Some surprises in Over-70's qualifiers

Veterans League

The qualifying rounds of the Veterans League Over-70's KO were played on two greens last Thursday with the eight quarter-finalists progressing through to Finals Day. There were a few shock results with two-times-Champion and current holder of the title, Graham Hirst of Lowerhouses, eliminated by Longwood bowler Graham Howe with a 21-20 scoreline.

The 2024 winner of this competition, Mick Cox of Lockwood Con qualified and will meet his clubmate Peter Kain in the quarter-finals. With Finals Day being played on the Lockwood Con pairs home green, the winner of that inter-club clash will emerge as the favourite for the 2026 title.

One other club has two representatives in Finals Day, Kirkheaton Con. My long-standing pairs partner, Gordon Walker, edged it through in the Golcar Lib qualifying competition and he will be joined by me, yes me, at Lockwood Con on Thursday 7 May. That was a shock result especially to me, as I have never reached this stage of any competition before. Mind, apart from the Over-70's Pairs KO with my mate Gordon, I haven't entered any of the competitions before so that may a contributory factor. In addition I cannot recall ever winning on the Shepley green which is where we are at so my expectations were never very high. I don't expect to see an all-Kirkheaton Con final but we can dream!