Local bowlers have been making a bold bid this week for success in Tenby Bowling Club's blue riband event, Gold Cup Week. The sun-drenched Sutton Street green has been the venue for some thrilling games during the opening few days of the coveted Gold Cup and Percy Howells Silver Bowl contests which has delighted the large crowd of spectators. Since Sunday, over 100 bowlers from all over the United Kingdom have been doing battle for two of the most sought-after titles in bowls in Wales and as we were going to press, there was still plenty of local interest in the top event with the home club's Andrew Muskett, Peter Day, Pat Currie and Paul Diment, together with Saundersfoot's Phil Carpenter and Whitland's Chris Court still keeping their dream of striking 'gold' alive. In fact, Under 25 international Court and 2004 winner, Diment, were still in with a shout in both competitions, as were visitors Matt Partridge, of Parc-y-Dre, Llanelli, and David Summers, of Gilfach. Meanwhile, in the Percy Howells Silver Bowl, former 'double' winners Simon Evans, of Tenby, and last year's English singles runner-up Lee Williamson, formerly of Tenby, who now bowls for Barnwood, Gloucestershire, were both still in contention, as was Saundersfoot's Welsh international John Roberts, winner in 2005, former Whitland Mayor Peter Wills and club-mate Nigel Davies and Haverfordwest's Jason Dixon. But with the absence of English star, Danny Dennison, who has won the Gold Cup for the last two years, five times winner David Kingdon, of Brynhyfryd, Llanelli, and recent Atlantic Rim gold medallist, Welsh international Neil Rees, of Parc-y- Dre, Llanelli, who is defending Silver Bowl champion and a gold winner in 1999, must rank highly in the favourites to lift the cup or even cups as they remained unbeaten in the two events. "It's been a brilliant week so far, both in terms of the standard of matches and the weather," said tournament organiser, Lynn Delabertouche. Yesterday (Thursday), competition was also beginning in the Five Arches Bowl for bowlers eliminated from the main trophies. Sponsored again by Carlsberg/Tetley, the winner of the Gold Cup will receive £750, with the runner-up pocketing £250, while the winner of the Silver Bowl will earn £500, with the runner-up receiving £150. Prize-money for the winner of the Five Arches Bowl (sponsored by the Giltar Hotel) is £100, with £50 for the runner-up. The semi-finals take place tomorrow (Saturday) morning, followed by the finals in the afternoon. Results of the opening rounds were as follows:
Gold Cup
Preliminary round
David Evans (Parc-y-Dre) 8 Colin Davies (Carmarthen) 21; Thomas Holmes (Carmarthen) 11 Tony Harries (Gorseinon) 21; Maxi Donoghue (Tenby) 9 Cliff Hyde (Carmarthen) 21; Robert Bullen (Fox Lane) 21R. Harries (Pontypridd) 8; Jeremy Watkins (Ross on Wye) 5 Martyn Harries (Carmarthen) 21; David Summers (Gilfach) 21 Chris Price (Ystradfechan) 16. Jon Hubbard (Tenby) 0 David Owen (Bedford Boro) 21; Alan Whitehouse (Whitland) 21 Peter Jenkins (Brynhyfryd) 17; Adam Hensman (Tenby) 17 Mike Oliver (unattached) 21; Mal Davies (Ystradfechan) 21 Wayne Webster (Kidwelly) 15; Ashley