Bradford got off to a flying start in the Vets Inter District League by beating Leeds.

In the home match at Ladyhill Park, Bradford carded an impressive six home winners, winning the aggregate by 49 chalks.

In the away match at Scatcherd Park, Bradford won by 26 chalks, with five away winners.

Home scores from Ladyhill Park – Alan Standing (Asa Briggs) 21-17, Bill Hutchinson (Lister) 21-6, Laurie Walsh (Knowles) 13-21, David Hodgson (Crowghyll) 21-9, Brian Jennings (Crowghyll) 21-16, John Ramsey (Lister) 18-21, Nino Esposito (Lister) 21-4, Graham Oliver (Knowles) 21-14. Bradford 157 (23), Leeds 108 (5).

Away scores from Scatcherd Park – Ken Green (Wyke) 17-21, Tony Riley (Clayton) 21-9, Len Hanson (Wyke) 21-16, Bob Baines (Littlemoor) 21-10, Bill Robson (Knowles) 17-21, Donald Firth (Peel) 13-21, David Burns (Peel) 21-8, Gerry Hird (Wyke) 21-20. Bradford 152 (19), Leeds 126 (9).

Today is the closing date for the Bradford Pairs Merit, which takes place at Wibsey Park on Sunday, May 22.

Entry fee per pair is £4. Anyone interested should contact Norman Lickley on 01943-884323.

Saturday is the closing date for the Yorkshire Crown Green Cockcroft Handicap, with local rounds on Thursday, May 26. Contact Maurice Carter on 01274-664705.

Yorkshire ladies take on Staffordshire on Sunday, with the home match to be played at Wakefield BC and the away match at Silverdale BC. Louise Whiteley (Hove Edge), Sharon Gadd (West Park) and Helen Gilroy (Eccleshill) appear in the away team. Yorkshire will be looking to build on their comprehensive win over South Yorkshire in April.

The 2011 Shipley Classic, sponsored by Giles Insurance and Yorkshire Building Society, gets under way on Friday, May 20.

The full draw is: Week 1 Qualifiying (Friday, May 20) – Danny Sillitoe (Dearne Sports) v Paul Jacques (Pudsey Littlemoor), Richard Firth (Pudsey) v Allan Thompson (Mirfield Old Bank), Andy Cairns (Rossendale) v Gary Foulkes (South Leeds Cons), Steve Griffiths (Denholme) v Tony Batchelder (Marehay BC), Mick Hall (Guiseley) v Chris Hill (Bradfield), Ashley Wilcock (Crossgates) v Andrew Sykes (Mirfield Old Bank), Nigel Roper (Pudsey Littlemoor) v Richard Helliwell (Mytholmroyd WMC), Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) v Graeme Wilson (Lower Hopton).

Week 2 Qualifying (Friday, May 27) – Lisa Rice (Drighlington) v Andy Wood (Brighouse Sports), David Walker (Scholes) v Mick Bastow (Skipton Craven), Roger Crowther (Longwood) v Stuart Wilson (Greengates), Mick Angus (Eccleshill) v Mark Regan (Brighouse Sports), Harry Seehra (Spen Victoria) v Richard Hobson (Spen Victoria), Andy Hodgson (Pudsey) v Jack Summers (Asa Briggs), Simon Rothwell (Brighouse Sports) v Mally Fowler (Ladyhill Park), Kevin Wood (Brighouse Sports) v Lee Lawton (Lower Hopton).

Week 3 Qualifying (Friday, June 3) – Josh Mordue (Brighouse Sports) v Chris Bielby (Bridlington), Joe Stockdale (Guiseley) v Matt Beever (Meersbrook), Callum Wraight (Shropshire) v Peter Clark (Cross Roads), Tony Riley (Brighouse Sports) v Warren Wilson (Crossgates), Richard Stockdale (Eccleshill) v Andy Deighton (Bridlington), David McGourty (Whitkirk BC) v Chris Mordue (Brighouse Sports), Eddie Hill (Wyke) v Andy Mailer (Meersbrook), Peter Hepworth (Myrtle Park) v Liam Griffin (Pudsey).

Week 4 Qualifying (Friday 10th June) – Gary Whelan (Guiseley) v Scott Fisher (Morton House), Neil Howlett (Grove Hill) v Gareth Owen (Asa Briggs), Mark Hughes (Crossgates) v Bob Whitfield (Brighouse Sports), Kristian Shuttleworth (Sandal) v Roy Nicholson (Halifax), Craig Gant (Netherton Cons) v Stewart Watson (Pudsey), Paul Gill (Clayton) v Dave Fisher (Morton House), Adrian Briggs (Wyke) v Hedley Kettlewell (Brighouse Sports), James Davison (Eccleshill) v Andy Southwell (Asa Briggs).

The qualifying round of the Howarth Cup takes place on Thursday, May 19.

Last year’s Howarth Cup winners Drighlington open with a match against Haigh League team Brackenhill, with a 20-point handicap to pull back. Full draw for qualifying round – Asa Briggs A (20) v Harold Park (45) at Wyke; Shipley Club (Scr) v Guiseley (20) at Wibsey; Horton (55) v Tyersal (45) at Drighlington; Eccleshill (Scr) v Birkenshaw (55) at Asa Briggs; Clayton A (Scr) v Wibsey (35) at Brackenhill; Drighlington (35) v Brackenhill (55) at Clayton; Wyke (55) v Asa Briggs B (35) at Birkenshaw; Bradford Moor (55) v Clayton B (45) at Shipley Club.

The preliminary round of the Four-a-Side KO takes place on Thursday, August 7.

With 32 entries this year, the competition is sure to prove a huge success.

Entries received from: Asa Briggs A, Asa Briggs B, Asa Briggs C, Asa Briggs D, Birkenshaw, Brackenhill A, Brackenhill B, Bradford Moor, Brighouse Sports A, Brighouse Sports B, Clayton A, Clayton B, Cranmore, Drighlington A, Drighlington B, Drighlington C, Eccleshill, Greengates, Guiseley A, Guiseley B, Harold Park A, Harold Park B, Horton, Myrtle, Salts, Shipley Club A, Shipley Club B, Shipley Club C, West Bradford, Wibsey, Wyke A, Wyke B.

The eight qualifying heats for the Rastrick 2011 Sunday Classic (prize money £4,000) are: August 7, 14, 21, 28, September 4, 11, 18 and 25, with the final on Sunday, October 16. Start time for each qualifier is 5.30pm.

To book contact Neil Broadbent at neilbroadbent1@aol.com, telephone 07764-749795 Qualifiers from the John Smith’s Classic at Cleckheaton Sports Club on May 7 were Jack Hargreaves and Gary Ellis.

First round: Jack Hargreaves 21, Ashley Daykin 14; Gary Ellis 21, Paul Hillam 17. Second round: Phil Lee 9, Jack Hargreaves 21; Liam Griffin 15, Gary Ellis 21. Qualifiers: Jack Hargreaves 21, John Bailey 10; Matt Gillies 16, Gary Ellis 21.