As is usually the case, Tenby Bowling Club's Blue Riband event, Gold Cup Week has provided shock defeats and major talking points this week.

A cloud was cast over this, the 77th annual tournament, at the start of the week following the tragic deaths of no fewer than four Tenby club members over the weekend and flags flew at half mast at the Sutton Street green all week as a mark of respect.

Bowlers from all over the United Kingdom regularly make the trip to Tenby for Gold Cup Week and the green itself has rarely looked better.

Although the weather for the tournament has been varied, with brilliant sunshine giving way to more overcast conditions by yesterday (Thursday), the rain has stayed away, allowing tournament organiser, David King-Thomas, and his enthusiastic team to maintain their daily schedule.

It's a schedule that has thrown up a few surprise results and, as we were going to press yesterday (Thursday), there was still plenty of local interest in both the Gold Cup and Silver Bowl contests.

One of the major talking points of the week was of youngster Ross Davies, of Ammanford Park, who, at the tender age of 13, easily made it through the first two rounds of the Gold Cup, before falling to Lancastrian Bob Bullen in the second round on Wednesday.

No ignominy in that, however, as Bullen, a crown green bowler from Fox Lane, had already seen off the challenge of Silver Bowl holder Martin Harries.

However, Harries was still on course to retain the Bowl, although the draw does not discount the possibilities of a re-match with Bullen!

Current holder of the Gold Cup and winner of the Blue Riband event for three out of the last four years, Dave Kingdon, of Parc-y-Dre, was still in with a shout for both competitions, although he was set to face Tenby's own Welsh international Paul Diment in the next round of the Gold Cup.

Paul, the grandson of former club president Bobby Diment, has been showing good line and length all week to secure a place in the third round. However, he was less successful in the Silver Bowl, exiting in the second round, 13-21, to S. Butler, of Briton Ferry Steel.

Two Tenby players, former club captain Pat Currie and D. Newth, were still going strong in both competitions yesterday (Thursday) lunchtime, as was Ammanford Park's Kieran Peregrine - always one to watch out for in Gold Cup week.

One player to have already tasted that elusive double success in 1995, Lee Williamson (ex-Tenby), was also in the running to repeat his achievement.

Although falling at the first hurdle in the Silver Bowl, Tenby's Roy Powling was on top form in the Gold Cup, easing into the third round with a 21-15 over S. J. Griffiths and a 21-12 win over P. Jenkins.

Also adding to local interest in the Silver Bowl were current Five Arches captain Ray Holly and Tenby captain Peter Day, with Peter already seeing off T. Nutt, of Ystrad Mynach, and J. H. Thomas, of Carmarthen, and Ray despatching Hywel Evans, C. Smith and B. Deeley on his way to the third round.