Hooper (Tenby) 15 Keith Jones (Merthyr) 21; Bill Warren (Broadway) 21 Bill Oakley (Cardigan) 7. Glan Evans (Maesteg) 21 John Baggott (Tenby) 6; Paul Bancroft (Carmarthen) 11 Bert Barnikel (Tenby) 21; Barrie Evans (Ystradfechan) 14 Andrew Muskett (Tenby) 21; Colin Jones (Kidwelly) 21 Ray Holly (Tenby) 14; Myrddin Dennis (Saundersfoot) 11 Phil Jones (Brynhyfryd) 21; Brian Richards (Brynhyfryd) 21 Eddie Oliver (Brynhyfryd) 13. Phil Carpenter (Saundersfoot) 21 Jason Dixon (Haverfordwest) 12; Peter Williams (Ammanford) 21 Stan Harries (Bro Myrddin) 16; Mark Osborne (Penhill) 6 Tom Daniel (Beaufort) 21; Dilwyn Jones (Skewen) 13 Pat Currie (Tenby) 21; Aled Evans (Parc-y-Dre) scr Brian Kingdon (Brynhyfryd) w/o; Mike Gouldingay (Tenby) w/o Ross Davies (Ammanford Park) scr; Peter Day (Tenby) w/o Paul Taylor (Bridgend) scr; Peter Hooper, Tenby 21 Colin Smith (Bellvue) 16; Terry Preston (Tenby) 17 Dai Spencer (Tenby) 21; David A. St. John (Carmarthen) 21 Hywell Evans (St. Fagans) 8; Mike Newcombe (Cardigan) scr Robert Blacklaw (Parc-y- Dre) w/o; Craig Jones (Haverfordwest) scr Joe Richards (Tenby) w/o. Steve Moore (Stoney Stratford) 21 Nicky Jones (Ystradfechan) 7; Matt Partridge (Parc-y-Dre) w/o Peter Wills (Whitland) scr; Mal Owen (Culm Vale) 21 Clive Coles (Crusaders) 5; Daniel Davies Jnr (Beaufort) 18 Neil Rees (Parc-y-Dre) 21; Keith Evans (Kidwelly) w/o Andrew Hopkins (Resolven) scr; Mark Howells (Ammanford Park) 21 Phil Richardson (Parc-y-Dre) 15. Alan Thomas (Parc-y-Dre) 21 Tommy Nutt (Islwyn Park) 5; Les Williams (Brecon) w/o Dave Redmore (Old Landorians) scr; Len Lacy (Oxford City) 21 Mel Williams (Llandeilo) 10; David Kingdon (Brynhyfryd) 21 Lee Williamson (Barnwood) 5; John Roberts (Saundersfoot) 21 Richard Osborne (Penhill) 5.
First round
Colin Davies 11 Tony Harries 21; Cliff Hyde 5 Rob Bullen 21; Martyn Harries 12 David Summers 21; David Owen 10 Alan Whitehouse 21; Mike Oliver 21 Mal Davies 14; Keith Jones 21 Bill Warren 20. Glan Evans 11 Bert Barnikel 21; Andrew Muskett 21 Colin Jones 7; Phil Jones 21 Brian Richards 20; Tom Daniel 17 Pat Currie 21; Brian Kingdon 21 Mike Gouldingay 4; Phil Carpenter 21 Peter Williams 15. Dai Spencer 21 David St. John 18; Robert Blacklaw 21 Joe Richards 19; Peter Day 21 Peter Hooper 14; Steve Moore, Stoney Stratford 8 Matt Partridge 21; Mal Owen 10 Neil Rees 21; Keith Evans 9 Mark Howells 21. Dilwyn Davies scr Wyndham Rees w/o; Emelio Garcia 18 Darren Potock 21; Roland Hudson 18 Danny Price 21; Alan Thomas 21 Les Williams 4; Len Lacey 21 Mike Rees 6; Dai Kingdon 21 John Roberts 17. Sid Butler 21 Stuart Askew 11; Chris Court 21 Vaughan Williams 14; Harry Phillips 21 Nigel Davies 19; Brian Young 21 Wyndham Petit 10; Peter Toomey 21 Mike Johnathan 20; Robin Burden 21 Tony Brown 6. Daniel O'Hare w/o Robert Davies scr; Paul Diment 21 Sam Brown 14; Mike Oliver 18 Keith Jones 21; Dai Summers, 21 Alan Whitehouse 11; Tony Harries 21 Rob Bullen 15; Andrew Muskett 21 Bert Barnikel 14. Phil Jones 15 Phil Carpenter 21; Pat Currie 21 Brian Kingdon 14; Robert Blacklaw 5 Matthew Partridge 21; Peter Day, Tenby 21 Dai Spencer 7; Neil Rees 21 Mark Howells 15; Alan Thomas 10 Len Lacey 21.
