Popular local sportsman, Paul Diment, achieved his bowling dream on Saturday when he won Tenby's famous Gold Cup - his second Open tournament success in a week. And he did it in style, beating his friend and former winner, Lee Williamson, 21-17 in a thrilling final that gripped the near capacity crowd at the sun-soaked Sutton Street green from beginning to end. It was fitting, too, that there were two bowlers with such strong local connections in the final in the year that Tenby Bowling Club and the Open Tournament were both celebrating their 80th anniversaries. Now bowling for neighbouring Saundersfoot, Paul, for many years, was a member of the Tenby club, where his late grandfather Bobby was a leading light and former president. Lee, like Paul, also joined the club as a junior member and became one of its stars, before moving on to pastures new. But this was not the first time they had faced each other in the Gold Cup final. The pair were opponents in the 1995 final, when 28-year-old Williamson lifted both the Gold Cup and the Percy Howells Silver Bowl. Runner-up on three previous occasions, Diment, 32, fresh from his victory at the Saundersfoot Open the weekend before, and Williamson, who had knocked out defending champion David Kingdon on his way to the final, had both been in top form all week, so it was not surprising that the final proved to be a keen contest, with both players showing great skill and determination. After the opening exchanges, Diment, a former Welsh international and British Isles title holder, edged ahead, and by the 10th end was 11-5 in front. Williamson, who plays such a high standard of bowls despite only bowling twice a year - during Gold Cup Week and Tenby's Texaco Pairs in September - hit back and, shortening the length of the jack, he picked up a single. Although he lost the jack on the next end, he picked up another one, followed by another on the next end to close the gap to just two shots. The next two ends went Diment's way. He picked up a two, followed by a three to lead by five shots, but Williamson still kept himself in the game. On the next end he took the jack back for two and, although Diment replied with a single, Williamson grabbed a double to level the match 16-all on the 20th end. It was the next end which was to prove the turning point, however, as Williamson, having initially held the advantage, failed to hit the target with a running wood, leaving Diment with a three-shot haul and needing just two more for victory. But Williamson was not done yet. He, himself, appeared to be holding three shots on the very next end, only for dead-eye Diment to produce another crucial bowl by drawing second wood with his last delivery. Still with jack in hand, Williamson then made what was to prove a costly error. It failed to reach the minimum required distance, and Diment took the opportunity to roll it to his own favoured length. And boy, did he take full advantage. With Williamson lying shot, Diment literally produced two 'dream' bowls of immaculate line and length to steal the two he needed and seal a memorable win. And so, after 23 ends of exhilarating play, the Gold Cup was his at last. As well as lifting the magnificent trophy, Diment - only the 16th local bowler to have done so - picked up a prize of £750, but, more importantly, his name will be written in gold on the honours board for all to see in years to come. In the morning's semi-finals, Diment, a financial advisor, booked his place in the final by beating Keith Peregrine, of Ammanford 21-10, while Williamson, a self-employed revenue officer, ended the 'double' hopes of Martin Watts, of Brynhyfryd, by winning 21-16. In the Percy Howells Silver Bowl final, 36-year-old Welsh international Kieran Peregrine, chalked up another title win at the tournament by beating Martin Watts. Peregrine, a familiar figure at the Open, being winner of the Gold Cup in 1993, Silver in 1990, 1991 and 2002, and past holder of the Five Arches Bowl, came from behind in a match that lasted just under two hours. Seven-one down, Peregrine, of Ammanford, levelled the match eight-all after eight ends. The pair peeled again at nine-all on the 10th end, before Peregrine began to forge ahead, picking up 12 shots to Watts's two to run out a 21-11 winner. In the semi-finals, Peregrine had knocked out Ross Davies, of Ammanford Park, 21-12, while Watts eliminated 2000 winner, Carmarthen's Martin Harries, 21-10. The final of the Five Arches Cup, the consolation competition for players eliminated in the early rounds of the Gold and Silver, went right down to the wire. Peter Toomey, of Guest Memorial, was 20-12 up against Wyndham Rees, of Brynhyfryd, Llanelli, and looked to have victory within his grasp. But, as all bowlers are only too aware, that last vital shot can be so difficult to score, and so it proved for Toomey. Rees picked up a three, followed by a single, a two and another three, to snatch victory 21-20 and add his name to the bowl for a second time, the first being in 2000, when he and partner Rowland Hudson, of Havelock Park, became the first to win the competition when it was run as a two-wood pairs event. Tenby's hopes in this competition ended in the morning's semi-finals when twin brothers, Luke and Craig Guymer, were knocked out. Luke lost to the eventual winner 21-10, while Craig went out to Rees 21-16. In the absence of the defending champion, David Kingdon, Ted Harvey, who had marked the most games during the week, officiated in the Gold Cup final, while Goscar club captain Ted Brutnell and club secretary David Spencer oversaw the Silver and Five Arches finals, respectively. Umpire for the afternoon was tournament organiser, Bert Barnikel, who was kept busy, particularly with long tape duties. The presentation of trophies and prizes followed shortly after play ended, with club chairman Jonathan Webb welcoming the guests and thanking everyone who had made the 2004 Open Tournament another success. Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, then duly presented the trophies, while Wynne Lewis, of sponsors Carlsberg UK, presented the prize money, with the commemorative plaques being awarded by club president, Ben Owens. Also in attendance was Miguel Gonzalez, of the Giltar Hotel, who sponsored the Five Arches Bowl. Results in the closing rounds were as follows:

Gold Cup

SECOND ROUND: R. Davies 15 M. Harries 21; R. Janes 21 E. Oliver 4; B. Young 21 G. Hughes 14; R. A. Harris 17 P. Diment 21; D. E. Davies 5 M. Howells 21; P. Richardson 21 A. Evans 14. THIRD ROUND: D. Kingdon 22 V. Ryan 9; L. Williamson 21 R. Walters 14; C. Court 21 Ker. Peregrine 17; R. Hudson 13 M. Watts 21; Keith Peregrine 21 P. Day 17; M. Harries 20 R. Janes 21; B. Young 15 P. Diment 21; M. Howells 20 P. Richardson 21. QUARTER-FINALS: D. Kingdon 11 L. Williamson 21; C. Court 14 M. Watts 21; K. Peregrine 21 R. Janes 16; P. Diment 21 P. Richardson 12. SEMI-FINALS: L. Williamson 21 M. Watts 16; K. Peregrine 10 P. Diment 21. FINAL: L. Williamson 17 P. Diment 21.

Percy Howells Silver Bowl

SECOND ROUND: J. Watkins 8 P. Day 21; P. Jenkins 8 M. Watts 21; A. Evans 19 R. Thomas 21; J. Hubbard 19 M. Harries 22; S. Askew 8 D. Newth 21. THIRD ROUND: P. Carpenter 15 Ker. Peregrine 21; C. Court 21 L. Morgan 15; Ross Davies 21 S. Stevens 20; T. Daniel 10 L. Williamson 21; M. Partridge 13 S. Butler 21; P. Day 5 M. Watts 21; R. Thomas 5 M. Harries 21; D. Newth 18 K. Evans 21. QUARTER-FINALS: K. Peregrine 21 C. Court 6; R. Davies 21 L. Williamson 19; S. Butler 15 M. Watts 21; M. Harries 21 K. Evans 8. SEMI-FINALS: K. Peregrine 21 R. Davies 12; M. Watts 21 M. Harries 10. FINAL: K. Peregrine 21 M. Watts 11.

Five Arches Bowl

FIST ROUND: M. Davies 18 R. Blacklaw 21; B. Oakley 11 B. Barnikel 21; J. Evans conceded D. W. Rees; D. Davies jnr. 21 J. Webb 13; S. Taylor 9 H. Guy 21; C. Guymer 21 R. Powling 13; A. Howells 20 G. Hewitt 21; Keith Jones 21 T. Nutt 11; W. Pettit 4 P. Toomey 21; D. A. Evans 20 D. R. Watkins 21; D. Spencer 7 S. Harris 21; K. Davies 20 Adrian Evans 21; B. Richards 12 R. Bullen 21; L. Lacy 21 P. Haines 14; L. Guymer 21 T. J. Watkins 10; D. Owens 21 B. Warren 16. SECOND ROUND: R. Blacklaw 3 B. Barnikel 21; D. W. Rees 21 D. Davies jnr 9; H. Guy 10 C. Guymer 21; G. Hewitt 12 K. Jones 21; P. Toomey 21 D. R. Watkins 14; S. Harries 10 A. Evans 21; R. Bullen 22 L. Lacy 14; L. Guymer 21 D. Owens 4. QUARTER-FINALS: B. Barnikel 15 D. W. Rees 21; C. Guymer 21 K. Jones 17; P. Toomey 21 A. Evans 18; B. Bullen 7 L. Guymer 21. SEMI-FINALS: D. W. Rees 21 C. Guymer 16; P. Toomey 21 L. Guymer 10. FINAL: D. W. Rees 21 P. Toomey 20.