Content reviewed 11/10/10

This is the only page for the WHITE ROSE LEAGUE

The contact for this league is Secretary Derek Beardsley - 01423 864418

The league tables and match reports for the last 8 years follow the general information below  - just page down

2011

Ladder Competition, Sunday 7^th August held at Scotton Village Hall - (Report from Derek Beardsley) Forty bowlers took part in this triples competition in two groups each playing four games of 35 minutes. The group selection was computer generated and the four mats were not in their usual positions in order to reduce the home advantage to the Knaresborough players. For each game players chose a token to indicate in which team and position they had to play. They were not allowed to make any changes. The group winners, with the highest total number of shots, were Pam Carass and Stella Dunn both of Knaresborough SMBC. A change this year was the introduction of a fish and chips lunch that proved to be very popular (See PhotoGallery) 

Anthony Burrell Trophy  - Sunday 10^th July 2011 (Report from Derek Beardsley)

(See PhotoGallery)

DATA  PROVIDED BY PAT JONES - WRSL COMPILER

Last updated - Aug 30  at 9.20am

2010

The 2nd Betty Oliver Mixed Pairs - (5th September - Thirsk). 22 pairs played in 3 groups (8, 8, 6) with each pair having 3 games of 30 minutes. The 3 group winners and the best loser then went into the semi-finals. In these Jim & Pat Adams beat Arthur Jackson & Audrey Craven (17-4) and Robert & Leslie Harris beat Derek & Pat Beardsley (8-5). The Final between the Adams and Harris partnerships resulted in a win for Robert & Leslie who eventually won 12-8 after initially trailing. John Oliver presented the trophy to the winners thus concluding a very successful and enjoyable day.   

DURHAM 2009 - Home leg June 5th/Away leg June 14th. This was the 7th year running that the league had played against the Durham County team. Many White Rose players were key members of last years County B team and having been beaten into 2nd place by Durham in the IC league, the match this year was maybe a little more significant than usual, especially as both teams will once again be facing each other next season, this time in the leagues 1st Division. The home leg was won convincingly by the league 28-12 (229 shots to 157) giving them a good start when they went to Murton. The away leg was a very evenly matched game which actually ended all square on shots (164-164). However the geordie team had a 2 point advantage to win by 21-19 but this was not enough for them to retain the Cooledge Cup which was brought back to Yorkshire after an absence of 5 years. (See PhotoGallery)

CAMBRIDGESHIRE - On the 8th/9th May the league hosted a party of 33 Cambridgeshire SMBA bowlers for the annual bowling weekend. On the Saturday a Ladder Competition was held in Great Ouseburn Village Hall with the winners being Marian Robotham of Knaresborough SMBC (Group A) and Margaret Manfield of Hambleton SMBC (Group B). Our success was continued on the Sunday, this time at the Hambleton Club's Thirsk venue. Here, the league won back the Triples Trophy held by Cambridgeshire after last years contest.  Each side had ten teams of triples and the final score was 38-22 to the league (270-214 shots).  We now look forward to our visit to March in May 2011. (Report from Derek Beardsley)  (See PhotoGallery)

2009

vs KYLE VALLEY LEAGUE - September 19th - Once again the league finished its season with a challenge match against the Kyle Valley league (a memorial to the late David Moore). Both teams fielded a team of 6 triples and by using 3 mats at the Thirsk venue, all players were able to enjoy 3 games of 9 ends. Having lost the last 3 contests, the White Rose side, captained by Arthur Jackson, turned up the heat this year and only allowed Ralph Parson's Kyle Valley side to win 4 of the 18 games played. The final score was therefore 28-8 (179-116 shots) giving the league a well deserved second win in the 5 year history of this match. 

