There must have been many shocks and surprises in the 82-year history of Tenby Bowling Club's annual Gold Cup tournament. But this week, the ever-popular competition came within a whisker of producing probably its biggest upset ever.

When a former champion - in fact, five times holder of the coveted trophy - David Kingdon took to the green on Tuesday evening, he must have been anticipating a fairly comfortable passage into the third round of the competition.

But his smiling opponent, who obviously cared little for reputations or past successes, had different ideas.

And just who was that opponent? None other than talented Tenby teenager Joe Richards, perhaps one of the youngest - if not the youngest - ever to have played in the tournament.

A product of the host club's junior academy, 14- year-old Joe has been playing bowls for a number of years now, but this year his burgeoning skills on the green have seen him break through into the Tenby first team, as well as representing the County at Under 25 level.

Indeed, only last month he swept the board at the Tenby club's Junior Finals Day.

With such success already tucked under his belt, he entered his match with Kingdom - one of the tournament favourites - with seemingly little or no fear, and had the man from Parc-y-dre on the rack. Playing with great confidence, young Joe swept into a commanding 12-4 lead as Kingdon, winner in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2003, was left reeling time and time again.

As enthralled crowds surrounded the green and gathered excitedly on the balcony of the clubhouse, the story of a possible major shock continued to unfold as Joe kept the surprised Kingdon on the back foot.

In fact, as the game reached a thrilling climax, it looked as if Joe had done it. Needing two shots for victory, he appeared to be holding match lie. Kingdon himself thought it was all over, but called for a measure - just in case - and that proved vital, for instead of two, it was only one... by a matter of just half-an-inch. It that was close.

Relieved by his escape, Kingdon then showed all his experience to finally close out the match by a 21 -20 margin.

"We're all very proud of Joe," said hard-working tournament organiser, Lynn Delabertouche. By Wednesday evening, meanwhile, Kingdon was one of only a handful of bowlers still in with a chance of pulling off the glorious 'gold' and 'silver' double, having disposed of another well fancied player, Tenby's Peter Day, in the second round of the Silver Bowl.

The two were also due to renew their battle in the second round of the Gold Cup yesterday (Thursday) morning.

Among Pembrokeshire players still harbouring hopes of getting their hands on both trophies were Saundersfoot's John Baggot, having a good tournament, and impressive Craig Jones, of Haverfordwest.

Jones accounted for another pre-tournament favourite and past Gold Cup winner, Paul Diment, in the first round of the Silver, ending his interest in the week's proceedings, while also bowing out on Wednesday evening was past 'double' winner, Lee Williamson, of Barnwood, who fell to Silver Bowl holder and Welsh international John Roberts, of Saundersfoot.

Still looming large, though, were another Welsh international and former gold and silver holder, Kieran Peregrine, of Ammanford Park, last year's Gold Cup winner, English international Danny Denison, and another past champion, Tom Daniel, of Beaufort, all with their sights set firmly on a double trophy haul.

On Wednesday, organiser Lynn Delabertouche, said she was pleased with the way the tournament was going.

The weather had been a little cooler than the previous week, and torrential rain on Monday afternoon had sent players scurrying for cover, but despite an hour's delay, they were still well on schedule.

The evening's social programme was also proving very enjoyable for everyone. Results up until 'close of play' on Wednesday were:

Gold Cup

PRELIMINARY ROUND

D. Gough (Welshpool Town) 21 D. Rice (Suttons) 13; A. Hooper, (Tenby) 11 R. Burden (Brynhyfryd) 21; W. Petit (3Ms) 21 M. Gouldingay (Tenby) 15; T. Daniel (Beaufort) 21 J. Hubbard (Tenby) 12; D. Price (Ammanford Park) 21 I. Owen (Ammanford Park) 3; K. Jones (Troedyrhiw) 14 M. Davies (Ystradfechan) 21.

S. Askew (Tenby) w/o V. Ryan (Ely Valley); B. Warren (Broadway) 18 Colin Jones (Kidwelly) 21; P. Toomey (Guest Memorial) w/o Gren Rees (Brynhyfryd); D. W. Owens (Bedford Borough) 21 E. Oliver (Brynhyfryd) 14; G. Hewitt (Tenby) 18 Gareth Hughes (Saundersfoot) 21; Stuart King Thomas (Pendine) 13 P. Jenkins (Brynhyfryd) 21.

