Hitchen shines for England

Memories

You may have read the reports on the Winter League Pairs KO Finals Day staged last Friday. The trophy won by the winners was the Robert Hitchen Cup donated to the Winter League by Elland WMC. This being awarded by the club to mark the contribution of Robert Hitchen as a club member for 55 years, still working as the club greenkeeper and a remarkable playing career which has included every honour that the sport can provide. This report covers one of those honours and is from the Halifax Evening Courier dated Tuesday 22 September 1998.

Hitchen shines for England HALIFAX left-hander Robert Hitchen helped England retain the Crown Green Bowling International Championship at Rylands Recreation Club, Warrington on Saturday. The 39-year-old won both his matches as England beat the Isle Of Man 245-148 in the semi-finals and a combined Ireland and Scotland team 214-191 in the final. Wales beat the Isle of Man 235- 198 in the third place play-off.

Hitchen, who plays for Akroyd Park in the Halifax League, opened with a 21-17 victory over Gary Conwell before coming up against a familiar opponent in the final - Elland WMC’s Graeme Wilson. Hitchen came out on top 21-19 against Wilson, who had won his first match 21-8

CROW Wood Park’s Stephen Helliwell finished runner-up in the E.E.Cockcroft Memorial Handicap final at Lindley Liberal Club, Huddersfield on Sunday. Helliwell, a senior vice-president of the Halifax League, had to settle for a £lOO prize in the Yorkshire CGBA competition after going down 21-18 to Thongsbridge's S.Hirst when receiving three start in the final.

Helliwell (3 handicap) had beaten Elland CA and BC’s David Scott (two) 21-20 in the quarter-finals. King Cross's J.Senior and Elland CA and BC’s Viv Smith were first round losers but Brighouse Sports’ Tony Riley won his first two matches 21-16 before going out 21-17 to Lower Hopton's Graham Hirst.