W.Y.S.M.B.A
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The 2025 Annual NEMSBA Championships commenced over the weekend for everyone in the NESMBA zone at the York Indoor Bowls Centre.
Report as follows from a West Yorkshire perspective:
SATURDAY MORNING [FOURS]
Of the 5 fours that made it through to York, only 2 unfortunately made it through the group phase, Mel, Tom, Royston & Darren as 1 four, and John, Andy Miles, Joanne and Dave the other four. John Packer's four made it through the 1st KO round but fell to Martin Grange's Staffordshire 4 In the next round.
Darren's four faired better by getting right to the final before coming unstuck to Martin Simcock's Staffordshire's team.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON [SINGLES]
Darren, Royston, Daniel Sands and Matthew would qualify from the group phase with John Packer just missing out. Royston was then narrowly beat by Dave Newsome in the next round which also saw Daniel Sands bow out too. Darren and Matthew would go onto the QF phase before both eventually losing. Peter Roberts would beat Adam Lamb in the final in a repeat of last year's finale too.
SUNDAY MORNING [PAIRS]
All 4 of our participants made it through the groups in this one. In the next round Dave & Matthew and Royston & Darren were beaten. Daniel Sands & Robyn fell in the next round leaving just Tom Morris & John Packer remaining, cue a great run... cutting through Peter & Steve Roberts, then Chris and June Crowther in the semis to win the whole damn thing against Darren Kerr and Janice of Staffordshire to a rapturous WY ovation! Excellent
SUNDAY AFTERNOON [TRIPLES]
4 from 5 of our entrants qualified with Angie, Mel and Hannah unfortunately not making it through.
Daniel Sands, Tom and Steve Briggs were beaten in the QF stage, as too were Joanne, Royston and Darren. An all (and only one all weekend) WY Clash in one of the semi finals saw Andy Miles, Dave Fletcher and Matthew Leaf pip Kathryn Jones, Andy Jones and John Packer on the last end for a spot in the final. Despite a great effort throughout, a costly 5 count cost WY dear as Clint and Chris Crowther with Gary Williamson would go onto win the triples for Stockport.
3 participants from the 4 final disciplines is superb and how the results unfolded just shows how we've done as both a squad and some fantastic individual performances, The pairs was a standout, John and Tom couldn't really of gone through many more tougher opponents to record what will be a famous win for these guys and a memory that they'll keep for a lifetime and how they did it too which made picking up the county shield as West Yorkshire captain a proud moment for me too.
I think it goes (rather undeservedly) that we are sometimes overlooked compared to Staffs and Stockport's firepower but as results have shown over this weekend, we can still match them and can have our way with them too. So a huge thankyou and well done to all those that gave as good as they got!! Exceptional!
The County shield winners were WEST YORKSHIRE for their combined performances from the Knock Out stage onwards too!!!
[1]WY 17pts
[2]Staffs 16pts
[3]Stockport 14pts
Leeds Short Mat Bowling
HISTORY
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The leagues started in the early 1990s, and since then the Monday and Friday leagues have been ever present. We have played at few different venues around Leeds over the years, from The Grange to Richmond Hill, and from Raynhill School hall and then finally back to Armley Sports Centre when it was rebuilt where we have been for over 5 years now,
The Monday league has always been a random draw of who plays In which side but with 2 seeded / experienced players in each team. This was originally all pairs and is now a 2-2-3 system.
The Friday league has normally been the more competitive of the 2 leagues, with each team hand picked by a captain and changed personnel in those sides very little until recent times.
The Friday 6-man Leeds league was the proving grounds of so many regular county bowlers for both A and B sides and which originally ran a 3 pairs system, had a competitive edge right from the start. "Hilltoppers" boasting Walter Stockhill, Margaret Stockhill, Betty & Reg Deans, Jean Ward, Len and Carol Robinson and Keith Worral, "Cranmore" Which had Kevin Siddle, Darren Cookson, Paul King, Dave Fletcher, Joanne Speight and Hazel Cookson and Peter and Maureen Pullan, and "New Bede" which featured Shirley & Gordon Bromley, John & Steve Packer, Royston Lewis, Alan Byers, Russ Ruddiman & Rene Stephens were the 3 sides who normally contested top spot. Back in the early 2000s, the Friday night atmosphere was brilliant, lots of people turned up to watch never mind play. No quarter was given either with some fantastic bowling throughout. Other regular teams like Churwell, New Farnley and Upstarts also had regular county bowlers in their sides.
Later years saw the Friday league develop into a 2-1-3 (pairs, singles, triples) league to introduce disciplines that didn't get a lot of practise for county purposes which was popular too.
As numbers have diminished somewhat the league has had to adapt to suit but we still have 6 sides for now with a spare practise mat that can be hired when there is space on it.