Local sportsman Paul Diment came within a whisker of becoming only the second player ever in the history of Tenby's Open Week to achieve the dream 'double double'.

Thirty-nine-year-old Paul, a financial adviser, won the Percy Howells Silver Bowl on Saturday, but only hours later was just pipped by his former clubmate Phil Carpenter in the final of the blue riband Gold Cup 21-18.

As those who know Paul will testify, he is something of a walking encyclopedia when it comes to Open Week and it perhaps seemed fitting that he should reach both finals, having already been interviewed about the history of the event by BBC Cymru Wales earlier in the week for their 24/7 Tenby programme.

A member of the Tenby club since a teenager - apart from a short time with neighbouring Saundersfoot - Paul has a colourful Open Week record which has seen him experience a rollercoaster of emotions in the tournament.

He initially tasted gold in 2004 when he won the prestigious cup for the first time. Three years later, he became only the fifth player in the event to lift both trophies in the same year.

But there has been disappointment, too. He was gold runner-up to fellow double winners, Simon Evans, of Saundersfoot, in 1985, and 1994, and former clubmate and best friend, Lee Williamson, in 1995 and 2008.

And it was another case of mixed fortunes for the talented Tenby player last weekend, as he again enjoyed the highs of success in the silver, but suffered the lows of defeat in the gold.

SILVER SUCCESS

Looking very assured, Paul moved into the silver final with a hard fought win over old adversary and five times gold winner, Dave Kingdon, who now plays his bowls with the Kidwelly club.

His opponent was indoor international Steve Hill, of the Porthcawl club, who accounted for past silver bowl winner John Roberts, of Tenby, in the other semi-final.

The game lasted 20 ends, as Paul cruised into a handy 10 shots to two lead after eight ends and never looked back.

His opponent did rally midway through to cut the deficit to just three shots, at 10-7, but he only scored four more after that as Paul continued to stretch away to record an impressive 21-11 victory.

DOUBLE DREAM

After a short break to freshen up, it was back out to contest the gold final (his fourth game of the day) against Phil Carpenter, now of the Aberdare Harlequins club.

Phil, or 'Carpy' as he is known in Welsh bowling circles, was no stranger to the Sutton Street green, though, being a two times silver bowl winner and also a member of the Carruthers winning Tenby team two years ago.

This was his first taste of a gold final, though, and he had reached it after what was a nail-biting victory over another Open Week favourite Lee Williamson.

Carpenter had led quite comfortably midway through, only for Lee to stage a brave fightback, which saw them peel at 20-20, before the relieved Aberdare man trailed the jack to snatch a dramatic win on the final end.

In contrast, at the other side of the green, Diment continued his relentless march through the tournament with a relatively comfortable semi-final win over Havelock Park youngster Aaron O'Sullivan, who himself enjoyed a highly successful seven days, as he also reached the quarter-finals of the silver bowl.

And so the scene was set for a classic finalé to another memorable week of quality bowling from a strong field of competitors which seems to get stronger every year.

The Tenby man was fastest out of the blocks, quickly opening up a 5-1 lead after three ends and stretching that to 12-5 after just 11 ends.

The 'double double' dream looked as if it could very much become reality. But 'Carpy', himself a Welsh indoor international, had other ideas as he gradually pegged Paul back and by 15 ends the scoreboard showed the pair level at 12-12.

A fullhouse of four on the next end kept the dream alive for Paul, but again the Aberdare man responded with some great shots and by the 22nd end a three of his own saw him get his nose in front for the first time at 20-17.

Now under pressure to save the game, Paul picked up one on the next end, but that was his last, as moments later it was a delighted 'Carpy' who bagged another single to claim gold and leave the disappointed Tenby man reflecting on what might have been.

Afterwards, the Observer spoke to Paul about his feelings after winning the silver, but losing the gold.

"I always think that the two competitions are the same in the sense that the same players enter both cups," he said. "The Gold Cup will always be the more prestigious, but I regard the silver as an equal achievement.

"Losing the gold final was not such a disappointment, for two reasons. The first was because I won the Silver Bowl and the second was that Phil is a good friend and I was genuinely happy for him to finally win the Gold Cup.

"The only slight disappointment was that I would have been only the second person to win a 'double double' after Simon Evans.

"I am also disappointed with my record in Gold Cup finals, being in seven now and only winning two. I cannot remember being outplayed in any of the finals and have reached at least 16 shots as a minimum, together with 18, 19 and 20, but still regard it as a very disappointing return.

"However, there are many great players who have nowhere near the return of four titles and for that I consider my career in this competition a success," continued Paul. "I am so pleased to have won again as I have will have another photo in the clubhouse with the children. Ellie and Lucy have been in others before when I won the Gold Cup in 2004 and again in 2007, but now I can have a picture with Ellie, Lucy and William. It makes me proud to share the moment with them and, although Ellie and Lucy were not there this time, William enjoyed stealing the limelight and I will have a picture taken with all three in the next few days with the Silver Bowl. In years to come when they get older, they will have a laugh at their old photos in the club."

