Bowling News
Mark Atkinson won the 2023 Colne Valley Merit Final when beating Neil Slattery 21-14 in the Final. That was a third decisive win on the night for Mark whereas his Final opponent had a more torrid pathway to the Final. Not too many bowlers come from 12-17 down to beat Jack Dyson but that was what Neil Slattery did and then followed that up by almost throwing away a big lead to scrape through his semi-final and deny a big comeback from Paul Ingleby to win 21-19.
QUARTER-FINALS Jack Dyson 17 - 21 Neil Slattery Paul Ingleby 21 - 16 Stephen Haigh
Mark Atkinson 21 - 10 Ian Haigh
Nathan Haigh 21 - 7 Mark Richardson
SEMI-FINALS
Slattery 21 - 19 Ingleby
Atkinson 21 - 12 Nathan Haigh
FINAL
Mark Atkinson 21 - 14 Neil Slattery 14
FOOTNOTE: Bill Blackburn recalls his venture in this competition 69 years ago ...
I was in the Colne Valley Merit Final in 1954 and lost in the first round to Vic Sugden (regarded as one of Huddersfield's top bowlers), my prize was a pair of cufflinks. Money was not awarded then as it was still deemed an amateur sport. Bill Blackburn
The two finalists
The last eight line-up
The Haigh Family - Nathan, Steven and Ian