Just like the temperatures, competition is beginning to hot up in Tenby Bowling Club's Blue Riband event, Gold Cup Week, widely regarded as the most prestigious event of its kind in West Wales. Since Sunday, 105 bowlers from 41 different clubs all over the United Kingdom, many of whom make the annual trip to the club for their holidays, have been doing battle on the Sutton Street green for the Gold Cup itself and the Percy Howells Silver Bowl, the two most sought-after titles in Pembrokeshire bowls. Defending champion, David Kingdon, of Brynhyfryd, Llanelli, who has won the coveted cup an impressive five times in the last seven years, eased through the opening rounds and must surely fancy his chances of retaining the title. Any hopes, however, he had of lifting the dream double were eliminated on Wednesday, when he was knocked out of the Silver Bowl by the holder, Phil Carpenter, who now plays at neighbouring Saundersfoot. Competition has been of a high standard throughout the week and spectators have been treated to a feast of bowling and at the close of play on Wednesday evening, local bowlers were still making a bold challenge for the final stages. Among the hotly tipped contenders is Tenby's own Peter Day, who still maintains an interest in both events. Others include Lee Williamson, who was the last bowler to scoop the double - a feat he achieved in 1995 - and junior international Chris Court, of Whitland. A former member of the host club, Lee now lives in the Winchester area and only bowls during Gold Cup Week and at the Texaco weekend in September. As for the other visitors, former gold and silver victor, Keiran Peregrine, of Ammanford, was still undefeated in both. One of his opponents could turn out to be his father, Keith, who was also still in the gold. Also hoping to strike 'gold' is Paul Diment, fresh from his victory in the Saundersfoot Open, while those seeking Silver Bowl glory include Tenby's David Newth, Stuart Askew and Goscar vice-captain Jonathan Hubbard, along with tournament regular, 1993 winner Tom Daniel, of Beaufort. Competition also began yesterday (Thursday) in the consolation Five Arches Bowl, which has returned to a singles competition this year, after being run as a pairs event for the last couple of years. The weather has enabled tournament director Bert Barnikel and his assistants Ted Brutnell and Ron Hurlow to maintain a magnificent schedule, while the ladies have done a great job in the refreshment corner. The tournament, which is this year celebrating its 80th anniversary, reaches its climax tomorrow (Saturday), with the semi-finals in the morning, followed by the finals in the afternoon. A full list of results up until Wednesday evening is as follows:

Gold Cup

