Steve Copeland added to his successes in 1989 and 1993 by winning the Clifford Crawshaw Memorial Classic at Hill Crest for a third time on Saturday, defeating Glyn Cookson 31-26 in the final.
Local hopes Gareth Nicholson, Graham Hickey and ex-Elland man Graeme Wilson lost in the last eight - Hickey to the eventual winner, Wilson to Cookson and Nicholson by 31-30 against James Wilcox.
For much of the final, Cookson appeared to be the fa
vourite to take the title. He led 9-5 and, after Copeland had levelled at 13, pulled away to go 23-17 up.
A sudden heavy shower soaked the green but Cookson initially held onto his advantage to lead by 26-20.
At this point, Copeland won back the jack and, playing a mark along the green edge, ran out to claim the title and win the break prize with 11 points in a row. He also collected £1,400 for his victory while Cookson had to settle for £700.
Copeland's chances of a third success had looked to be disappearing at an early stage as he trailed Hickey 28-20 in his quarter-final game. But, in a rehearsal of the final, a break of 11 gave him a 31-28 victory.
He was behind only once, by 5-6, in his semi-final against the 1998 winner Gary Ellis and, after a closely contested first half of the game which had the scores tied at 16, went on to win by 31-24.
Cookson had the toughest of opening games against three times winner Wilson and trailed by 10-15 after the opening ends.
A break of nine gave him the lead by 19-15, an advantage which he held on to to win by 31-25.
In his semi-final against Wilcox, Cookson was always in control. He took a 25-9 lead and although Wilcox recovered he had too much ground to make up as Cookson won 31-21.
Quarter-final scores: G. Nicholson 30 J. Wilcox 31, G.I. Wilson 25 G. Cookson 31, A. Duckett 21 G. Ellis 31, S. Copeland 31 G. Hickey 28.
HICKEY gained some consolation for his Hill Crest defeat by qualifying for two finals at the weekend.
He beat Gary Owen 21-20, John Hanson 21-7 and Geoff Irving 21-8 in the John Smith's Open at Olympic BC, Liverpool and Terry Cutting 21-16, David Harold 21-7 and David Jackson 21-11 in the Huntley Unionist Club event at Bury.
Meanwhile, Hickey's son Finley (nine) won the Halifax area qualifier for Yorkshire's Arthur Maude junior competition, beating David Ryding 15-11 and Charlie Holt 15-13. The final is at Burley Park, Leeds on Sunday, August 31.
Halifax play Skipton in the Yorkshire Veterans Inter District League on Friday (1.30).
The home team to play at Hove Edge BC is David Atkinson, Alan Patrick, Alan Brown, Geoff Thomas, David Gee, Colin Helliwell, Terry Goulden and Harold Maude.
The away team at Gargrave BC is Russ Thornber, David Smith, Bill Robson, Eric Rhodes, Peter Gibson, Fred Pearce, Kevin Gibson, Ray Day. The reserve team is Ken Crossley.
The home team may practice at Hove Edge when there are no league games. Anyone unable to play contact Colin Helliwell (01422) 248107.
The £5,000 Brighouse Classic gets underway on Friday (6.30).
LINE-UP: K.Tilling (Burton) v J. Lockett (Warrington), J.Fitzpatrick (Wirral) v A.Cairns (Rawtenstall), M. Kelly-Walley (Burton) v A.Thompson (Wallasey), D.Penketh (Warrington) v A.Hodgson (Pudsey), R.Fitzpatrick (Wirral) v M.Foster (Worsley), J.Dewey (Burton) v J.Hanson (Pudsey), D.Sillitoe (Doncaster) v M.Gilmore (Wallasey), S.Hanson (Pudsey) v L.Lawton (Failsworth).
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