The competition was started in 1976 and has been running ever since, making it one of, if not the oldest continually run “open” competition in crown green bowls hosted by a private club. The event was the brainchild of Mr. Sydney Murgatroyd and his son Trevor. The first competition was sponsored by Whitbread’s the brewers and had an invited entry of possibly the best 32 players around at that time, each paying a £5 entry fee. The competition was played under “Blackpool” rules after affiliating to the British Professional C.G.B.A. for a fee of £2.

The opening night on Saturday 1^st May saw around 100 spectators paying 10p (OAP 5p) to witness the start of an era. The games were 41 up off 5, with 2 qualifiers going through to the final on Sept. 4^th.

The opening nights card:-

Derek Ripley 35 – 41 Stewart Richardson

Brian Armitage 41 – 27 Jim Collen

The final between Dennis Mercer (Stockport) and Gene Bardon (Huddersfield) was played in front of 438 spectators but it was not without controversy. One of the finalists, Dennis Mercer, had been bowling in a team event at county level and arrived at Hill Crest 1 hour after the stipulated start time. Instead of the handicap being 5 both played off 15, with much of the game being played in darkness. Mercer became the first holder of the new trophy beating Bardon 41-34. Mercer collected £200 with the runner up getting £70. This new event was watched by over 3000 spectators during the 15 weeks it had been running.

In 1980 Dennis Mercer had to withdraw due to illness and his replacement Brian Starkey, went on to win the final beating local bowler Roy Nicholson 41-37.

The same format was used until 1981 when the competition failed to attract a sponsor. The entry was increased to 64 @ £6 and also became a 31 up (off 3), with 4 players per heat bowling down to 1. The event carried a prize fund of £1000, with the winner receiving £360.

Russell Dean, a local furniture store, sponsored the competition from 1979 to 1981.

In 1984 Caltravel a local travel agents owned by David and Ann Wright became sponsors and coupled with some added support from Taylors Bacon and a £10 entry fee the competition carried a £1,500 prize pot, paying £500 to the winner. The local travel agents continued to support the sweep, but in 1987 the future of the competition was in doubt after the sponsors pulled out. Fortunately the company that succeeded Caltravel agreed to carry on with the sponsorship and the 1988 event became known as the Scotts Travel Classic. To satisfy demand there was an increase in the number of entrants to 128 @ £10, meaning a £2200 pot with £600 going to the winner.

Briggs Priestley became the main sponsors in 1989 and continued supporting the “Classic” until 1999, during which time the competition continued to flourish and once again had to double the entry due to demand, becoming a 256 @ £15 in 1994 (£5,300, £800 Winner).

The following season saw the debut at Hill Crest of a very young Gary Ellis who made a 24 break in his first game on the green against Brian Richards.

Fieldhouse Industrial Services became the 2000 main sponsors and with a total prize fund of £6,710 the event was the highest in Yorkshire. The winner received £1,000 plus a replica trophy with the runner-up getting £500. The following year saw a further increase in the prize fund to £8,010 with the winner on £1,400. The entry fee was £20

When entries started to decline it was decided to revert back to a 128 for the 2002 season and it has remained that way ever since. Unfortunately due to the economic climate deteriorating, income from sponsorship was reduced and to keep the “pot” at the same level entry fees were increased to £25.

Tragedy struck on 7^th June 2002 when organiser Mr.Trevor Murgatroyd suddenly passed away whilst on holiday in Bulgaria with one of his daughters and her family. The organisers post was taken on by Mr.John C Lodge a long standing Classic committee member.

Mr.Clifford Crawshaw who had sponsored the highest break prize for a few years also became the main sponsor in 2006. Upon his death Mr. Crawshaw had bequeathed the club some monies to ensure the immediate future of the Classic was secured.

2009 saw some major changes with Complete Packaging Services becoming the new sponsors, and Grosvenor’s Butchers providing the highest break prizes for each heat.

On 30th April, after the 1^st weekly heat , tragedy struck once again with the sudden death of Mr. Lodge. With the club in a state of deep shock a meeting was called and it was decided to continue running the Classic. Mr Martin Holt & Mr.Terry Goulden becoming the new joint organisers, Martin doing the behind the scenes work and Terry doing the Saturday nights’ meeting, greeting and keeping the card running smoothly.

A couple of changes were made including a further reduction in the overall prize fund to £5,490 (£1,200 winner) and also to the format for the sub-finals where the heats would be drawn on the night.

The competition continues to attract the top players from far and wide and the “full” signs normally go up within days of the entry book being opened.

Hill Crest celebrates its centenary in 2013 and it’s remarkable to think the Classic has been running for 38 years and with only 3 changes to the organisers post.

NOTABLE DATES

1976 Start of the competition. Entrants included Roy Nicholson, Michael Leach and Alan Thompson who are still competing in the Classic (as at 2013)

1981 £1,000 prize fund. 64 entries

1984 £1,500 prize fund £500 to winner

1986 Roy Nicholson finally wins sweep after being runner-up 3 times

1988 £2,200 prize fund 128 entries

1989 Brand new scorebox replaced old scoreboards

1992 Graeme Wilson wins Classic for the first time

1994 £5,300 256 entries @ £15’

1995 £6,000 prize fund

2000 Chris Mordue wins Classic and also wins BCGBA Champion of Champions

2001 £8,010 prize fund £1,400 winner £700 runner-up

2002 Entries revert back to 128

2008 Steve Copeland wins his 3^rd title

2009 Graeme Wilson wins for a record 4^th time

2011 Wayne “The Beast” Ditchfield becomes the youngest winner aged 20

2012 Gary Ellis wins his 3^rd title