Cleckheaton geared up for British bowls finals

Well over 1,500 spectators are expected to descend on Moorend and Cleckheaton Sports Club officials have spent six months planning to host the country’s premier bowling competition.

Cleckheaton have staged the prestigious final on three previous occasions, in 1938, 1984 and 1991.

The UK’s top 64 will be competing for the title of National Champion and the £1,500 prize money.

Cricket has been cancelled at Cleckheaton on Saturday and the field will be used as a tented village for refreshments, with spectators expected to start arriving from around 8.30am, with bowling starting at 10am and the final scheduled to start around 6.30pm on the top green.

Hotels in and around Cleckheaton are also fully booked for the weekend, with pubs in the area expected to also benefit from the event.

The British Crown Green Bowling Association have put an entrance fee of £10 into the final with an additional fee of £10 transfer to the stand on the main green.

The event will also be streamed live on the internet from 2.30pm.

Spectators attending in cars and coaches should use the main entrance on Bradford Road, where they will be directed to the neighbouring rugby field for parking.

The Hunsworth Lane entrance is for competing bowlers, while there will be no parking on Centurion Way throughout the whole day.

Cleckheaton Sports Club’s bowls chairman Richard Bentley was instrumental in bring the biggest bowls event in the country to the Spen Valley.

Spectators are asked not to take their own food or drink to the event and chairs will also not be permitted.

It has been a monumental two years for Cleckheaton Sports Club, with the cricket section currently the Bradford League champions and the rugby section achieving promotion to the National League.

Cleckheaton cricket’s second team were due to entertain Idle in Bradford League Division Two on Saturday but that match has been postponed and will now take place on Sunday August 3.

British CGBA Finals Last 64 draw

Jack Clarke (South Yorks) v Matt Horton (North Mids), Chris Whitehouse (Cumbria) v Brian Welsby (Lancashire), Liam Griffin (Yorkshire) v John Bonatti (Wales), Tom Palmer (Warwick & Worc) v Ian Gaut (Shropshire), Paul Evans (Staffordshire) v Nigel Hughes (Merseyside), Darran Beardmore (Potteries) v Chris Lambert (Warwick & Worc), Paul Stretton (Derbyshire) v Robert Eaton (Cheshire), Spencer Clarke (Shropshire) v Ashley Daykin (Yorkshire), Darren Plenderleith (North Mids) v Ian Dutton (Wales), Phil Dowgill (Yorkshire) v Gary Mills (Cumbria), Andrew Cairns (Manchester) v Nick Tideswell (Potteries), Nigel Iliff (Derbyshire) v Ryan Prosser (Warwick & Worc), Jon Guess (Derbyshire) v Richie Goddard (Shropshire), Paul Busby (Staffordshire) v Graeme Wilson (Yorkshire), Nick Peters (Warwick & Wor) v Anthony Wood (North Mids), Wayne Ditchfield (North Lancs) v Glynn Cookson (Cheshire), Simon Coupe (North Lancs) v John Bailey (Wales), Ed Wallis (Derbyshire) v Phil Perry (North Mids), Mike Holden (Manchester) v Paul Kissock (Cumbria), Dean Scarth (Yorkshire) v Ross Dunkley (Warwick & Wor), Adam Douglas (Yorkshire) v Karl Shanks (North Mids), Alan Davidson (Shropshire) v Andy Spragg (Derbyshire), Geraint Williams (Wales) v John Kennish (Isle of Man), Steve Morrey (Cheshire) v Peter Hulse (Potteries), Josh Towey (Potteries) v Keith Robinson (Lancashire), Kieren Smith (Yorkshire) v Gary Ellis (Manchester), Greg Smith (Warwick & Worc) v Richard Burdett (North Mids), Liam Howard (Cumbria) v Carl Roberts (Wales), Dave Cowsill (Yorkshire) v Peter Farmer (Shropshire), Gareth Nash (Derbyshire) v Stephen Glover (Merseyside), Rob Wiltshire (South Yorks) v Mark Picknell (Staffordshire), Matt Thurlwell (Cheshire) v Ant Bracken (Warwick & Wor).