This competition takes place at the end of every season on mats laid down on the indoor rinks at the York & District IBC in York.

1998 - Competition originated in the Kyle Valley League as a friendly with the Selby league. The Cup was donated by Gordon Hanson and Roger Green (Chairman and Secretary of the KV league). The original format was for 12 triples from each league.

1999 - Scarborough league invited to join in to make it a three sided competition using 12 mats (but anyone from the few clubs who do not play in any of the 3 leagues may still enter but will "guest" for one of them).

2003 - Competition adopted by the NYSMBA  due to unwillingness of KVL to continue with organisation.

2006 - Format was changed from 6 sessions on 12 mats to 8 sessions on 9 mats to improve administration.

2007 - The competition was renamed in memory of Gordon Little, the former manager of the Y&D IBC, without whose enthusiastic support, the competition would probably never have got off the ground. Gordon's wife Nonie presents the Cup.

(For details of all winners prior to 2008 page down to end)

2008 - After 10 years, the Scarborough league opted out due to their inability to guarantee a full entry of 12 triples. The competition was reformatted into an "open" competition for teams of 4 playing a mixture of Singles, Pairs and Triples.

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	WINNERS	RUNNERS UP
2008	David & Joseph Newsome, Ben Render, Richard Lochman	Derek & Pat Beardsley, Bryan & Pat Jones

2008 (Saturday 12th April) - Sponsored by Greensleeves Lawn Care, our 11th year saw the competition completely changed into a new format. The old "Inter-League" format (which called for 3 teams of 12 Triples from each of the counties three major leagues) was dropped in favour of a competition open to teams of four players (who did not necessarily have to come from within the same league or club). The originally stipulated maximum of 20 teams was increased to 24 in order to accommodate all those who wanted to take part and this required the provision of 12 mats which were all transported to the Y&D IBC the evening before where they were all laid and cleaned by a small group of willing helpers.

The day itself was organised into 8 sessions, each lasting 50 minutes. All teams played in alternate sessions giving everyone 4 games throughout the day. The main innovation was that teams played as two Pairs in two of their sessions and as a Triple and a Single in the other two sessions. This gave each team the possibility of scoring 16 points. The day commenced at 09.15 and a buffet lunch was provided in two "sittings" after each team had played in two of their sessions.  Bowling was complete at 4.50 and whilst the final results were tabulated, many hands made light work of rolling up all the mats and loading them up ready to be returned to their "homes". (10 were loaned by the BSA club and 2 were the NYSMBAs own mats from the Galtres Centre in Easingwold). 

Of the 96 games played, many were close, with 4 being drawn and 18 being won/lost by only 1 or 2 shots. However, only four teams ended the day with more than 5 wins out of their 8 games. These were David Randon's team from Escrick with 6 wins (+76). Alan Banthorpe's team from Hambleton with 6 wins and a draw (+80), and the Knaresborough team of Derek Beardsley with 7 wins and a draw (+85). However it was Richard Lochman of East Cottingwith, playing with Ben Render from Crossgates and the Newsome brothers from North Duffield who won the day with a full house of 8 wins (+67). Nonie Little once again made the presentations - £50 to the runners up and £100 to the winners and the Little Cup . (see PhotoGallery).

The sponsorship provided by Greensleeves and a well supported raffle, which raised £163 meant that the day was run at a healthy profit of over £200. Clive Scholefield provided umpiring duties throughout the whole day. All final positions shown below.      

2007 - (Saturday 14th April) 10th anniversary year. Due to the late withdrawal of the Scarborough League (who could not find the required 12 triples to take part), the format this year was revised to cater for two leagues only on just 6 mats (which  were laid down in the "annexe" at the Y&D IBC rather than the main arena). Once again, the 24 triples each had 4 games of 50 minutes duration. The holders (Kyle Valley) kept a tight grip on the Cup winning 30 of the 48 games and ending the day with 672 shots as opposed to Selby's 544. The best triples were Alan Banthorpe, Danny Brown and Derek Williams for the Kyle Valley team with 87 shots and David Newsome, Ian McKenzie and Bruce Fryer for the Selby team with 82 shots. This was the 4th win in this competition for Ian whilst Alan and Bruce had both won twice before.

