There was a very cool reception, weatherwise, on the Tenby green for the 40 pairs of quality bowlers, but they seemed impervious to the grey skies.

They were there to do battle for two days on one of the finest bowling greens in Wales against some keen bowlers, which included a fair sprinkling of internationals. 

The round-robin stage produced some odd results, especially Saturday morning when the wind played havoc.

Several fancied pairings failed to reach the knockout stage Sunday afternoon. 

This popular weekend tournament is rapidly filled in 48 hours from the postal launch of the entry forms way back in early February each season.

Several reserve spots are also filled, just in case there is a cancellation. 

None of this could happen without the generous sponsorship each year by the oil giant Chevron, near Pembroke. This was the 18th year of the partnership. Chevron also sanctioned and paid for a new and beautiful glass Chevron Trophy, which replaces the fine Texaco Trophy.  

A winning pair and runner-up pair progressed to the quarter-finals from each of the four groups.

Winners and losers in the quarter-finals were: Gareth Thomas and Wayne Owen 6   Sam Brown and Keran Peregrine 1; Jonathan Webb and Craig Guymer 9 Emelio Garcia and Colin Griffiths 0; Ken Lloyd and Gwyn Beynon 3 Dylan Williams and Robin Burden 4; Dai Summers and David Axon 2 Lee Williamson and Neil Rees 9.            

Semi-finals (eight ends):   Gareth Thomas and Wayne Owen 4 Jonathan Webb and Craig Guymer 10; Dylan Williams and Robin Burden 6  Lee Williamson and Neil Rees 3.

Final (10 ends): Jonathan Webb and Craig Guymer 9 Dylan Williams and Robin Burden 8.  

The Tenby contingent were a serious factor, with Ken Lloyd and Gwyn Beynon winning their group, no mean feat, only to lose out in the quarter-final to the eventual runners-up by one shot in a low scoring game. 

Flavour of the week had to be Jonathan Webb and Craig Guymer, who went through all opponents like a hot knife through butter. The final was a different kettle of fish. The bowling was really high classed right up to the nail-biting final end and the last bowl. Great bowling.

At the presentation ceremony, club president Bert Barnikel with chairman John Baggott thanked the players for their continued interest in our end of season open three-wood pairs tournament, a must in the Welsh bowling calendar; Mrs. Lynn Delabertouche, tournament secretary, for her super efficient running of the hectic weekend of continuous play; and the workers behind the scenes for keeping all fed and watered. 

Bert invited Chevron's retiring public affairs adviser Phil Thompson and his wife Christine to present the prizes. 

Phil, with Derek Lloyd, were so enthusiastic at the launch of Texaco Trophy way back in year one - 1992. Phil has done a stunning amount for his company, carrying out their policy of encouraging many facets of local, social and sporting enterprises throughout Wales. 

Phil retires soon and we all wish him a long and happy retirement for a job well done. 

Chairman John Baggott thanked everyone and was still glowing with pride at the year's successes on the green by all of the Tenby bowlers, the euphoria of winning the Welsh club championship, the Carruthers Shield, being the tops, plus more stunning news on the Saturday when young Ysie White carried off the Under 16s Welsh Women's singles trophy at their finals held in Lampeter. 

Winning duo Jon Webb, sporting his son Jack on one arm, with modest young Craig Guymer, were tickled pink at pulling off a fine win.

Phil Thompson rounded off the weekend congratulating the Tenby club on their enterprise in bringing pleasure to many bowlers and their families over the years, in the sport of lawn green bowling.

Club finals 2009

Tomorrow (Saturday) sees more quality bowling as the survivors of the knockout rounds of the many Tenby club cups and shields vie for the silverware. 

Action starts early and will probably span more than one day?  Come and watch the stars in action.

Carruthers euphoria

The Tenby club slowly came to realise the enormity of their magnificent feat in winning the coveted Carruthers Shield, continuously prompted by many many congratulatory cards and 'phone messages from all over Wales. 

My particular favourite came from Welsh past president (2002) John Evans, of the New Quay Club, who summed up the empathy and admiration of many minor county clubs across the principality.

Tough breed

One of the finest and most natural sportsmen in our area has to be Ray Holly. A very fine cricketer in his younger days, he was a regular in the Pembroke county team. Ray eventually took up lawn green bowling and continued displaying his high classed skills, starting in Newtown in 1977, where he was a member of the constabulary. He skipped regularly for his county before retiring to the Tenby area.

Joining the Tenby club, he has been an active member on and off the green since 1986, at club and county level.

Ray is struggling with a health problem currently, which he appears to be mastering. We all wish him well.   

B.B.

International duty

A week after he was one of the Tenby team which won the Carruthers Shield at Llandrindod Wells, Luke Guymer was back bowling at the Rock Park greens.

This time he was on duty with the Welsh Under 25s team for their home international series.

Luke, who was leading for Paul Taylor, of Bridgend, enjoyed a successful series.

Their rink beat Ireland 22-15, lost to England 33-16 and drew with Scotland 17-all. Scotland won the series, with England runners-up and Wales third.

Bowler Ysie wins Welsh title

Tenby Bowling Club member Ysie White was celebrating winning her first Welsh title on Saturday.

She won the Welsh Women's Bowling Association's Under 16s singles at Lampeter BC - the home of this year's national president, Bet Davies.

Sixteen-year-old Ysie, who was runner-up in the contest last year, beat Rhiannon Weale, of Presteigne, in the final 21-9.

Ysie, now a student at Pembrokeshire College, reached the final after defeating Natalie Phillips, of Llandrindod Wells, in Friday's semi-final.

Ysie's success comes less than a month after she won the West Wales Ladies Bowling Association's two-wood singles. Well done Ysie!

Whist results

Thursday, September 3: top score - Mair Marquiss, 180; 1st lady - Margaret Hill, 161; 2nd lady - Muriel Griffiths, 158; 1st gent - Joyce Waters, 170; 2nd gent - Pauline Barnikel, 166; raffles - Joyce Waters and Margaret Hill. 

Monday, September 7: top score - Gladys Irvine, 169; 1st lady - Olive Frost, 165; 2nd lady - Ginnie Beeken, 164; 1st gent - Bert Barnikel, 168;  2nd gent - Mary Draper, 165; first half winner - Phyllis Jones, 88; second half - Margaret Hill, 78; longest sitter - Vera Burrows; raffles - Olive Frost and Ginnie Beeken.  

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

Tenby 126 Warwickshire Tourists 114 

Another band of talented bowlers who enjoyed their week's visit to the fair county of Pembroke, 'to see if us bowlers can bowl any better than we', as the words of the well-known bowling song goes.  

Not quite was the answer on the Tenby green, where the men of Warwick fought well, but only managed a win on one rink. 

Selection was a bit fraught for club captain Tony Brown as the younger element had returned to school. A little help from Saundersfoot bowlers and a spare Warwick player fitted the gap exactly. 

Rink results (Tenby first, visiting skips only) were:

T. Brutnell, D. Lee (Warwick), R. Wilkins, B. Barnikel 18; T. Castic 16. 

S. Taylor, a Warwick player, R. Taylor, T. Howells 23; S. Turner 21. 

E. Maher, D. Rees, H. Ebdon, A. Hooper 21; D. Booth 19. 

Derek Rowen, B. Glynn (Saundersfoot), J. Hubbard, T. Brown 12; A. Halliwell 27.

B. Winstone, H. Meades, a Warwick player, J. Baggott  24; R. Powell 14.

S. Askew, R. Hine, J. Taylor, M. Gouldingay 28; J. Stonier 17.