By Richard Hodgson
There can’t be too many West Leeds teams that can call themselves World Champions!
In 2019, Pudsey Bowling Club won the crown green bowling Yorkshire Cup, which gave them qualification for the British Crown Green Bowling Association World Club Championships.
As a result of the pandemic, the finals were postponed in 2020 and 2021, but finally took place this year.
32 of the very best bowling teams from across the country, including Wales and the Isle of Man, battled through qualifying rounds in March and April, before the final at Spen Victoria Cricket and Bowling Club near Cleckheaton on Easter Sunday.
Pudsey Bowling Club returned for the finals day to defeat a tough team from Cheshire in the quarter finals, before a comfortable victory over Llay Welfare from Wales in the semi final.
On to the final against their old adversaries, Lower Hopton WMC.
After seven games, the scores were exactly level, with Pudsey player Dave Poole left on the green needing a win. He did just that, carding a 21-15 victory, for Pudsey to win by six points.
Massive congratulations to captain Jon Edmondson and all of team. Well done Pudsey Bowling Club. World Club Champions.