GRAEME WILSON made history by becoming the first player to clinch four Yorkshire Merit titles.
And after a 21-13 victory over 2003 runner-up Chris Mordue, of Brighouse Sports, he gave spectators a rare glimpse of emotion.
After clinching a pair at the final end, the consistent Elland WMC player threw his cap high into the air and yelled: "Get in!"
The 35-year-old picked up a £500 prize in the showpiece at Elland CA and BC, who also sponsored the event.
Throughout the rain, hail and sunshine, Wilson proved the most consistent performer to thoroughly earn his fourth title after previous victories in 2000, 2001 and 2004.
But he almost came a cropper in his second-round match against Ian Bottomley, of Lower Hopton.
Bottomley was 20-17 up before Wilson scored two consecutive pairs around the green edge to run out a 21-20 winner.
Such was Wilson's domination that only Bottomley and Mordue managed to score double figures against the crown-green game's top player.
Huddersfield had interest right up to the semi-finals with Linthwaite CBC's Mick Hinchliffe and Almondbury Lib's Ashley Tattersley (formerly Crowther) powering through to the last four.
But Hinchliffe was overpowered by Wilson, who took a 17-0 lead and ran out an eventual 21-4 winner.
Tattersley, who had been 14-0 down in his opening game against Brighouse Sports' John Edmondson only to bounce back, lost 21-7 to consistent performer Mordue.
In the game of the day, Tattersley had edged past defending champion Graham Hickey 21-20 in the quarter-final, with the beaten Lower Hopton bowler looking to create Merit history by clinching a third title on the trot.
Hickey led 19-15 after finding a useful mark down the green edge, but Tattersley hit back to level at 19-19 before taking a 20-19 lead.
But a loose lead by Hickey, with the scorecard reading 20-20, allowed Tattersley room to get in and crush Hickey's hat-trick hopes.
Wilson won the toss in the final and led out, soon carving a 13-5 lead.
But his Yorkshire county colleague Mordue was taking some shaking off, and when Wilson struck out his own wood to leave Mordue two-on, he was right back in contention at only 13-11 adrift.
But such is the outstanding quality of Wilson that he soon found another gear and in the end, ran out a comfortable 21-13 winner.
Other local notable performances were by Lockwood Con's Eddie Haigh, who had former back-to-back winner Robert Hitchen in all sorts of trouble at 21-15 before just losing out 21-20, and 2003 champion Mark Sykes.
The Milnsbridge BC man beat 1980 and 1990 champion Allan Thompson (Mirfield OB) 21-11 in the first round before going down 21-17 to Hinchliffe in the second as the rain came down.