The Secretary explained that the decision had been taken to rename the cup to the LITTLE CUP in memory of Gordon Little, who was the manager of the Y&D IBC back in 1998. It was his enthusiastic support that enabled us to launch this competition even though he had died shortly before the first competition took place.  It was felt appropriate to commemorate his contribution permanently in this way. He also thanked Gordon's wife, Nonie Little for coming along to make the presentations. (see PhotoGallery)        

2006 - Once again a majority of the counties clubs (26) took part in this, the final event (now that the Cameo Shield has been discontinued) of the season . For the first time since it was started, the format had been changed - from 6 sessions on 12 mats to 8 sessions on 9 mats. Apart from reducing the mat handling and preparation time, this meant that all participants played in alternate sessions (rather than 4 out of 6) and there were only 2 lunch sittings instead of 3. The day did not get off to a very good start as three teams failed to turn up in time for their start in Session 1,  with another not arriving in time for the beginning of Session 2. This meant that their opponents, who were present on time, missed out on one game and had to be awarded 'nominal' points.

Apart from that the day then went very smoothly, with the Kyle Valley team dominating for the 6th year in succession and taking the Cup with a total of 632 shots. Scarborough with 549 and Selby with 539 had another close tussle for the runners up slot. Jean Calvert and Paul Williamson were the Best Kyle Triple for the second year in succession with 78 shots. They were playing this year with Ken Calvert who has also won before. The Selby Best Triple were Janet Clark, Jill Newsome and Ron Watson with 74 shots whilst the Scarborough Best Triple were Barry & Joan Crossland (winners in 2003) and Mary Dyson on 64 shots (+25) who just pipped last years winners John Coffey, Sue Watson and Richard Lund who also had 64 shots but a difference of +21. (see PhotoGallery)       

2005 - St. Georges Day saw bowlers from all four corners of the county (Bilsdale, Eggborough, Darley and Scarborough were all represented) once again descend on the York & District IBC to contest the Inter-League Cup for the 8th time. In recognition of the distances many players had to travel, the session times had been reduced to 55 minutes (from 60) and inter-session breaks to 10 minutes (from 15) allowing for a later start time of 10am. However the basic format remained unchanged with each of the 36 Triples taking part having 4 games - everyone being on a different mat. After our players had been welcomed by this years Y&D IBC President, Sid Batty, the NYSMBA Secretary thanked the BSA and North Duffield clubs for the loan of their mats, Noel Clark and Arthur Jackson for transporting them an the usual band of helpers who had spent the previous evening preparing the venue.

After a very enjoyable days bowling, it was the Kyle Valley team who triumphed for the 5th successive year after clocking up an impressive total of 708 shots against Selby with 562 and Scarborough with 558. Of the 48 individual games played by each league,  the Kyle Valley had in fact won 29 of theirs, Selby 24 and Scarborough 17. Hot Shot Sixes were achieved by Harry Welch (Strensall), Jean Calvert (Boroughbridge), Tom Hillbeck (Selby) and David Randon (Escrick). 

The individual prizes for the best performances in each team went to David Randon, Bruce Fryer and Ian McKenzie  (Escrick) with 66 shots (also winners in 2003 whilst David & Ian also won in 1999 with a different teammate); Richard Lund, Sue Watson and John Coffey (BSA) with 74; and Jean Calvert (also a winner in 2001), Paul Williamson and Simon Holtby (Boroughbridge) with 96 shots - of which 41 came in their final game - the biggest win of the day.

2004 - Once again over 100 bowlers from across the county, including guests from Guisborough (representing the Selby league!), gathered at the Thanet Road indoor arena for the 7th running of this competition. The usual preparation work had taken place on the previous evening to bring in the 12 mats required and then lay, align and clean them. In his welcome, the Secretary thanked the band of helpers and also the 4 clubs who had loaned the mats for without them this popular competition would be a non-starter.

