Winter Bowling in Huddersfield - the 1990's

Memories

THE HISTORY OF WINTER BOWLING IN HUDDERSFIELD

Part 4: The 1990's by Dave Parkin

The 1990’s dawned and the country was in recession. This correspondent had moved to London after University but still travelled up to Yorkshire and frequented the local bowling clubs. One such visit, a roll up at Thorpe Green led to my woods being loaned to a future county bowler in 1994 & are still in the bag today.

The urban myth that the Griffin always beats the weather was tested this decade twice as you can see below. Both times in early February, snow beat the bowling.

It wasn’t just the dark clouds of the weather that threatened bowling in 1992, it was the threat of development. Fortunately, there was a favourable outcome & the green is still here today.

 The reputation of the Griffin was spreading far and wide as the article below mentions an away day to the seaside for members in 1990. Sadly, I wasn’t able to find anything else about this trip to SOUTHPORT, do readers have any memories?  

 The 1st Griffin winner of the decade was Mark RICHARDSON as we saw in the last article, son of Stewart who was now Griffin president. He relinquished that role to Alan HIRST whose son, Steven was to become a Griffin major winner this decade. Another famous son of a founding member, Paul SIGSWORTH would too take major honours this decade including winning the BERNARD SIGSWORTH MEMORIAL (new name for STONES CUP from 1992) named after his father. However, it was Bernard’s older son. Graham who just like his father 20 years before, would close out the millennium with a win in the last event of the 20th century.

Brian STARKEY who once walked from Cleckheaton to play at the Griffin when no transport was possible made history in 1999 by becoming the 1st person to win the ROSEBOWL 3 times.

To be continued ....

Previously ....

Part 1: 1967-69 Part 2: The 1970's Part 3: The 1980's