Pairs KO Friday line-up

Winter League

The Division 3 Qualifying Round of the 2025-26 Pairs KO competition will be played today at Thorpe Green starting at 11.00am. There are 7 pairs entered and they will play down to the bottom two pairs who will progress through to the Round of the Last 20 on Friday 20 February, again at Thorpe Green.

The 7 entries for the Division 3 qualifying round are below. The draw will be made today.

Not forgetting of course, that the Bovril Taste Test will be taking in place in parallel with the qualifying round matches.

There are also qualifying round matches in December for pairs from Divisions 1 and 7 teams with entry deadlines set for both as well. Paper entry forms are available on matchdays at each of the first three greens or use the Online Entry Form at the foot of this posting. I am pleased to report that the holders of this title will be defending that title with Golcar Lib pair Peter Hopkinson and Rob Senior completing their entry.

The qualifying criteria has been relaxed this year with bowlers only having to have played a minimum of one League match prior to the match date. No other major changes from last season are planned when we had 80 pairs (160 bowlers) who took time out to enjoy a different perspective on Winter bowling. Golcar Lib pair Peter Hopkinson and Rob Senior won the first ever holding of this competition last February.

This is what this competition is all about.

• Each of the 10 divisions will hold its own qualifying round

• The top two pairs from each qualifying round will progress through to the Round of the Last 20 and then the Last 16

• The top 8 will then progress through to Finals Day

• All matches will be played at Thorpe Green

• The qualifying rounds will start in December and be held on 10 Fridays

• The Division 1 qualifying round will be held on 19 December to avoid a clash with the Friday Milnsbridge League which has a blank day on that date

• Pairs bowlers must bowl for the same team in the League

• Bowlers must have played a minimum of 1 Winter League match to qualify to enter

• Entry fee of £3 per bowler (£6 per pair)

• Division-based handicaps will come into play from the Round of the Last 20

• Handicaps will apply to all rounds for Inter-District and County bowlers

• Home handicaps will apply to all rounds for Thorpe Green and Greenhead Park club bowlers

• All matches up to Finals Day will be 15-ends or 21-up, whichever comes first

• In the event of a draw after 15-ends one further end will be played and the jack will be with the winner of the 15th end.

The qualifying round dates by Division are:

Division 1 (Milnsbridge): Friday 19 December      (There are no Friday Milnsbridge League matches on this date)

Division 2 (Cowcliffe): Friday 9 January

Division 3 (Springwood) Friday 5 December

Division 4 (Primrose Hill Lib) Friday 2 January

Division 5 (Lindley Lib) Friday 23 January

Division 6 (Netherton Con) Friday 16 January

Division 7 (Huddersfield RUBC) Friday 12 December

Division 8 (Lockwood Con) Friday 30 January

Division 9 (Paddock I&C) Friday 6 February Division 10 (Netherton Con) Friday 13 February

The paper entry deadline dates are 7 days in advance of the playing dates listed above.

The Round of the Last 20 and the Last 16 will be held on Friday 20 February with Finals Day being staged on Friday 27 February 2026. All rounds of the competition will be played at Thorpe Green. Check the availability of both bowlers on all the dates above before submitting your entry.

Although we are concentrating at present on attracting entries for the three qualifying dates before Christmas, entries for any of the qualifying rounds are welcome at any time. Regardless of when your division's qualifying round is being played, the online entry form below is open now for your use. Get yourself a playing partner from your own team and get your entry in.

Paper entry forms for the qualifying rounds to be played before Christmas (Divisions 1, 3 & 7) are available on matchdays this week. You can complete your entry by paying cash with your paper entry form or by BACS payment to the League's bank account at:

Account Name: The Huddersfield Winter League

Account Number: 64667778

Account Sort Code: 40-25-10

YOUR ONLINE ENTRY FORM