PRELIMINARY ROUND: D. W. Rees (Brynhyfryd) 17 D. Roberts (unattached) 21; D. Kingdon (Brynhyfryd) 21 M. Partridge (Parc-y-Dre) 16; J. Davies (Ammanford Park) 11 D. W. Owens (Bedford) 21; D. Newth (Tenby) 21 J. Webb (Tenby) 11; M. Rees (Brynhyfryd) 12 C. Guymer (Tenby) 21; V. Ryan (Ely Vale) 21 B. Bailey (Tenby) 4; M. Donoghue (Tenby) 9 P. Carpenter (Saundersfoot) 21; H. Andrews (Brynhyfryd) 8 G. Hewitt (Tenby) 21; A. McCarley (Graig Merthyr) 21 S. Butler (Aberavon) 13; A. Evans (Kidwelly) 7 E. Davies (Ammanford Park) 21; B. Chapman (Briton Ferry Steel) scr L. Guymer (Tenby) w/o; A. Evans (Parc-y-Dre) 5 L. Williamson (unattached) 21; H. Guy (Tenby) scr P. Haines (Ammanford Park) w/o; R.Walters (Kidwelly) 21 W. Oakley (Cardigan) 10; W. Owen (Ammanford Park) 21 R. Blacklaw (Dafen Crusaders) 10; P. Grasso 16 A. Owen (Carmarthen) 21; D. Price (Ammanford Park) w/o R. Holly (Tenby) conceded; C. Court (Whitland) w/o A. Thomas (Pendine) scr; D. Evans (Parc-y-Dre) 21 J. Watkins (Ross-on-Wye) 19; T. Watkins (Abergavenny) 16 D. Stephens (Pontyfelin) 21; Kel Davies (Troedyrhiw) scr H. Phillips (Cross Hands) w/o; P. Jenkins (Brynhyfryd) 21 D. King Thomas (Tenby) 10; C. Davies (Carmarthen) C. Smith (Bellevue) 17; T. Nutt (Islwyn Park) 20 Ker Peregrine (Ammanford) 21; B. Richards (Tyrfran) 15 P. Toomey (Guest Memorial) 21; R. Murray (Briton Ferry Steel) 16 R. Hudson (Havelock Park) 21; T. Osborne (Saundersfoot) scr T. Daniel (Beaufort) w/o; D. St. John (Carmarthen) 17 P. Williams (Ammanford) 21; M. Watts (Brynhyfryd) 21 P. Currie (Tenby) 16; Gra Hughes (Saundersfoot) 21 R. Powling (Tenby) 15; Ross Davies (Ammanford Park) w/o C. Jones (Haverfordwest) scr; R. Bullen (Fox Lane) 17 M. Davies (unattached) 21; B. Barnikel (Tenby) 21 S. Taylor (Tenby) 11; L. Morgan (Troedyrhiw) scr Kei Peregrine (Ammanford) w/o; K. Jones (Troedyrhiw) 10 K. Davies (Troedyrhiw) 21; D. A. Evans (Kidwelly) 14 L. Lacy (City and County of Oxford) 21; J. C. Thomas (Porthcawl) scr D. Watkins (unattached) w/o; M. Oliver (Brynhyfryd) scr P. Day (Tenby) w/o; J. Beacher (Kidwelly) 9 W. Warren (Evesham) 21; I. Owen (Ammanford Park) 16 K. Evans (Kidwelly) 21; W. Petitt (3Ms) 8 R. Davies (Carmarthen) 21. FIRST ROUND: D. Roberts 1 D. Kingdon 21; D. W. Owens 14 D. Newth 21; C. Guymer 14 V. Ryan 21; P. Carpenter 21 G. Hewitt 8; A. McCarley 14 E. Davies 21; L. Guymer 15 L. Williamson 21; P. Haines 19 R. Waters 21; W. Owen 21 A. Owen 11; D. Price 18 C. Court 21; D. Evans 21 D. Stephens 17; H. Phillips 21 P. Jenkins 14; C. Davies 4 Keiran Peregrine 21; P. Toomey 11 R. Hudson 21; T. Daniel 21 P. Williams 21; M. Watts 21 Gra Hughes 16; Ross Davies 21 M. Davies 13; B. Barnikel 5 Keith Peregrine 21; K. Davies 21 L. Lacy 20; D. Watkins 1 P. Day 21; W. Warren 7 K. Evans 21; R. Davies 21 J. Evans (Ammanford Park) 4; M. Harries (Carmarthen) 21 R. Thomas (Milford Haven) 8; D. R. Hugh (Brynhyfryd) scr R. Janes (Penarth) w/o; E. Oliver (Brynhyfryd) 21 S. Harries (Carmarthen) 15; J. Hubbard (Tenby) 7 B. Young (Brynhyfryd) 21; Gar Hughes (Saundersfoot) S. Askew (Tenby); R. A. Harries (Ynysybwl) 21 A. Howells (Tybie) 18; P. Diment (Saundersfoot) 21 D. Spencer (Tenby) 13; D. Dearling (Porthcawl) 16 D. E. Davies (Brynhyfryd) 21; D. Davies jnr (Beaufort) 17 M. Howells (Ammanford Park) 21; T. Preston (Tenby) P. Richardson (Parc-y-Dre); D. Jones (Skewen) A. Evans (Brynhyfryd). SECOND ROUND: D. Kingdon 21 D. Newth 14; V. Ryan 21 P. Carpenter 15; E. Davies 19 L. Williamson 21; R. Waters 21 W. Owen 19; C. Court 21 D. Evans 15; H. Phillips 17 Ker Peregrine 21; R. Hudson 21 P. Williams13; M. Watts 21 Ross Davies 8; Keith Peregrine 21 K. Davies14; P. Day 21 K. Evans10.