Following the usual format, the players, organised into 36 triples all had four games of one hours duration over the course of the day with each game being played on a different mat. By the end of the last session, the Kyle Valley league team had clocked up 713 shots - the best total in the competitions history - to win the Cup for the fourth year running. Not far behind came the Scarborough league team with 696 - their best showing ever whilst an under strength Selby team only managed 627 - their second lowest total ever. The individual prizes for the best triples in each team went to Geoff & Anne Whitehead and Vic Willis (Tate & Lyle) with 89 shots (they also won in the first game in 1998 whilst Geoff also won in 2002 with different partners); Pat Lowry, Ron Czernik and Ken Hotchkin (Kirbymoorside) with 83; and (for the second successive year) Arthur Jackson, Len Lofthouse and Gordon Cripps (Bilsdale) with 90 shots. 9 triples had managed to claim Hot Shots during the day with Philip Elgie, Allan Meek and Ken Calvert hitting the jackpot twice.  (See PhotoGallery)

2003 - 116 players from 28 clubs across the county met at the York & District Indoor Bowls club for the 6th running of this end of season competition. Twelve mats, on loan from four clubs,  had been laid the previous evening over the main 6 rinks at this popular venue. Following the usual format the players, organised into 36 triples all had four games of one hours duration over the course of the day with each game being played on a different mat. In the closest finish ever recorded the Kyle Valley League on 702 shots just pipped the Selby League on 697 shots to take the Cup for the third year running. The Scarborough League, who have yet to record a win, were in third place with 658 shots. Trophies also went to the triple in each league who contributed most to their teams overall score. These were David Randon, Ian McKenzie and Bruce Fryer from Escrick who scored 96; Barry & Joan Crossland with Gwen Barningham from Flixton who scored 73; Arthur Jackson, Len Lofthouse and Gordon Cripps from Bilsdale who score 89;    

LEAGUE WINNERS & BEST TRIPLES (inter-league format) 1998-2007

 

	SELBY	KYLE VALLEY	SCARBOROUGH
1998	VIC WILLIS	ALAN BANTHORPE
	GEOFF WHITEHEAD	BRIAN BENNETT	No entries
	ANNE WHITEHEAD	PAT BENNETT
1999	IAN MCKENZIE	ERIC RICHARDSON	ALAN BARNINGHAM
	DAVID RANDON	KEN CALVERT	KEITH HARDCASTLE
	RON WATSON	RICHARD KAY	AUDREY HARDCASTLE
2000	BERYL JEMPSON	ALAN BANTHORPE	JOHN MYERS
	MARGARET KITWOOD	BRIAN BENNETT	HEATHER MYERS
	BARBARA POTTER	PAT BENNETT	TREVOR COLLIER
	KEN CHAPMAN
2001	GUY STEPHENSON	KEN CALVERT	GRAHAM SHERBURN
	TOM SERGISON	JEAN CALVERT	LINDA SHERBURN
	GILL SERGISON	MURIEL TREWITT	TONY HEWLETT
2002	ALBERT PICKUP	DEREK JOHNSTONE	GEORGE CROSBY
	ALICE PICKUP	IRIS JOHNSTONE	JANET CROSBY
	GEOFF WHITEHEAD	ROSE HAYNES	CHRISTINE SHAW
		NONIE LITTLE
2003	IAN MCKENZIE	ARTHUR JACKSON	BARRY CROSSLAND
	DAVID RANDON	LEN LOFTHOUSE	JOAN CROSSLAND
	BRUCE FRYER	GORDON CRIPPS	GWEN BARNINGHAM
2004	VIC WILLIS	ARTHUR JACKSON	PAT LAWRY
	GEOFF WHITEHEAD	LEN LOFTHOUSE	RON CZERNIK
	ANNE WHITEHEAD	GORDON CRIPPS	KEN HOTCHKIN
2005	IAN MCKENZIE	JEAN CALVERT	RICHARD LUND
	DAVID RANDON	PAUL WILLIAMSON	SUE WATSON
	BRUCE FRYER	SIMON HOLTBY	JOHN COFFEY
2006	JANET CLARK	JEAN CALVERT	GRAHAM SHERBURN
	JILL NEWSOME	PAUL WILLIAMSON	LINDA SHERBURN
	RON WATSON**	KEN CALVERT	MARY DYSON
2007	DAVID NEWSOME	ALAN BANTHORPE
	IAN MCKENZIE	DANNY BROWN	No entries
	BRUCE FRYER	DEREK WILLIAMS