Memories
Dave Parkin opens The Examiner archives to put together another piece of local bowling history in his series on looking back at some of the competitions that have been played for over many years.
The Good Old Days No.4: The Olive Parr Pairs
by Dave Parkin
The local Ladies' competition season kicks off early on Sunday 12 May at Hemplow with the Olive Parr Pairs.
It seems the Ladies League Pairs started in 1977 but only in 1985 did the “Olive Parr” name get associated when she stepped down from league duties & moved away from Huddersfield.
This started in 1985 when local bowling official, Olive Parr retired to the Ripon area & donated a Rosebowl to be played for by the local Ladies.
The 1st event needed qualifying at 8 greens & attracted 320 bowlers (160 pairs) and was won by Marjorie Stead & Jean Booth at Longwood BC.
It was always a competitive event but by 1995, entries had dwindled to 88 but still no pair had won the event twice. This changed when in 1997, Susan Gibson & Pauline Wilde added that year’s event to their 1992 title.
Originally played in late Summer, it gradually became an early-season event and in recent times, it has become the 1st event of a busy calendar for local Ladies.
Organisers this year will be hoping to at least match last year’s entry of 22 pairs when the event was held at Lindley Lib and was won by Lily Hesling & Elaine Bell. Lily had a wonderful season last year making her County debut in the Eddie Swain Trophy and being awarded player of the day at the Sanderson Cup finals day and having a good season with league champions, New Mill.
Dave Parkin