Silver Bowl

PRELIMINARY ROUND: W. Owen (Ammanford Park) 19 W. Petitt (3Ms) 21; R. Blacklaw (Dafen Crusaders) 18 P. Carpenter (Saundersfoot) 21; M. Rees (Brynhyfryd) 21 P. Currie (Tenby) 16; P. Grasso 17 D. Kingdon (Brynhyfryd) 21; E. Oliver (Brynhyfryd) 6 A. Owen (Carmarthen) 21; I. Owen (Ammanford Park) 11 B. Young (Brynhyfryd) 21; D. Watkins (unattached) 1 Ker Peregrine (Ammanford) 21; A. Howells (Tybie) 9 K. Jones (Troedyrhiw) 21; B. Bailey (Tenby) scr P. Williams (Ammanford) w/o; J. Evans (Ammanford) 3 D. A. Evans (Kidwelly) 21; B. Barnikel (Tenby) 6 C. Court (Whitland) 21; M. Howells (Ammanford Park) w/o B. Chapman (Briton Ferry Steel) scr; R. Bullen (Fox Lane) w/o C. Jones (Haverfordwest) scr; A. Thomas (Pendine) scr D. Dearling (Porthcawl) w/o; L. Morgan (Troedyrhiw) 21 T. Preston (Tenby) 20; H. Guy (Tenby) 7 C Guymer (Tenby) 21; M. Davies (unattached) 21 D. Roberts (unattached) 9; P. Richardson (Parc-y-Dre) 21 T. Watkins (Abergavenny) 16 J. Webb (Tenby) 21 D. E. Davies (Brynhyfryd) 5; D. Evans (Parc-y-Dre) 6 Ross Davies (Ammanford Park) 21; E. Davies (Ammanford Park) 21 D. Davies jnr (Beaufort) 2; D. Stephens (Pontyfelin) w/o J. C. Thomas (Porthcawl) scr; A. Evans (Brynhyfryd) 17 D. W. Rees (Brynhyfryd) 21; S. Taylor (Tenby) 20 D. Jones (Skewen) 21; C. Smith (Bellevue) 21 R. Waters (Kidwelly) 12; G. Hughes (Saundersfoot) 13 H. Phillips (Cross Hands) 21; T. Nutt (Islwyn Park) 4 A. Evans (Parc-y-Dre) 21; T. Daniel (Beaufort) 21 S. Harries (Carmarthen) 7; D. Price (Ammanford Park) 12 A. McCarley (Graig Merthyr) 21; P. Haines (Ammanford Park) 21 D. W. Owens (Bedford) 18; L. Williamson (unattached) 21 R. Davies (Carmarthen) 7; R. A. Harries (Ynysybwl) 21 V. Ryan (Ely Vale) 15; M. Partridge (Parc-y-Dre) w/o M. Oliver (Brynhyfryd) scr; T. Osborne (Saundersfoot) scr J. Davies (Ammanford Park) w/o; D. R. Hugh (Brynhyfryd) 12 R. Janes (Penarth) 21; R. Powling (Tenby) 14 Kei Peregrine (Ammanford) 21; M. Donoghue (Tenby) 10 R. Hudson (Havelock Park) 21; D. Spencer (Tenby) 7 C. Davies (Carmarthen) 21; B. Richards (Tyrfran) 11 P. Toomey (Guest Memorial) 21. FIRST ROUND: W. Petit scr P Carpenter w/o; M. Rees 6 D. Kingdon 21; A. Owen 3 B. Young 21; Keiran Peregrine 21 K. Jones 2; P. Williams 21 D. A. Evans 12; C. Court 21 M. Howells 10; R. Bullen 21 D. Dearling 18; L. Morgan 21 C. Guymer 13; M. Davies 20 P. Richardson 21; J. Webb 12 Ross Davies 21; E. Davies 14 D. Stephens 21; D. W. Rees 16 D. Jones 21;C. Smith 12 H. Phillips 21; A. Evans 16 T. Daniel 21; A. McCarley 21 P. Haines 10; L. Williamson 21 R. A. Harries 9; M. Partridge 21 J. Davies 20; R. Janes 20 Keith Peregrine 21; R. Hudson 8 C. Davies 21; P. Toomey 13 S. Butler (Aberavon) 21; J. Watkins (Ross-on-Wye) 21 G. Hewitt (Tenby) 19; P. Day (Tenby) w/o D. K. Thomas (Tenby) scr; P. Jenkins (Brynhyfryd) 21 W. Warren (Evesham) 8; P. Diment (Saundersfoot) 13 M. Watts (Brynhyfryd) 21; J. Beacher (Kidwelly) conceded A. Evans (Kidwelly); R. Thomas (Milford Haven) w/o Kel Davies (Troedyrhiw) scr; J. Hubbard (Tenby) 21 K. Davies (Troedyrhiw) 17; M. Harries (Carmarthen) w/o R. Holly (Tenby) scr; S. Askew (Tenby) 21 R. Murray (Briton Ferry Steel) 20; D. Newth (Tenby) 21 W. Oakley (Cardigan) 13; L. Guymer (Tenby) 13 K. Evans (Kidwelly) 21; L. Lacy (City and County of Oxford) scr D. St. John (Carmarthen) w/o. SECOND ROUND: P. Carpenter 21 D. Kingdon 11; B. Young 19 Ker Peregrine 21; P. Williams 18 C. Court 21; R. Bullen 12 L. Morgan 21; P. Richardson 14 Ross Davies 21; D. Stephens 21 D. Jones 12; H. Phillips 15 T. Daniel 21; A. McCarley 14 L. Williamson 21; M. Partridge 21 Keith Peregrine 12; C. Davies 19 S. Butler 21.