Memories
THE HISTORY OF WINTER BOWLING IN HUDDERSFIELD
Part 6: 2010 - 2023 by Dave Parkin
A slightly longer period today that takes us up to the current winter bowling season & tomorrow, we will discuss the current options you have to watch & play winter bowls in West Yorkshire plus some quirky facts about the GRIFFIN.
If SIGGY was the King of the GRIFFIN, the Crown Price was “Hoover”, Jack DYSON who has dominated since 2010 along with a couple of Yorkshire teammates, GANT & SISWICK.
The 1st obituary post of the articles has been reserved for the latter who was one of the local bowling greats who sadly passed away in 2011 & has since been remembered with trophies named after him by both the Huddersfield & Yorkshire Associations. His GRIFFIN record was a total of 79 recorded wins from 1988 to 2010. Paul’s ashes are scattered around the green as you can see from an excerpt from the Examiner article below, he loved the GRIFFIN.
Jack has taken second place in the all time list in such a short space of time and now has his sights set on his mentor’s record. Jack & Siggy were teammates at Netherton & played pairs together.
The 1st winner of the decade was Mark BRAMALL & the final winner in 2019 was Robert HITCHEN. The NEW YEARS DAY winner was Gary SISWICK, Jack DYSON won 34 times in the 2010’s including 10 Majors but hot on his heels was his Thongsbridge & Yorkshire teammate, Craig GANT with 8. Both these two have won all 3 Majors.
As I reach the end of my journey, a special mention goes to the longest serving member, David SCOTT of Keighley who became a GRIFFIN member in the early 1970’s (First win 1974) & this article from 1989 tells of his sixty mile round trip to play. He also has won all 3 Majors & has 26 wins in total.
In recent times, the Griffin have played annual matches against another local winter bowling venue, Spen Victoria but more about the in tomorrow’s final piece
To be continued ....
Previously ....
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