Mark Regan (Brighouse Sports) 19-21, Harry Seehra (Spen Victoria) 21-17, James Hanson (Pudsey) 21-6. Yorkshire 219, North Derbyshire 210.

Scores from North Derbyshire: Ian Shaw (Pudsey) 9-21, Craig Hebberd (Pudsey Littlemoor) 13-21, Andy Gilroy (Eccleshill) 15-21, Mick Smith (Pudsey) 21-17, Paul Bowes (Pudsey) 16-21, Paul Rooks (Eccleshill) 21-7, Danny Towning (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21-12, Dave Hilliam (Pudsey) 21-9, Neil Mylan (Eccleshill) 21-11, Richard Stockdale (Eccleshill) 21-10, Andrew Tate (Clayton) 5-21, Ian Jacques (Shipley Club) 21-19. Yorkshire 205, North Derbyshire 191.

Yorkshire were 453-390 winners over Staffordshire in the Ladies’ County Championship.

In the home match at Linthwaite Hall, Yorkshire secured a 44-point aggregate win, carding nine home winners, with Alicia Ormsby (Meltham) the best of them with a 21-10.

Debbie Davis (Pudsey), 21-7, and Andrea Buckley (New Mill), 21-9, starred in the away match at Meir Sports and Social Club as Yorkshire edged the aggregate by 19 chalks, thanks to seven away winners.

Scores from Linthwaite Hall: Katy Atkinson (Marsh Utd) 19-21, Linda Gledhill (New Mill) 21-15, Karen Gant (Meltham) 13-21, Ann Hinchliffe (Marsh Utd) 21-12, Karen Whitefoot (Marsh Utd) 14-21, Lynda Drury (New Mill) 21-16, Alicia Ormsby (Meltham) 21-10, Lynn Carter (Cowcliffe Libs) 21-15, Diane Radcliffe (Lockwood Cons) 21-19, Suzanne Howarth (New Mill) 21-17, Julie Mallinson (Outlane) 21-13, Suzi Ladbrooke (Lcokwood Cons) 21-11. Yorkshire 235, Staffordshire 191.

Scores from Meir Sports and Social Club: Dawn Bray (Ossett Flying Horse) 17-21, Lisa Rice (Harold Club) 19-21, Amanda Hagen (Ossett Flying Horse) 21-20, Karen Hill (Hanging Heaton) 21-19, Cathy Rushton (Skipton Craven) 21-18, Debbie Davis (Pudsey) 21-9, Louise Whiteley (Hove Edge) 4-21, Laura Middleton (New Mill) 21-13, Alexis Lunn-Gadd (Morton House) 21-8, Sharon Gadd (West Park) 15-21, Andrea Buckley (New Mill) 21-7, Jacqui Roper (Meltham) 16-21. Yorkshire 218, Staffordshire 199.

Bradford and Huddersfield drew 28-28 in the YCGBA Veterans’ Inter-District League.

In the home match at Peel Park, Bradford came out 20-8 winners, thanks to excellent wins from Hillam 21-7 and Rod Bastow (Eccleshill) 21-8.

The score was reversed at Broad Oak BC, with Bill Hutchinson (Crowghyll), 21-3, the pick of three away winners.

Qualifying for the Yorkshire Crown Green Merit is at Harold Club on Saturday from 2pm, with qualifiers playing on Monday in the finals at Almondbury Libs.

Anyone interested should contact Maurice Carter on 01274-664705.

The Yorkshire Parks Inter City takes place on Sunday in the Aire Wharfe area, with districts split into two pools.

Leeds, Hebden Royd, Aire-Wharfe and Bradford play in Pool A, while Heavy Woollen, Sheffield, Barkston Ash and Leeds Ladies play in Pool B.

The winners of each group play in the final at Rufford at about 5.30pm.

Pool A: (10am) Leeds v Hebden Royd at Tarn-field, Aire-Wharfe v Bradford at Greenbottom; (12.30pm) Leeds v Bradford at Yeadon Park, Aire-Wharfe v Hebden Royd at Idle; (3pm) Leeds v Aire Wharfe at Burley-in-Wharfedale, Hebden Royd v Bradford at Rawdon.

Pool B: (10am) Sheffield v Heavy Woollen at Rawdon, Barkston Ash v Leeds Ladies at Idle; (12.30pm) Sheffield v Leeds Ladies at Burley-in- Wharfedale, Barkston Ash v Heavy Woollen at Greenbottom; (3pm) Sheffield v Barkston Ash at Yeadon Park, Heavy Woollen v Leeds Ladies at Tarnfield.

Roger Crowther (Longwood) and Stuart King (Asa Briggs) were week one qualifiers in the 2013 Shipley Classic, sponsored by H H Birch & Son Ltd and the Yorkshire Building Society. 

Crowther qualified with wins over Steve Griffiths (Denholme) 21-9, Chris Mordue (Pudsey) 21-16 and Joel Abdy (Rastrick) 21-11, while King made it through to finals night with wins over Mick Hall (Guiseley) 21-10, Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports) 21-16 and Glen Pratt (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21-9. 

Crowther and King drew numbers eight and seven on finals night, and will therefore play each other in the quarter-finals.

Mark Regan (Brighouse Sports), who won in 2011, is in action tomorrow evening against Barry Tinker (Longwood).

Draw for week two qualifying (practice 6pm, for 6.30pm start): Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) v Joe Cranston (Crossgates), Phil Vayro (Whitkirk) v Andy Southwell (Asa Briggs), Graeme Wilson (Lower Hopton) v John Spinks (Pudsey), Richard Hobson (Brighouse Sports) v Steven Gilroy (Crossgates), Thomas Hanson (Pudsey) v Nigel Cranston (Crossgates), Nicky Bastow (Eccleshill) v Jack Summers (Asa Briggs), Andy Walker (Harold Park) v Craig Newton (Lower Hopton), Mark Regan (Brighouse Sports) v Barry Tinker (Longwood);
Entries are still being taken for the Bradford Mixed Pairs Merit, which takes place at Lister Park next Tuesday, and the Junior Handicap, which takes place at Queensbury on Sunday, June 2.

Anyone interested should contact Norman Lickley (01943-884323).