Barry Walker nearly sprung a surprise comeback in the men's singles final at Thanet Road, where he rallied from 20-7 down to 20-18 against an in-form Eddie Howcroft.

But Howcroft finally got the decisive shot to win the prestigious Charles and Emily Barnard Trophy for the first time.

Brenda Love won the senior ladies' singles final for the fifth time when she beat Betty Richardson 21-10, finishing with seven winning ends out of nine.

Peter Littlewood and Brenda Love won the John Smith's Easter mixed pairs competition, defeating Sheila Turpin and Kevin Harris 12-3 in the final after an impressive 14-5 semi-final victory over national men's singles semi-finalist Iain Boyle and Shirley Stacey.

Josh Cahill, aged 12, capped a good season when he and Joyce Gee won the Easter mixed pairs plate.

Gee and Cahill were leading 9-1 after five ends against Margaret Smith and Mal Turpin when they were hit with two singles and a five but held on for a 9-8 victory.

In the League play-off finals at Huntington Road, an extra end was required in the ladies' fours when Brenda Keller's team levelled at 21-21 against Clarice Robinson's team.

Keller's side had led 8-1 only for their opponents to rally and go 11-9 up. The extra end was also close before Robinson's rink took the honours 22-21.

In the club triples final, New Earswick came from 9-8 down after 14 ends to beat Rowntrees 15-10.

The men's fours was won by Shipton 22-12 against Clifton and the mixed fours 23-11 by Alf Lewis' team against that of Bob Howland.

An amazing comeback occurred in the mixed pairs final where Betty Petty's side were coasting at 19-5 after 12 ends before Millie Howland's team won six successive ends to level at 19-19. Petty won the next with a single before Howland finished with threes on the last two to win 25-20.

Bob Howland's team were hardly troubled in the vets fours final after taking an early 11-4 lead en route to a 20-11 win over Dick Harper's side. Harper as his team also lost 15-7 in the men's triples to Barry Harrison.

In the club mixed fours, Heworth Cons scored a five on their last end to beat 'Leeds United' 23-22, while Barry Hardcastle's team won the mixed triples 19-17 against Barry Johnson's team.

Updated: 11:17 Thursday, April 24, 2003