By Stephen Helliwell
Sunday saw the start of a new era in Halifax bowling with the first competition to be played under the banner of the Halifax Association following its merger with the Halifax League, the Sowerby Bridge Association and the Ladies over 55s League.
Hove Edge provided the venue for the George Parkin Pairs, sponsored by Ray Davis and won by Phillip Holroyd and Linden Harris, who claimed the first Trophy of the season with a 15-8 victory against James Senior and Abby Burke.
Holroyd and Harris were off to a flying start on their way to a 15- 3 victory over Steve Griffiths and John Nicholson and after a tight opening against Clive and Trish Austin, finished with a break of 3 consecutive pairs to win by 15-8. In their quarter-final, against Danny Barker and Dale Holdsworth. They conceded a pair at the first end, responded with six from the next two and went on to win by15-8. In their semi-final, they led 7-4 against Brendan Malone and Martin Greenwood but fell behind by 7-10 before finishing strongly to win by 15-11.
Senior and Burke started well in their opening game against Jorden Crabtree and Peter O’Callaghan to lead by 12-6. Crabtree and O’Callaghan fought back to within a point at 11-12 before Senior and Burke took the last two ends to scrape home by 15-11, That seemed likely to be the end the to their chances as they trailed by 2-10 against Mark Holden and N, Greenwood but they stormed back with a break of 12 to snatch a 15-11 victory. Similarly, in their semi-final, against Matt and Dexter Bowe, they were behind by 0-6, 4-9 and 10-13 before a pair and a triple from the final two ends put them into the final
In the final Harris and Holroyd made the better start to lead by 6-2. Burke and Senior recovered to narrow the gap to two at 8-10 but Holroyd and Harris then ran out to claim the George Parkin Trophy by15-8