Percy Howells Silver Bowl
Prelimary round
Peter Wills (Whitland) 21 Mike Gouldingay (Tenby) 16; Darren Potock (Penhill) 11 Len Lacey (Oxford City) 21; Maxi Donoghue (Tenby) 21 Stan Harries (Bro Myrddin) 8; Mike Newcombe (Cardigan) scr Adam Hensman (Tenby) w/o; Dai Summers (Gilfach Bargoed) w/o Dilwyn Davies, Lampeter scr; Jeremy Watkins (Ross on Wye) 7 Brian Young (Brynhyfryd) 21. Robert Davies (Carmarthen) scr Vaughan Williams w/o; (Ammanford Park); Steve Moore (Stoney Stratford) 11 Colin Jones (Kidwelly) 21; Lee Williamson (Barnwood) 21 Danny Price (Ammanford Park) 9; Brian Kingdon (Brynhyfryd 21) Wayne Webster (Kidwelly) 11; Craig Jones (Haverfordwest) 21 Barrie Evans (Ystradfechan) 12. Stuart Askew (Tenby) 8 Peter Day (Tenby) 21; Terry Preston (Tenby) 21 Daniel O'Hare (Havelock Park) 1; Paul Taylor (Bridgend) scr John Baggott (Tenby) w/ o; Martyn Harries (Carmarthen) 21 Jon Hubbard (Tenby) 10; Eddie Oliver (Brynhyfryd) 9 Paul Diment (Tenby) 21; Emelio Garcia (Bro Myrddin) 13 Thomas Holmes (Carmarthen) 21. Peter Williams (Ammanford) 8 Phil Carpenter (Saundersfoot) 21; David A St. John (Carmarthen) 19 Andrew Hopkins (Resolven) 21; Chris Price (Ystradfechan) 21 Robert Bullen (Fox Lane) 20; Pat Currie (Tenby) 16 Alan Thomas (Parc-y-Dre) 21; Tom Nutt (Islwyn Park) 8 R. Harris (Pontypridd) 21; Jason Dixon (Haverfordwest) 21 Cliff Hyde (Carmarthen) 8. Mal Davies (Ystradfechan) 7 Peter Jenkins (Brynhyfryd) 21; Colin Smith (Bellevue) 15 Joe Richards (Tenby) 21; Ashley Hooper (Tenby) 14 Daniel Davies Jnr (Beaufort) 21; Richard Osborne (Penhill) 21 Dilwyn Jones (Skewen) 18; Mel Williams (Llandeilo) 21 Tony Harries (Gorseinon) 20; Wyndham Pettit (3 M's) 21 M. Rees (Brynhyfryd) 10. Keith Evans (Kidwelly) 21 Ray Holly (Tenby) 12; Bill Warren (Broadway) 11 Harry Phillips (Cross Hands) 21; Colin Davies (Carmarthen) 4 David Kingdon (Brynhyfryd) 21; David Owen (Bedford Boro) 21 Bill Oakley (Cardigan) 20; Tom Daniel (Beaufort) 21 Sid Butler (Aberavon) 4; Gareth Hughes (Saundersfoot) 14 Andrew Muskett (Tenby) 21. Wyndham Rees (Brynhyfryd) 13 Brian Richards (Brynhyfryd) 21; David Evans (Parc-y-Dre) 21 Nicky Jones (Ystradfechan) 14; Mark Osborne (Penhill) 21 Robert Blacklaw (Parc-y-Dre) 11; Phil Richardson (Parc-y-Dre) 18 Chris Court (Whitland) 21; Hywel Evans (St. Fagans) 21 Les Williams (Brecon) 6; Bert Barnikel (Tenby) 21 Aled Evans (Parc-y-Dre) 19.
First round
Peter Wills 21 Len Lacey 7; Maxi Donoghue 21 Adam Hensman 3; Dai Summers 21 Brian Young 14; Glan Evans 16 Vaughan Williams 21; Colin Jones 10 Lee Williamson 21; Brian Kingdon w/o Craig Jones scr. Peter Day 18 Terry Preston 21; John Baggott 16 Martyn Harries 21; Paul Diment 21 Thomas Holmes 8; Ron Harris 11 Jason Dixon 21; Chris Price 21 Alan Thomas8; Phil Carpenter w/o Andrew Hopkins scr. Mel Williams 21 Wyndham Pettit 13; Dan Davies Jnr 21 Richard Osborne 13; Peter Jenkins 11 Joe Richards 21; Keith Evans 21 Harry Phillips 16; Dai Kingdon 21 David Owen 2; Tom Daniel 21 Andrew Muskett 19. Peter Hooper 6 John Roberts 21; Dai Spencer 7 Nigel Davies 21; Keith Jones 14 Robin Burden 21; Hywel Evans w/oBert Barnikel scr; Brian Richards 21 David Evans 19; Mark Osborne 4 Chris Court 21. Peter Toomey 21 Mark Howells 3; Simon Evans 21 Phil Jones 7; Roland Hudson w/o Sam Brown scr; Mal Owen 21 Tony Brown 10; Myrddin Dennis 16 Matt Partridge 21; Ross Davies 21 Mike Oliver 18. Paul Bancroft 13 Mike Johnathan 21; Neil Rees 21 Alan Whitehouse 10; Peter Wills 21 Maxi Donoghue 13; Dai Summers 21 Vaughan Williams 8; Lee Williamson 21 Brian Kingdon 20; Terry Preston 6 Martyn Harries 21. Dai Kingdon 21 Tom Daniel 20; Paul Diment 21 Phil Carpenter 17; Chris Price 20 Jason Dixon 21; Mel Williams 9 Keith Evans 21; Joe Richards 12 Dan Davies Jnr 21; Brian Richards 17 Chris Court 21.