P. Blaney (Saundersfoot) 6 C. Davies (Carmarthen) 21; M. Harries (Carmarthen) w/o R. Harries (Pontypridd); R. Blacklaw (Parc y dre) 12 S. Butler (Aberavon) 21; L. Lacy (Oxford City County) 18 W. Rees (Brynhyfryd) 21; D. O'Hare (Havelock Park) 17 D. Watkins (Ross on Wye) 21; R. Hudson (Havelock Park) 19 J. Richards (Tenby) 21. R Hugh (Brynhyfryd) 15 D Kingdon (Parc y dre) 21; K. Evans (Kidwelly) 14 M. Owen (Culn Valley) 21; P. Day (Tenby) w/o T. Nutt (Islwyn Park); J. Roberts (Saundersfoot) 21 Emilio Garcia (Bro Myrddin) 5; A. Whitehouse (Whitland) 21 S. Jackson (Penhill) 19; C. Hyde (Carmarthen) M. Howells (Ammanford Park) 21.

B. Kingdon (Parc y dre) 21 D. St. John (Carmarthen) 19; A Hensman (Tenby) 19 S. Harries (Bro Myrddin) 21; P. Haines (Ammanford Park) w/o A Hopkins (Resolven); G. Thomas (Ammanford Park) 21 D. Evans (Parc y dre) 15; C. Rees (Merthyr West End) 15 S. Brown (Ammanford Park) 21; W. Oakley (Cardigan) 11 J. Watkins (Ross on Wye) 21.

W. Webster (Kidwelly) 12 C. Smith (Belleview) 21; P. Lewis (Welshpool) 21 T. Preston (Tenby) 20; Keith Peregrine (Ammanford) 21 N. Davies (Whitland) 17; Kieran Peregrine (Ammanford) w/o P. Currie (Tenby); H. Evans (St. Fagans) 20 S. Turner (Parc y dre) 21; H. Phillips (Cross Hands) w/o W. Stephens (not attached).

D. Jones (Skewen) 21 D Pollock (Haverfordwest) 15; D. Denison (Shaldon) 21 N. Rees (Parc y dre) 19; M. Partridge (Parc y dre) w/o M. Thomas, (Ystradfechan); P. Diment (Saundersfoot) w/o J. Rogers, (Pontryhdyfen); P. Carpenter (Saundersfoot) 19 L. Williamson (Barnwood) 21; J. Baggott (Saundersfoot) 21 G. Miles (Pontardulais) 14.

First round

B. Young (Brynhyfryd) 21 A Evans (Kidwelly) 19; A. McCarley (Graig Merthyr) 21 D. Robb (Tenby) 16; C. Coles (Crusaders) 5 R. Davies (Ammanford Park) 21. D. Davies Jnr (Beaufort) 21 Graham Hughes (Saundersfoot) 18; B. Richards (Brynhyfryd) w/o M. Johnathan (Ystradfechan); P. Jones (Brynhyfryd) 21 R. Haddock (Neath) 13; J. Davies (Ammanford Park) 11 D. Spencer (Tenby) 21; R. Holly (Tenby) 21 M. Donoghue (Tenby) 16; D. Davies (Lampeter) 21 A. Howells (Ammanford Park) 7; B. Barnikel (Tenby) w/o W. Griffiths (Welshpool); Glan Evans (Maesteg) 9 Craig Jones (Haverfordwest) 21. D. Price 5 M. Davies 21; P. Toomey 21 D. W. Owens 11; W. Petit 14 T Daniels 21; Gareth Hughes 21 P. Jenkins 15; D. Gough 21 R. Burden 19; S. Askew 11 Colin Jones 21; S. Butler 14 W. Rees 21; C. Davies 21 M. Harries 6; A. Whitehouse 11 M. Howells 21; P. Day 21 J. Roberts 17; D. Watkins 15 J. Richards 21; D. Kingdon 21 M. Owens 17; Kieran Peregrine w/o Keith Peregrine; S. Turner 21 H. Phillips 8; P. Haines 12 G. Thomas 21; S. Brown 21 J. Watkins 18; B. Kingdon 21 S Harries 16; C. Smith 13 P. Lewis 21; L. Williamson 17 J. Baggott 21; M. Partridge 21 P. Diment 15; D. Jones 10 D. Denison 21.

Second round

D. Gough 15 T. Daniel 21; P. Toomey 10 Gareth Hughes 21; M. Davies 21 Colin Jones 12; C. Davies 21 W. Rees 15; B. Kingdon 21 G Thomas 13; S. Brown 5 P. Lewis 21; P. Day 21 M. Howells 7; J. Richards 20 D. Kingdon 21; Kieran Peregrine 21 S. Turner 19; D. Denison 21 M. Partridge 16.

Silver Bowl

Preliminary round

M. Harries (Carmarthen) 9 D. Kingdon (Parc y dre) 21; T. Preston (Tenby) w/o P. Currie (Tenby); P. Day (Tenby) 21 A. McCarley (Graig Merthyr) 17; D. Rice (Suttons) 21 W. Oakley (Cardigan) 9; D. Price (Ammanford Park) 21 D. Spencer (Tenby) 13; S. Butler (Aberavon) 11 P. Carpenter (Saundersfoot) 21.

