More on 1952 News of the World Handicap

Memories

Over the weekend I posted the written memory about the 1952 News of the World Handicap as below. Bill Blackburn has his own memory of that event won by a Huddersfield bowler and another running of the competition in 1960.

Bill Blackburn

The News of the World handicap was won by H Laycock who beat Jackie Booth of Brighouse at Crosland Moor in 1952, however in 1960 Booth won the title at Linthwaite Hall.

I remember it well. At the time we couldn't sell beer after 2.0pm on a Sunday, but we found out we could have an outside bar if it was run by a publican.One of our members ran the Commercial pub in Slaithwaite and he offered to help out. One thing the law at the time stipulated was that he had to be present at the opening and again at the closing time of 6.0pm, I think it was bottled beer only. It was a very hot day and a good crowd turned up. The bar was set up on the stretch of grass running alongside the bowling green.

The previous posting

Interesting extract of a 1952 newspaper report listed on a Facebook account regarding the biggest crown green bowling competition of that era, the News of the World Handicap. The qualifying competitions were geographically based but just look at the number of Huddersfield entrants to the competition.

RECORD ENTRY

A record entry of 3,464, giving 433 qualifiers for the neutral green stage has been received for the 'News of the World' Handicap. Last year's figure was 2,648 entries with 330 qualifiers.

Huddersfield head the list with 1,560 entries and the 195 qualifiers will be reduced to seven in eliminating rounds on seven greens next Saturday.