There's a new name on Tenby Bowling Club's coveted Gold Cup - Chris Price from Ystradfechan Bowling Club in Mid Glamorgan.

The 45-year-old postman delivered a first class performance on Saturday to beat Welsh international and 1999 winner, Neil Rees, of Parc-y-Dre, Llanelli, 21-16.

"It feels brilliant," said Chris afterwards.

"After my win against John Roberts (Tenby BC) in the last eight, I felt that my game could possibly be good enough to take on Keran Peregrine (Ammanford Park and Gold winner in 1993 and Silver in 2002 and 2004), who was the form player throughout the week.

"To win 21-12 was a great result for me, and gave me a huge confidence boost going into the final against Neil. To win the final against Neil was an absolute dream come true. I was speechless."

Chris, who also won £750 prize money, first entered the tournament 20 years ago, but because of his work structure was unable to enter again regularly until three years ago, since when he has become a regular entrant.

Former Tenby member and defending Gold Cup champion, Lee Williamson, who now plays for Barnwood in Gloucester, lifted the Percy Howells Silver Bowl, with a 21-3 win over Robin Burden, of Brynhyfryd, Llanelli.

Lee, who was beaten in the silver final last year, was a strong contender for lifting both trophies again this year - a feat he achieved in 1995 when at the age of 19 he became the youngest ever player to achieve the double.

However, his hopes were dashed in the semi-final when he was eliminated from the Gold Cup - which he also won in 1996 - by his close friend Neil Rees.

He didn't let defeat trouble him, though, as he wrapped up the final in just 13 ends, dropping only a single and a two on the way to lifting the bowl and the £500 prize-money.

Winner of the Five Arches Trophy was Matthew Partridge, of Parc-y-Dre, Llanelli. He beat Nigel Davies, of Whitland, 21-18, to take the consolation singles cup and have his name etched on the Tenby club's honours board for the first time.

Thirty-five-year-old Matthew, who works at the DVLA in Llansamlet, Swansea, has been entering the tournament for the last six or seven years.

Previously, his best run was last year when he was beaten by Tenby's John Roberts in the quarter-finals.

Said Matthew afterwards: "It was a tough match, especicially when I was 12-2 up and then I was 18-17 down.

"The pace of the green was very difficult as it was so quick. I found it ok early on, but suddenly lost it halfway through. Luckily, though, I found the pace towards the end and won 21-18."

Tom Osborne marked the Gold Cup final, club secretary and Tenby team captain Dai Spencer marked the Silver, while club captain Tony Brown marked the Five Arches. Umpire for the semi-finals was Fred Rogers, while Alan Redman performed the duty for the finals.

The 85th tournament, sponsored by Carlsberg/Tetley, attracted over 100 bowlers from all over Wales and beyond.

Longest surviving host club member was John Roberts, who picked up £20 as losing quarter-finalist, while the awards for markers-of-the-week went to Eammon Maher, Cameron White and Aaron Lloyd.

At the presentation ceremony, club chairman John Baggott welcomed the Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, her Mayoress, Ms. Sam Reohorn, and Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter.

John said it had been a great week's bowling, with many close games and wonderful sportsmanship throughout.

He thanked tournament organiser Lynn Delabertouche for all her hard work, greenkeeper Chris Jenkins - who at the start of the season had been honoured with life membership for all his work, Dai Spencer, Ashley Hooper and Archie Rafferty for all their help, Christine, Doris, Tony, and all the ladies who had helped in the kitchen, Vi in the shop, Simo and Judy behind the bar, sponsors Carlsberg/Tetley for their generous donation and all who supported and participated in the competition.

The Mayor and Mayoress then presented the trophies and prizes, rounding off another successful week.

Results in the closing rounds were as follows:

Gold Cup

Mal Owen John Morgans w/o; Neil Rees 21 Gareth Thomas 9; Dilwyn Jones 21 Mel Williams 20; Adrian Evans 21 Richard Osborne 20; Phil Jones 19 Jon Hubbard 21; Keith Evans 9 David Evans 21.

Nicky Jones 10 Brian Kingdon 21; Alan Whitehouse 14 John Roberts 21; Lee Williamson 21 Harry Phillips 8; Robin Burden 12 Chris Price 21; Keran Peregrine 21 Ken Vaughan 20; David Evans 21 Adrian Evans 20; Dilwyn Jones 21 Jon Hubbard 20; Neil Rees 21 John Morgans 4.

Lee Williamson 21 David Evans 9; Brian Kingdon 14 Keran Peregrine 21; Neil Rees 21 Dilwyn Jones 13; John Roberts 14 Chris Price 21.

Semi-finals: Chris Price 21 Keran Peregrine 12; Lee Williamson 13 Neil Rees 21.

Final: Chris Price 21 Neil Rees 16.

Percy Howells Silver Bowl

Ashley Hooper 10 Phil Lewis 21; John Roberts 21 Dai King-Thomas 13; Tom Daniel 21 Dilwyn Jones 7; Cliff Hyde 13 Colin Jones 21; Keith Evans 16 Andrew Hopkins 21; Adrian Evans 21 Tommy Nutt 14

Andrew Hopkins 21 Colin Jones 9; Phil Jones 21 Eric Davies 13; David Evans 16 Brian Kingdon 21; Peter Toomey 21 Neil Rees 19; Rod Hugh 17 Lee Williamson 21; Robin Burden 21 Joe Richards 13; Phil Lewis 21 Tom Daniel 17; John Roberts 20 - 21 Adrian Evans 21.