Gold Cup

PRELIMINARY ROUND

D. Jones (Skewen) 21 J. Watkins (Ross-on-Wye) 17; Glan Evans (Maesteg) 12 P. Jones (Tyrfan) 21; M. Watts (Brynhyfred) 21 D. Williams (Saundersfoot) 7; P. Carpinter (Troed-y-Rhiw) A. Faulkner (Tenby) Scr; S. Jackson (Llanbradach)19 M. Bishop (Brynhyfred) 21; A. L. Cummings (Saundersfoot) 19 M. Davies (Ystradfechan) 21; Gareth Thomas (Ammanford Park) 21 M. Davies (Carmarthen) 18; D. St. John (Carmarthen) 21 J. King (Tenby) 12; A. Thomas (Pendine) 11 D. Newth (Bridgend and Tenby) 21; M. Donoghue (Tenby) 5 R. Burden (Brynhyfred) 21; C. R. Davies (Carmarthen) 21 E.C. Oliver (Brynhyfred) 12; R. Holly (Tenby) 21 H. S. Andrews (Parc Howard) 13; B. Barnikel (Tenby) 10 Kieran Peregrine (Ammanford Park) 21; T. Nutt (Ystrad Mynach) C. Court (Whitland) Scr; T. Daniel (Beaufort) 21 D.W. Owens (Bedford) 10; Dewi Hughes (Gelli Galed) 10 W. R. Walters (Kidwelly) 21 L. Richards (Tenby) 7 D. R. Hugh (Brynhyfred) 21; M. Goldingay (Saundersfoot) scr D. Kingdon (Parc-y-dre); B.M. Davies (Guest Memorial) 19 E. J. Davies (Ystradgynlais) 21; W. Petit (3Ms) 18 H. Phillips (Cross Hands) 21; P. Diment (Tenby) 21 J. Evans (Ammanford) 9; S. Butler (Briton Ferry Steel) T. J. Watkins (Abergavenny Av. Rd) scr; A. Owen (Carmarthen) 21 D. J. Evans (Kidwelly) 18; M. Williams (Llandovery) 21 J.H. Thomas (Carmarthen) 8; Keith Peregrine (Ammanford Park) 21 P. Mearns (Tenby) 19; M. Howells (Ammanford Park) 21 D. Spencer (Tenby) 14; J. Evans (Saundersfoot) scr P. Richardson (Wheatsheaf); P. Grasso (Burry Port) 21 Dyfrig Hughes (Haverfordwest) 20; J. Davies (Ammanford Park) 9 P. Currie (Tenby) 21; G. Cavell (Saundersfoot) scr N. Firman (Pembroke Dock); D. H. Evans (Parc-y-Dre) 21 C. Evans (Harlequins) 14; Aled Evans (Kidwelly) 10 D. M. Oliver (Brynhyfred) 21; B. Deeley (Bournville) D. Howells (Saundersfoot) scr; K. F. Davies (Troed-y-Rhiw) 13 W. J. Oakley (Cardigan) 21; J. Shields (Saundersfoot) D. Roberts (Saundersfoot) scr; R. A. Harris (Ynysybwl) 21 M. McCue (Milford Haven) 17; J. Baggott (Tenby) 21 Ieuan Owen (Ammanford Park) 19; Neil Rees (Parc-y-Dre) scr S. McNeilly (Tenby); D. W. Rees (Brynhyfred) 21 R. Hudson (Havelock Park) 17; Hywel Evans (unattached) 3 K. Griffiths (Ammanford Park) 21; T. Preston (Tenby) 13 Ross Davies (Ammanford Park) 21; R. Murray (unattached) 21 D. Price (Ammanford Park) 19.

FIRST ROUND

B. Bullen (Fox Lane) 21 M. Harries (Carmarthen) 15; J. Hubbard (Tenby) W. T. Stephens (Ynysyngharad) scr; D. Pollock (Milford Haven) 21 M. Owen (Nottingham) 8; W. Barratt (Neyland) 11 L. Williamson (unattached) 21; S. Harries (Carmarthen) 21 H. Guy (Tenby) 5; D. R. Watkins (unattached) 17 A. Evans (Brynhyfred) 21; P. Day (Tenby) 21 W. Owen (Ammanford Park) 6; C. Smith (Pen-y-Lan) A. G. Price (Ammanford Park) scr; P. Hooper (Tenby) 8 K. Evans (Kidwelly) 21; S. J. Griffiths (Llandovery) 15 R. Powling (Tenby) 21; P. Jenkins (Brynhyfred) 21 R. R. Davies (Carmarthen) 20; D, Jones 16 P. Jones 21; M. Watts 21 P. Carpinter 16; M. Bishop 21 M. Davies 15; Gareth Thomas 21 D. St. John 15; D. Newth 21 R. Burden16; C. R. Davies 21 R. Holly 9; Kieran Peregrine 21 T. Nutt 1; T. Daniel 17 W. R. Walters21; D. R. Hugh 16 D. Kingdon 21; E. J. Davies 21 H. Philips 10; P. Diment 21 J. S. Butler 16; A. Owen 21 M. Williams10; Keith Peregrine14 M. Howells 21; P. Richardson 21 P. Grasso 7; P. Currie N. Firman scr; D. H. Evans 8 C. D. M. Oliver 21; B. Deeley 12 W. J. Oakley 21; J. Shields 6 (conceeded) R. A. Harris 11; J. Baggott 21 S. McNeilly18; D. W. Rees out of time K. Griffiths; Ross Davies 21 R. Murray 16.

SECOND ROUND

Ross Davies 13 B. Bullen 21; J. Hubbard 11 D. Pollock 21; W. Barratt (Neyland) 11 L. Williamson 21 S. Harries12; A. Evans 21 P. Day 19; C. Smith 21 K. Evans19; R. Powling 21 P. Jenkins12; P. Jones 21 M. Watts16; M. Bishop 21 Gareth Thomas 13; D. Newth 21 C. R. Davies 16; Kieran Peregrine 21 W. R. Walters 4; D. Kingdon 21 E. J. Davies 6; P. Diment 21 A. Owen 8; M. Howells 13 P. Richardson 21; P. Currie 21 D. M. Oliver 13; W. J. Oakley 21 R. A. Harris 11; J. Baggott 21 K. Griffiths 16.