We also asked Paul his reasoning for choosing to play the Silver Bowl final before the more prestigious Gold Cup, when perhaps he would be tired after a long and arduous day on the green.

"I had a choice and chose the silver," he said. "I asked the same question to Simon Evans years ago and he told me that he always played the silver first. His reasons were that if he won, then he would be more relaxed going into the gold final knowing that he already had 'one under his belt', but more importantly, if he lost, he still had the more prestigious cup to play for and still 'be up for it'."

FIVE ARCHES BOWL

The Five Arches Bowl is a secondary, or plate, competition played for by those who have made an early exit from the two main events.

Winner this year was Whitland's Nigel Davies, who defeated Dilwyn John (unattached) 21-17 in what proved an intriguing final.

The Whitland man appeared to be on his way to defeat when he trailed 15-8 after 13 ends, but 13 shots to two over the next eight saw him snatch the silverware.

Afterwards, he told the Observer: "I'm naturally delighted to have won the Five Arches Cup, having in previous years lost in the semi-final and final. I knew that it wasn't going to be easy as there were some quality players in the line-up.

"The final itself was a tough encounter. Dilwyn played very well and his tight line woods proved a real challenge," he added.

PRIZE PRESENTATIONS

Sponsored by Molson Coors, the tournament carried a total prize money of £2,090 - including £700 for the Gold Cup winner and £500 for the Silver Bowl victor.

MC for the presentation ceremony was Pembroke County Bowling Association president, John Baggott, while trophies were presented by the Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Trevor Hallett, with commemorative trophies and prize-money being presented by Clare from Molson Coors.

Winners of the top marker of the week awards were Tony Duckfield and Aaron Lloyd.

Results in the closing rounds were as follows:

Gold Cup

Third round: Phil Jones 13 Robert Davies 21; Lee Williamson w/o Les Davies scr; Aaron O'Sullivan 21 Dai Kingdon 14; Tom Holmes 5 Paul Diment 21; Andrew Wason 19 Matthew Partridge 21; Andrew Hopkins 21 E. Lloyd 14; Steve Hill 7 Phil Carpenter 21; Rhys Fielding 11 Richard Osborne 21.

Quarter-finals: Rob Davies 7 Aaron O'Sullivan 21; Matthew Partridge 4 Paul Diment 21; Richard Osborne 14 Phil Carpenter 21; Lee Williamson 21 Andrew Hopkins 16.

Semi-finals: Paul Diment 21 Aaron O'Sullivan 13; Lee Williamson 20 Phil Carpenter 21.

Final: Paul Diment 18 Phil Carpenter 21.

Percy Howells Silver Bowl

Third round: Adrian Evans 5 Dai Kingdon 21; Paul Diment 21 Harry Phillips 2; Robin Burden 11 Jarrad Breen 21; Aaron O'Sullivan 21 Neil Dickinson 12; Mark Howells 12 Steve Reese 21; John Roberts 21 Matthew Partridge 16; Darren Potock 15 David Evans 21; David Weale 16 Steve Hill 21.

Quarter-finals: Steve Hill 21 David Evans 2; Aaron O'Sullivan 6 David Kingdon 21; John Roberts 21 Jarrad Breen 18; Steve Reese 13 Paul Diment 21.

Semi-finals: John Roberts 13 Steve Hill 21; Dai Kingdon 16 Paul Diment 21.

Final: Paul Diment 21 Steven Hill 11.

Five Arches Bowl

First round: Luke Rees 13 Jon Webb 21; Stan Harries 21 Jonathan Hubbard 20; Joe Richards 6 Ashley Williams 21; Tom Daniel 19 Keith Evans 21; Josh Hancock 12 Brian Kingdon 21; Nigel Davies 21 Clive Webb 7; Jordan Hooper 9 Colin Jones 21; Mark Weiland 14 John Morgans 21; Steffan Harries 9 Ashley Hooper 21; Mike Jackson 18 Shane Hill 21; Peter Toomey 21 Dale Gorman 16; Anthony Smith 21 Iouan Williams 6; Wayne Webster 18 Ronan Breen 21; Dilwyn Jones 19 Cameron White 21; Chris Williams w/o Gerald Farnham scr; Dilwyn John 21 Chris Berry 12.

Second round: Ashley Williams 21 Keith Evans 12; Brian Kingdon 20 Nigel Davies 21; Shane Hill 21 Ashley Hooper 20; John Morgans 16 Colin Jones 21; Anthony Smith 21 Peter Toomey 6; Cameron White 21 Ronan Breen 19; Dilwyn John 21 Chris Williams 19; Jon Webb 21 Stan Harries...

Quarter-finals: Jon Webb 10 Ashley Williams 21; Nigel Davies 21 Anthony Smith 12; Cameron White 12 Dilwyn John 21; Shane Hill 21 Colin Jones 13.

Semi-finals: Ashley Williams 17 Nigel Davies 21; Shane Hill 8 Dilwyn John 21.

Final: Nigel Davies 21 Dilwyn John 17.