End of Season Tournament (Great Ouseburn) 9th September - Six triple teams (one from each team in the league) were involved playing in two groups in a round robin. The final was between Hambleton (Pat Adams, Barry Simmonite, Jim Adams) and Knaresborough 1 (Freda Lyon, Hilary Heaton, Ken Brailey). Hambleton were the 12/7 winners. The event was followed by the AGM during which the winners of the League, Knaresborough 2, were presented with the Winners Shield. The Wooden Fork for the team in most need of improvement was presented to Knaresborough 1. This was in direct contrast to their performance in reaching the final of the End of Season Tournament. (with thanks to D. Beardsley)

Betty Oliver Mixed Pairs (Great Ouseburn) 23rd August - This was a new competition and 24 Mixed Pairs entered. 4 Mats were laid at Gt. Ouseburn and all Pairs had 3 games of 30 minutes (all on a different mat). The top 4 teams then played a Semi-Final followed by the two winners contesting the Final. After the preliminary rounds it was only Len/Diana Rose who were undefeated with the next best three being Jim/Jean Wetherell, Dennis Jarvis/Joan Ramsden and Margaret Mellors/Barry Simmonite. In the first Semi, Len and Diana beat Jim & Jean by 16-6 whilst in the other, Barry and Margaret beat Dennis and Joan by 10-8. In the Final it was Barry and Margaret who eventually won the new Trophy (presented by John Oliver), beating the Roses by 13-6.

Ladder Competition (Knaresborough) 2nd August - 36 bowlers took part with each playing in 4 triples of 35 minutes. Triples drawn from a hat for each game. Won by Freda Lyon (Knaresborough) with 45 shots, with Pat Beardsley and Robert Harris (both Knaresborough) in 2nd with 43 shots. Dennis Jarvis (Raskelf) came 4th.

Bowl & Bite Day (Dalton) 11th July - Robert Harris (Knaresborough) and Pat Adams (Hambleton) shared 1st place. The traditional Fish & Chip lunch was again well received.

vs DURHAM Home (Thirsk) 6th June - This years home match against the Geordies ended a string of defeats that the league had suffered over the last few years. The match was evenly balanced with the Singles, Triples and Fours all sharing their points with 2 wins and 2 losses apiece. However the Pairs succeeded in winning 3 of their 4 games to tip the balance in the leagues favour. The final result was 23-17 (+15 shots) to the home side. Away (Murton) 20th June - With some of the leagues key players being unavailable it was a slightly weakened side that travelled north for the return match. The Singles, Pairs and Triples all won 2 games and lost 2 whilst the Fours had a bad day losing all 4 of their games. So the result was a win for Durham by 26-14 (+33 shots).   

vs CAMBRIDGESHIRE Away 9th/10th May - After last years successful weekend visit by Cambridgeshire to play at Thirsk and Knaresborough, it was the turn of the White Rose League to send a team in the opposite direction to play against Roy Everitt's team. On the Saturday a straightforward triples match (10 teams per side) was played at the Braza British Legion Cub in March. Each Triples had 4x35 minute games so there were 80 points available to be won. By the end of the day it was 46 points to the hosts and 34 to the visitors (352-261 shots) resulting in Cambridgeshire retaining the Shield they had won last year.

The location changed on the Sunday to the Manea British Legion Club and the format to  a "Fours Bowls Drive". In this each Four was composed of two Cambridge and two WRSL players. Again, four games were had by all and between each game the composition of each of the Fours was changed (but always with two from each team). All players carried their scores with them and the winner was the player with the highest accumulated score. This again resulted in a win for the hosts.

However the results were really secondary to what was essentially a social event and the hospitality of Roy and his colleagues could not be faulted. The whole trip was adjudged by one and all to be a resounding success.   

2008

vs KYLE VALLEY LEAGUE (David Moore Memorial) 28/9/08 - Once again the league finished its season with a challenge match against the Kyle Valley league as a memorial to the late David Moore. Both teams fielded a team of 6 triples and using 3 mats at the Dalton venue, all players were able to enjoy 3 games of 9 ends. However, in spite of the benefit of playing throughout the summer, including games against 3 county teams, White Rose was once again unable to prevail against the Kyle Valley team who won 23-13 (164 shots-133 shots) and who have now won the last 3 matches in this annual event.

Versus DURHAM - Home (7/6/08) - The match was played at Thirsk and  Durham won comprehensively by 27-8 (187-153) Away (29/6/08) - The away leg at Murton was also lost by a similar margin -  12-23 (147-189).

