Memories
Continuing Dave Parkin's 'The Good Old Days' series of postings about local competitions with the timing to coincide with the 2024 event. Next up is number seven in the series which looks at the Huddersfield Ladies Merit over the past 54 years.
The Good Old Days No.7 - The Huddersfield Ladies Merit
by Dave Parkin
Th 54th running of the HUDDERSFIELD LADIES MERIT this year will take place on the 1st Sunday in June at NETHERTON CON. This will be the 2nd Sunday in a row that the local ladies will compete for a Merit after the YORKSHIRE MERIT on 26th May. The following weekend sees the trilogy of events completed by the ENID BLACKBURN TROPHY which will be the next event in the GOD series.
A couple of months after we managed to put a man on the moon, the Ladies of the district ran their first Merit affiliated to the league. There is evidence of a competition earlier than this in the 1930’s. Maybe bowlers will recognise some names from this event in 1936 of parents. grandparents or even great grandparents.
The 1st events were well supported and the winner in 1969. SHIRLEY LEAH beat the future, 7 time winner, ELAINE LUNN (1st in 1972 & last in 2010). The attached snip from the 1975 version gave an indication of numbers that entered and the wonderful prize to the winner. A successful Lady bowler in those days could be approached for a wide range of mid-priced wedding gifts.
There are many stories I could have chosen about the winners over the years but my pin has stuck on 2 from the 1990’s. The 1st from 1991 when the final was held at my old club, FARNLEY TYAS and the winner was MAUREEN CAWTHERAY whose name is remembered in local bowling circles thanks a memorial trophy at the Griffin. Her legacy in bowls lives on with her grandson, DANNY RADCLIFFE qualifying for the MENS YORKSHIRE MERIT at FARNLEY TYAS this year.
The 2nd was the ground breaking win in 1998 by DORIS DUNNING when because of this win, she became the 1st Lady to play in a HUDDERSFIELD ASSOCIATION CHAMPION of CHAMPIONS event narrowly losing in the 1st round at MILNSBRIDGE BC to RICHARD MOZLEY. Sadly, the 1999 winner refused the invitation due to unavailability and one has never been extended since.
Whilst my records aren’t complete (hopefully a photo of the trophy will rectify this), this will be the 2nd time the event will be held at NETHERTON CON.. The winner in 2008 was CAROLE HARPIN who beat current BCGBLA Ladies merit holder, ANDREA BUCKLEY, 21-10 in an August final. The event has moved around the calendar over the 55 year history but the last 3 events have all been held in early June.
Please find the historical list of events from 1979 until the present day with some missing data that I would love to fill.
If anyone who is at Netherton on Sunday could take a photo of the trophy to fill in the missing winners, it would be most appreciated.