GREENHILL Bowling Club is to host its first major finals day in three years when the Young’s Brewery Open Doubles competition concludes on Saturday.

Some of the area’s finest bowlers will be at the Burnley club with pairs battling it out for the £900 prize fund – in a quarter finals down to the final evening showdown.

Qualifying rounds have been taking place at the Manchester Road club in recent weeks, with the final place decided at the weekend .

Michael Burns and Michael Yerkess of Rishton take on Martin Dillon and David Hoyle of Blackburn with Bill Finn (Accrington) and Mike Fleming (Blackpool) up against Halifax pair Ian Holding and Keith Rudman.

And it was Yorkshire pair Holding and Rudman who reached the last eight which should make for some fascinating bowls.

“We used to hold three of four big competitions a year up until a few years ago but when the brewery pulled out we didn’t have the funding to hold them any more,” said Alan Gregory from Greenhill Bowling Club.

“But Young’s Brewery expressed an interest in coming in and providing funding, I’ve put in some myself and we now have some very good bowlers, some of which have played at county standard.”

Darryl Wright and Steve Clamp of Colne will be playing the Holding and Rudman pairing while there are several interested match-ups throughout the remainder of the quarter finals.

Colin Crompton and William Gaskill of Accrington are up against Graham Pilkington and Ken Taylor of Chorley.

Colne’s Alan Hanford and Glyn Shuttleworth face mixed pair Mark Holding of St Helen’s and the highly-experienced Harry Hargreaves of Blackburn for a place in the semi finals.

And the last eight is made up by Joe Urmston and Steve Harrison of Blackpool taking on Peter Wellman of Colne and home favourite Gary Evans of Burnley.

Each game will be first to 21 and the action is expected to start at 5.30pm with bowlers asked to arrive for 5pm.

The winning pair will share the £250 first place prize money with £150 going to the runners-up.

Losing semi finalist receive £100 with quarter finalist to get £75.

“We’re really looking forward to the finals day,” added Gregory. “It has been a while since we have managed to hold such an event and hopefully there will be more to come.

“We are expected some very good bowls on the day because there will be some very talented bowlers on show who have bowled at county level.

“Spectators are more than welcome to come along and watch.”