Silver Bowl

PRELIMINARY ROUND

Aled Evans 4 B. Barnikel 21; Neil Rees scr E. C. Oliver; D. Price 9 R. Burden 21; S. McNeilly J. Evans scr; D. H. Evans scr P. Mearns; R. Murray 10 Ross Davies 21; P. Jenkins 17 D. M. Oliver 21; G. Spiller (Saundersfoot) 21 D. St. John 2; J. Hubbard 21 H. Guy 14; T. Preston 16 P. Carpinter 21; M. Owen 21 S. Harries 12; Glan Evans 10 B. M. Davies 21; P. Richardson 8 D. Kingdon 21; S. Jackson 21 Dewi Hughes 4; A. L. Cummings 6 Kieran Peregrine 21; Dyfrig Hughes 16 D. R. Hugh 21; B. Deeley 15 D. W. Owens 21; R. A. Harris 11 C. Evans 21; C. Smith T. J. Watkins scr; Hwyel Evans 10 R. Holly 21; A.G. Price 7 S. Butler 21; L. Richards 21 J. Evans 19; N. Firmin 9 H. Phillips 21; P. Grasso 13 P. Diment 21; M. Goldingay scr W. R. Walters; M. Bishop 21 P. Jones 2; R. Hudson 13 K. F. Davies 21; D. Spencer D. Roberts scr; D. Howells 21 J. King 4; C. R. Davies 21 W. Barrett 12; Ieuan Owen 11 Keith Peregrine 21; W. Owen 16 M. Williams 21; A. Owen 16 T. Nutt 21; J. H. Thomas 21 M. Donoghue 18; J. Davies 6 M. Davies 21; P. Day G. Cavell scr; M. McCue 21 P. Hooper 13; C. Court scr D. Jones scr; W. T. Stephens scr W. J. Oakley; R. R. Davies 7 G. Thomas 21; Keith Evans 21 M. Davies 11; D. Newth 21 W. Petit 10.

FIRST ROUND

B. Barnikel 19 E. C. Oliver 21; R. Burden 21 S. McNeilly 13; P. Mearns 21 Ross Davies 18; D. M. Oliver 21 G. Spiller 18; J. Hubbard 8 P. Carpinter 21; M. Owen 21 B. M. Davies 19; D. Kingdon 21; S. Jackson 6; Kieran Peregrine 21 D. R. Hugh 18; D. W. Owens 21 C. Evans 13; C. Smith 19 R. Holly 21; S. Butler 21 L. Richards 3; H. Phillips 16 P. Diment 21; W. R. Walters 12 M. Bishop 21; K. F. Davies 21 D. Spencer 12; D. Howells 5 C. R. Davies 21; Keith Peregrine 6 M. Williams 21; T. Nutt 21 J. H. Thomas 14; M. Davies15 P. Day 21; M. McCue 21 P. Hooper 13; C. Court scr D. Jones scr; W. T. Stephens scr W. J. Oakley; R. R. Davies 7 G. Thomas 21; Keith Evans 9 D. Newth 21; K. Griffiths 11 L. Williamson 21; D. Pollock 21 A. Thomas11; R. Thake (Tenby) 13 T. Daniel 21; A. Faulkner scr D. J. Evans; P. Currie 21 M. Howells 5; J. Watkins 21 D. Williams 5; R. Powling 13 A. Evans 21; J. Shields 21 D. R. Watkins 18; S. J. Griffiths 3 M. Harries 21; D.W. Rees scr M. Watts; J. Baggott 3 B. Bullen 21.

SECOND ROUND

E. C. Oliver 21 R. Burden 18; P. Mearns 14 D. M. Oliver 21; P. Carpinter 14 M. Owen 21; D. Kingdon 16 Kieran Peregrine 21; D. W. Owens15 R. Holly 21; S. Butler 2 P. Diment 13; M. Bishop 21 K. F. Davies 15; C. R. Davies 21 14; T. Nutt 10 P. Day 21; M. McCue 21 G. Thomas 17.