Adrian Evans 21 Phil Lewis 17; Robin Burden 21 Andrew Hopkins 15; Phil Jones 13 Lee Williamson 21; Brian Kingdon 19 Peter Toomey 21.

Semi-finals: Peter Toomey 18 Lee Williamson 21; Robin Burden 21 Adrian Evans 17.

Final: Lee Williamson 21 Robin Burden 3.

Five Arches Bowl

Tony Harries 18 Eilyr Lloyd 21; Stan Harries 21 Cameron White 13; Wayne Webster 17 Mal Griffiths 21; Wyndham Petit 11 Wyndham Rees 21; Sam Brown 21 Mike Gouldingay 7; Nigel Davies 21 David St John 11; Mark Osborne 4 Jon Webb 21; Luke Rees 21 - 16 Simon Williams 16;

Eilyr Lloyd 21 Sam Brown 19; Luke Rees 6 Jon Webb 21; Mal Griffiths 19 Wyndham Rees 21; Nigel Davies 21 Stan Harries 20; Ben Cloake 4 Tom Holmes 21; Dai Spencer 21 Scott Williams 12; Matt Partridge 21 Aaron Lloyd 4; Paul Bancroft 16 Darren Potock 21.

Eilyr Lloyd 21 Wyndham Rees 15; Nigel Davies 21 Jon Webb 20; Darren Potock 12 Matthew Partridge 21; Tom Holmes 21 Dai Spencer 17.

Semi-finals: Eilyr Lloyd 19 Nigel Davies 21; Matthew Partridge 21 Tom Holmes 9.

Final: Nigel Davies 18 Matthew Partridge 21.

Annual visit for stalwart spectators

Among the many spectators at Tenby Bowling Club for Gold Cup week were Georges and Rowena Lepoittevin, who were making their annual visit to the popular tourney.

Georges and Rowena (pictured) are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this year, having met when Georges was stationed at Pembroke Dock in 1944 during the Second World War.

Georges, a founder member of the Middlesex Indoor Bowling Association, first played the game here in Wales, and was a finalist in the Gold Cup, while on another occasion he won the Five Arches, collecting a £5 voucher from a local shop, as cash prizes were not allowed at the time.

Georges's name is also prominent on the honours board at Pembroke Dock Bowling Club, having won competitions there.

Rowena's family also have strong bowling connections: her father, J. E. James was president of the Bowling Association of Wales.

Georges and Rowena make a bee-line for Tenby Gold Cup week each year and have been staying this year at the Atlantic Hotel.

Other snippets from the club

Whist drive

Thursday, August 6: top score - Mair Marquiss, 180;  1st lady - Vera Burrows, 173; 2nd lady - Jean Salisbury, 170; 1st gent - Muriel Griffiths, 179; 2nd gent - Gladys Irvine, 170; first half winner - Mary Draper, 89; second half - Joyce Waters, 86; longest sitter - Olive Frost, eight times; lowest score - Phyllis Jones; raffles - Vera Burrows and Gladys Irvine. 

Monday, August 10: top score - Gladys Irvine, 180; 1st lady - Vera Burrows, 174; 2nd lady - Mair Marquiss, 168; 1st gent - Elsie Breadnam 172; 2nd gent - Margaret Hill, 163; first half winner - Jean Salisbury, 88; second half - Olive Frost, 83; longest sitter - Phyllis Jones, eight times; lowest score - Mary Draper; raffles - Gladys Irvine and Phyllis Jones.

Bowling Club whist is played twice weekly, Monday and Thursday at 7 pm sharp. New members and visitors are always welcome.

Bonus ball winners

Wednesday, August 5 - Judith; Saturday, August 8 - Doris and Tony Brown. 

Under 25 cap

Congratulations to Luke Guymer, who has retained his place in the Welsh Under 25s team for the series to be held in Llandrindod Wells in September. Luke will lead for Paul Taylor, of Bridgend. Well done.

Alan Williams Trophy

Good luck to Luke Rees and Ben Cloake who will be representing Pembrokeshire in the Alan Williams Trophy, the Welsh Under 16s pairs, in Llandrindod Wells on Sunday.

County Championship

Good luck to John Baggott and the Pembrokeshire team who have reached the county championship final which takes place against South Glamorgan on Sunday at Llandrindod Wells.

CUP FINAL

Five Arches travel to Pembroke Dock tomorrow (Saturday) to play the Mariners in the SA Brain Cup final.

When the two teams last met, it was the Arches side that triumphed, winning by 34.5 shots, and as this final is determined on shots scored only, they will be hoping for a very similar result.

The team selected for the final, which starts at 2 pm, is:

R. Hurlow, T. Powling, G. Beynon, R. Powling.

E. Maher, C. White, M. Gouldingay, G. Hill.

L. Rees, C. Webb, A. Hooper, T. Brown.

K. Lloyd, B. Cloake, J. Hubbard, L. Richards.