MARK BRAMALL proved his skills in the corners to land the Griffin Classic.

In his fourth final of the winter season, Bramall overcame Yorkshire county star Craig Gant 21-11 in the showpiece in gradually worsening conditions at the Colne Valley bowling venue.

The weather was so bad for the PM Autos-sponsored event that only one of the eight seniors got through to the quarter-finals, and that was last year’s winner Ronnie Wormald.

The rest were unable to reach the longer marks as the green became waterlogged, but that was no problem for the finalists.

Bramall led 12-10 at the 18th end and then took control, playing the corners well to get to ‘all but’.

Gant then scored his last point before Bramall got the one needed for his first win of this winter campaign.

At the presentation, club president Alan Hirst paid thanks to Leslie and Mark Wood for looking after the refreshments, Eddie Haigh the greenkeeper, Frank Greenwood for all his work organising the event and, most importantly, to sponsor Paul Manning of PM Autos of Longwood.

Hirst then presented the prizes, with the winner receiving the trophy and £160.

Bramall said he was delighted to win and prove that he was capable of taking the final hurdle rather than being a runner-up all the time.

He then endorsed all the thanks that Hirst had commented on, adding his personal tribute to the sponsor.

Preliminary – Ronnie Wormald 21 Chris Davies 8, Peter Hopkinson w/o Danny Fountain, Richard Punshon 15 Tony Marren 21, Mick Higgins w/o Steven Hirst, Barry Gibson 15 Mark Bramall 21, Roy Sutton 9 Terry Brook 21, Steve Parkin 21 Harry Ellis 8, Mark Wood 11 Jack Dyson 21, Dennis Tattersley 21 Ian Haigh 19, Paul Ingleby 21 Mark Sykes 20, Peter Kain 21 Barry Tinker 8, David Scott 13 Duncan Reeves 21.

First round – Craig Gant 21 Donald Rae 10, Alec Byrnes 14 Danny Radcliffe 21, Wormald 21 Hopkinson 7, Marren 18 Higgins 21, Bramall 21 Brook 11, Parkin 6 Dyson 21, Tattersley 13 Ingleby 21, Kain 8 Reeves 21.

Quarter-finals – Gant 21 Radcliffe 11, Wormald 14 Higgins 21, Bramall 21 Dyson 16, Ingleby 21 Reeves 13.

Semi-finals – Gant 21 Higgins 16, Bramall 21 Ingleby 18.

Final – Gant 11 Bramall 21.

THIS coming Sunday’s Sixteen is sponsored by Lynn of Strait Kutz, Marsden, and starts at 11am.

Draw – (with odds in brackets): Barry Gibson (14) v Steve Parkin (33), Craig Gant (2) v Richard Punshon (50), Terry Brook (10) v Ray Whitwam (10), Gary Siswick (7) v Peter Hopkinson (50), Donald Rae (20) v Frank Greenwood (12), Ronnie Wormald (5) v Peter Kain (8), Jack Dyson (2) v Roy Sutton (10), Dennis Tattersley (50) v Danny Fountain (12).