The snow of January may have disrupted a great number of things across the country, even to some extent the return of this column.
Yet with powder turning to water and greens playable, in the loosest sense of the word, it seemed appropriate to awaken the column for the start of a new year of bowling.
The indoor scene may dominate the thoughts of only a minority at this time of year, but it is, in the main, the only place you were likely to find any serious action going on through December and January.
January is a strange month for indoor bowling. The focus of the national competitions is replaced for many, by the lesser importance of the local leagues. Those still in the nationals will dismiss the distraction, those without a chance of qualifying for Nottingham, until next year that is, may find the trudge through the county, one they can’t quite lift their spirits for.
The big four competitions indoors – singles, pairs, triples and fours – are now all down to the area final stage.
Unfortunately there is little in the way of Leeds or even West Yorkshire representation in those matches.
It is York and Hornsea that have dominated from the local scene, with representatives from both clubs facing each other in the pairs, triples and fours competitions.
In fact, only Cameron Legate, bowling out of Harrogate, did enough to secure a place in a final without representing either York or Hornsea. Legate faces David Attwood in the singles area final which is still to be played.
A fellow York bowler of Attwood, Adam Liddell, is in action alongside Featherstone’s Mark Hughes for the England under-25 side this weekend.
The pair travel to Newport Indoor Bowls Club to play in the home nations series against Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
Meanwhile, Featherstone could take the County League title.
With results still to come in, Featherstone held a narrow four- point lead over their opponents Scarborough.
If the title hasn’t already been decided, it could go down to the last game of the season against York.
Leeds, it seems. will struggle to register in any of the end-of-season reviews.
The run in the Egham Trophy aside – they went out in the first round of both the Denny Cup and Denny Plate.
They suffered three defeats from three games at the start of their County League campaign and appear to have left themselves with too much to do to secure a spot in the Hebden Trophy play-off.
The club are next in action on February 23 when they will send sides out in both Division Two and the Hebden.
It would be worth popping down to see if there are any signs of a second half revival that could be carried through to next season.
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