Saturday proved to be a golden day for Llanelli bowler, David Kingdon, as he re-wrote the record books of Tenby's open bowls tournament when he won the coveted Gold Cup for the fourth time in five years.

Thirty-two-year-old Kingdon, a part-time postman, became the first player in the 77-year history of the event to win Gold on four occasions when he chalked up a convincing 21-5 victory over surprise finalist Dave Pollock, of Milford Haven.

Also celebrating on Saturday was Tenby's Pat Currie, who ensured one of the main trophies stayed at the home club for the first time in five years when he won the Percy Howells Silver Bowl.

The Five Arches Cup - a consolation two-wood pairs event confined to players who make an early exit from the main competitions - went to visitors, Keith Peregrine and Keith Griffiths, both of Ammanford Park.

Saturday's finals played in dry, but at times gusty, windy conditions, were an exciting climax to the successful tournament, which had attracted over 100 bowlers from many parts of Wales and England and, with a total prize money of £1,800, competition for two of Wales's most sought-after titles had been keen all week.

Although Kingdon, Gold winner in 1997, 1998 and 2000, had hardly played competitively this year until the day before the tourney opened when he turned out for his club Parc-y-Dre in the Carruthers Shield, he soon slipped into top gear and displayed a first class exhibition of bowling throughout the week.

In the semi-finals, Kingdon beat 1993 winner Kieran Peregrine, of Ammanford Park, 21-12, while Pollock, his opponent in the final, eliminated local hope, Roy Powling, 21-14.

Although Pollock picked up two shots on the first end of the final, Kingdon, who has been capped for Wales both indoors and out, soon put his stamp on proceedings and built up an 11-2 lead.

Pollock doubled his score on the seventh end, but by this time Kingdon had a firm grip on the match.

He took a count of four on the next end, and although he conceded one shot on the ninth end, the defending champion continued to bowl immaculately and wrapped up the game in under an hour with a 3, 2, 1 run to win comfortably 21-5.

If an old tournament rule was to be honoured, Kingdon could now lay claim to the handsome Gold Cup as he has won it four times, but instead, he was only allowed to hold the valuable trophy, which has in recent times become a perpetual cup, for 20 minutes, before it was returned safely to the bank.

However, he took home a cheque for £500, a commemorative plaque and the pride that his name will be inscribed on the cup and honours board again.

In contrast to the Gold Cup, the final of the Silver Bowl was a two-hour epic tussle.

Fifty-two-year-old Currie, famed for his golden locks, faced Syd Butler, of Briton Ferry Steel.

Both players found length and line immediately and were three-all after four ends, before Butler boosted his score with a fullhouse followed by a single to go ahead 8-3.

But Currie, runner-up in the Gold in 1989, showed skill and composure under pressure as he came back into the game producing some dream woods.

Currie, who skipped fellow clubmates, Peter Day, Andrew Muskett and Paul Diment, to success in the British Isles rinks championship last year, picked up 11 shots without reply to lead 14-8 on the 13th end.

A measure on the next end went Butler's way and he raised his hopes when he scored four consecutive singles to cut Currie's lead to just two shots.

On the 17th end, marker John Baggott indicated Butler was holding a fullhouse, but a superb drive from Currie, a ceramic tiler by trade, cut his opponent down to one, to keep his own Silver hopes alive.

Both players then took singles on the next two ends, but it was Tenby's marathon running enthusiast, who, with the home crowd behind him, put his best foot forward and was first past the finishing post.

Currie scored a double followed by a three and a one to run out a 21-13 winner.

A former Tenby team captain and club chairman, Currie, who also reached the last eight of the Gold Cup before being knocked out by the eventual winner, saw off the challenge of last year's Silver winner, Martin Harries, in the quarter-finals, while in the semi-finals he beat David Newth, a member of both Bridgend and Tenby, 21-15.

As well as the trophy, Pat was presented with a cheque for £300 and a commemorative plaque.

In the Five Arches Cup, Keith Peregrine and Keith Griffiths raced into an early lead, before Tenby's Hadyn Guy and his partner, David Owen, of Beford, made an impact on the game.

The Ammanford Park duo were 11-3 up after 10 ends, but the match proved to be a game of two halves and went right down to the wire.

Guy, Gold Cup winner in 1979 and also Five Arches singles winner in 1976 and 1984, and his partner Owens found form and pulled off a terrific comeback, levelling the match 14-all going into the last end.

But Peregrine and Griffiths managed to hold off the fightback as they took shot to win 15-14.

At the presentation ceremony that followed, the trophies were awarded by Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown, while the cash awards were presented by Mike Walker, of event sponsors Carlsberg-Tetley, while club president, Lewis Hilling, presented the commemorative plaques.

Also present at the finals was West Wales Ladies Bowling Association president, Julia King Thomas.

During the closing ceremony, thanks were extended to everyone who had made the competition a success, including tournament organiser, David King Thomas, and his team, the ladies for the catering, bar manageress, Carol Shone and greenkeeper, Chris Jenkins.

Results were as follows:

Gold Cup

QUARTER-FINALS

M. Bishop 10 K. Peregrine 21; D. Kingdon 21 P. Currie 11; W. J. Oakley 18 D. Pollock 21; A. Evans 19 R. Powling 21.

SEMI-FINALS

K. Peregrine 12 D. Kingdon 21; R. Powling 14 D. Pollock 21.

FINAL

D. Kingdon 21 D. Pollock 5.

Percy Howells Silver Bowl

QUARTER-FINALS

D. M. Oliver 21 M. Owen 18; S. Butler 21 C. R. Davies 12; M. McCue 16 D. Newth 21; P. Currie 21 M. Harries 15.

SEMI- FINALS

D. M. Oliver 17 S. Butler 21; D. Newth 15 P. Currie 21.

FINAL

S. Butler 13 P. Currie 21.

Five Arches Cup

SEMI-FINALS

D. Owens and H. Guy 18 H. Evans and K. Evans 16; R. Thake and L. Richards 13 K. Peregrine and K. Griffiths 18.

FINAL

K. Peregrine and K. Griffiths 15 D. Owens and H. Guy 14.