Versus CAMBRIDGESHIRE - At home only 10th/11th May '08 - On the Saturday, teams of 24 (triples only) faced up to each other on 4 mats at Hambleton's home venue in Thirsk. Although space was at a premium, luckily the weather was fine, so those not playing were able to spill out into  the sunshine. All players had 4 games which were timed at 35 minutes and after some very close contests, the day ended with 17 wins for the visitors and 14 for the hosts with one game drawn. With 4 points for the aggregate, Cambridge thus ran out as winners by 39 points to 29. On Sunday the action moved to Knaresborough's venue at Scotton for a "ladder" competition. In this, all players from both sides were jumbled up and random triples were picked for the first game.  Everyone had three games, (again timed at 35 minutes) with a new draw for playing partners being made prior to each game. Each player accumulated their three scores with the winner being he/she with the most shots over their games. Our most successful player was Jo Hearld with 35 shots closely followed by Derek Beardsley and Jean Wetherell on 34. The weekend was a most enjoyable one for both sides and it is hoped that a White Rose team will be able travel to Cambridge for a repeat weekend next year. 

Versus DERBYSHIRE - Away (13/4/08) - In spite of a couple of narrow defeats, the White Rose team was comprehensively outclassed in their first match against the strong Derbyshire side. Derbyshire, which had finished 2nd in the 1st Division of the NESMBA winter league, only allowed the visitors to win 2 games and draw 1 other to end the day 30-5  and 215-124 shots. Home (20/4/08) As is to be expected, there was an improvement on the home mats at Scotton. However, Derbyshire were not giving anything away and still won the match by 23-12 and 193-134 shots.

2007

DAVID MOORE CHALLENGE TROPHY - 2007 - In the 3rd of these annual Challenge days, 6 triples from the White Rose league met 6 from the Kyle Valley league at Dalton to simultaneously round off the summer season and open up the new winter season. As usual, on paper, the advantage (simply based on numbers) should have easily been in favour of the latter. However, the White Rose team contain several key members of the county team and all had of course been playing regularly throughout the summer months. For most of the challengers, this was only the first match for several months. This made for a close encounter, with all players getting 3 games of 45 minutes over 6 sessions on Daltons three, sometimes tricky, mats.

The Kyle Valley team made a good start winning all 3 games in the first session to lead by 18 shots but White Rose immediately responded with 3 wins in the next to go ahead by a single shot. They also won 2 of the next sessions 3 games, so the lunch break was taken with the home side ahead by 11 shots. The Kyle Valley team slowly fought back over the 4th/5th sessions so that when the 6th and final session of the day got underway they had just eased ahead by 2 shots. They then had a decisive final session to retain the Cup by 200-180 shots. Brian Foster, life President of the Hambleton club, presented the Cup to Ralph Parsons who vowed to return next year to try for a 3rd successive win. (See PhotoGallery).   

versus DURHAM 2007 - Both games against Durham  were lost. Home at Thirsk 10-22 (-53 shots) and Away at Murton 14-18 (-28 shots).

2006

WHITE ROSE versus DERBYSHIRE (Away) - (4/11/06) Played at Shirland. Derbyshire won by 29-6 (243 shots - 121 shots)

WHITE ROSE versus DERBYSHIRE (Home) - (7/10/06) Played at Scotton. Derbyshire won by 26-9 (199 shots - 158 shots)

WHITE ROSE versus DURHAM - (2006) This year the Home game was tied 16-16 and the Away game lost 13-19.

DAVID MOORE CHALLENGE TROPHY - 2006 - (16/9/06) For the 2nd year, players from the clubs in the White Rose league held a match against the (non White Rose) players in the Kyle Valley league. Each side fielded 6 triples with everyone having 3 games of 9 ends. The  White Rose team (captained  by Arthur Jackson) made an excellent start winning all 3 games in the first session. However, Ralph Parsons had picked a  team who were determined to get their name on the Trophy and in the remaining 5 sessions they allowed the White Rose to win only 2 further games.  With 2 games drawn, the final score was 24-12 (173-123) making the tally 1 match apiece.  A very enjoyable day, including a huge buffet lunch in what will hopefully become an permanent annual curtain raiser to each new season.  

2005

DAVID MOORE CHALLENGE TROPHY - 2005 - This was a new match inaugurated in memory of David Moore, a young player from Hambleton who died very unexpectedly at the beginning of the year. It took the form of a Challenge against a team representing the Kyle Valley league. Each side fielded 6 triples with everyone having 3 games. A very enjoyable day, including buffet lunch resulted in a win for the White Rose side by 26-10 (164 shots to 125). It is hoped this match will be repeated annually during the second week in September

"TEST MATCHES"   vs   DURHAM COUNTY - 2005 - This year, the League  played two games against Durham county. The first was at Home (played in the winter Hambleton venue at Thirsk) and resulted in a 19-16 win for the league (174-172 shots). In the Away game at Murton the league fared even better, overcoming the geordies by 21-14 (175-157 shots). The Captain, Arthur Jackson was very pleased to bring the Cooledge Cup back to Yorkshire, although he admitted that Durham had not turned out their top county team. Chairman John Bunting said he was proud of the leagues achievement and felt the White Rose team had given Durham a bit of a shock.

                   BELGIUM 2005                 

The White Rose League committee regret that they have had to cancel their plans to visit our Short Mat Bowling colleagues in Belgium in July 2005 due to the minimum number of participants not being reached. However they will be going ahead with plans to invite members from Belgium to North Yorkshire in 2006. Details can be obtained from League Secretary Derek Beardsley on 01423 864418 or at Derek.Beardsley@aspin1999.freeserve.co.uk

2004

2004 END OF SEASON CHALLENGE MATCH - September 13th 2004 - This final event of the season was once again held in the showroom at Lookers Toyota in Northallerton. There were two sessions of 8 ends playing two wood triples on two mats brought in from Dalton. The only drawback to the venue was the low sun streaming in down the length of the mats through the showrooms large glass windows making bowling from one end a little problematic.

In the first session Knaresborough lost 5-13 to Hambleton whilst Bilsdale overcame Raskelf 10-6. These two winning triples then went on to play league champions Great Ouseburn in the final session. In these David Moore, John Bunting and Barry Simmonite had a good win over Allan Meek, Keith Gough and Simon Holtby by 9-1. However on the other mat, Phil Elgie playing with Derek and Iris Johnstone wiped out George and Nancy Cook and Bill Lowther by 18-3. Great Ouseburn thus won this Challenge in addition to the league. After the presentation made by Colin Tipton of Lookers, all those present retired for a free buffet courtesy of the White Rose League.

Test match 1 (Durham): Sunday 6th June 2004 - Home game played at Knaresborough (Scotton). This inaugural game was won convincingly by the League team by 23 points to 12 (217 shots to 149).

Test match 2 (Durham): Sunday 27th June 2004 - Away game played at Murton (Sunderland). Durham got full revenge for their defeat at Knaresborough three weeks ago by only allowing the White Rose team two victories - one in the Singles (Arthur Jackson) and one in the Triples (Dennis Jarvis). Final score was Durham 31 points and White Rose 4 points (233 shots to 130). The result of the final match on neutral territory next month is eagerly awaited.  

Test match 3 (Durham): Sunday 25th July 2004 - Final match played on neutral ground at Eston (Middlesborough). A good morning for the White Rose team meant that Durham went into the last session 10-14 down knowing they had to win three of the fours mats to draw. They actually went one better winning all four mats to take the Cooledge Cup by 21-14.  The shot different of 179-175 (to Durham) showed how close a match this really was. Both teams then retired to a local hostelry for an early evening meal at which Ralph Parsons, the NYSMBA Captain, presented the Cup to Derek Gray, the captain of the Durham team.    

2003

2003 END OF SEASON CHALLENGE MATCH - League winners Knaresborough were beaten by a combined team from the other league clubs at "Lookers" showroom in Northallerton in September 2003.