P. Jenkins (Brynhyfryd) 18 S. Jackson (Penhill) 21; Gareth Hughes (Saundersfoot) w/o R. Harries (Pontypridd); A. Hooper (Tenby) w/o M. Thomas (Ystradfechan); D. Pollock (Haverfordwest) 14 R. Hugh (Brynhyfryd) 21; R. Hudson (Havelock Park) 21 J. Hubbard (Tenby) 9; Keith Peregrine (Ammanford) 15 J. Baggott (Saundersfoot) 21.

G. Hewitt (Tenby) w/o W. Stephens (not attached); H. Phillips (Cross Hands) 18 D. Robb (Tenby) 21; G. Evans (Maesteg) 18 M. Partridge (Parc y dre) 21; B. Richards (Brynhyfryd) 14 N. Rees (Parc y dre) 21; S. Askew (Tenby) 21 C. Coles (Crusaders) 11; D. Gough (Welshpool Town) 21 P. Toomey (Guest Memorial) 20.

W. Rees (Brynhyfryd) 9 D. Denison (Shaldon) 21; B. Barnikel (Tenby) w/o T. Nutt (Islwyn Park); R. Burden (Brynhyfryd) 21 M. Davies (Ystradfechan) 4; P. Lewis (Welshpool) w/o Gren Rees (Brynhyfryd); I. Owen (Ammanford Park) 21 R. Holly (Tenby) 18; N. Davies (Whitland) 21 S. King-Thomas (Pendine) 18. J. Roberts (Saundersfoot) 21 E. Garcia (Bro Myrddin) 14; K. Evans (Kidwelly) 21 M. Donoghue (Tenby) 11; A. Evans (Kidwelly) 21 W. Webster (Kidwelly) 8; D. Davies (Lampeter) 6 L. Williamson (Barnwood) 21; K. Jones (Troedyrhiw) 21 A.

Whitehouse (Whitland) 15; M. Goldingay (Tenby) 11 M. Howells (Ammanford Park) 21. L. Lacy (Oxford City County) 21 J. Richards (Tenby) 11; D. O'Hare (Havelock Park) 6 R. Davies (Ammanford Park) 21; G. Thomas (Ammanford Park) 21 D. Evans (Parc y dre) 20; R. Blacklaw (Parc y dre) 14 D. Davies Jnr (Beaufort) 21; R. Haddock (Neath) 21 D. Watkins (Ross on Wye) 8; T. Daniel (Beaufort) 21 J. Watkins (Ross on Wye) 13.

D. St. John (Carmarthen) 18 S. Turner (Parc y dre) 21; W. Petit (3M's) 16 M. Owen (Culn Valley) 21; W. Warren (Broadway) 21 Colin Jones (Kidwelly) 19; C. Hyde (Carmarthen) w/o C. P. Williams (Ammanford); E. Oliver (Brynhyfryd) w/o V. Ryan (Ely Valley).

First round

C. Davies (Carmarthen) 21 D. Jones (Skewen) 16; P. Blaney (Saundersfoot) 20 K. Peregrine (Ammanford) 21; D. W. Owens (Bedford Borough) 18 P. Jones (Brynhyfryd) 21.

P. Diment (Tenby) 19 C. Jones (Haverfordwest) 21; G. Miles (Pontardulais) w/o J. Rogers (Pontryhdyfen); A. Hopkins (Resolven) w/o C. Rees (Merthyr West End); P. Haines (Ammanford Park) 21 C. Smith (Belleview) 20; S. Brown (Ammanford Park) 20 J. Davies (Ammanford Park) 21; S. Harries (Bro Myrddin) 21 B. Kingdon (Parc y dre) 18. Graham Hughes (Saundersfoot) 21 H. Evans (St. Fagans) 4; A. Howells (Ammanford Park) 21 B. Young (Brynhyfryd) 14.

R. Hugh 21 A. Hooper 9; S. Jackson 21 Gareth Hughes 4; R. Hudson 12 J. Baggott 21; D. Kingdon 21 T. Preston 12; D. Price 14 P. Carpenter 21; P. Day 21 D. Rice 15.

D. Denison 21 B. Barnikel 16; P. Lewis 21 R. Burden 14; I. Owen 11 N. Davies 21; M. Partridge 15 N Rees 21; G. Hewitt 21 D. Robb 13; S. Askew 13 D. Gough 21.

Gareth Thomas 21 D. Davies Jnr 15; R. Haddock 4 T Daniel 21; L. Lacy 21 R. Davies 12; K. Jones 18 M. Howells 21; A. Evans 11 L. Williamson 21; J. Roberts 21 K. Evans 18; C. Hyde 10 E. Oliver 21; M. Owen 20 W. Warren 21.

SECO ND ROUND

D. Kingdon 21 P. Day 16; P. Carpenter 21 S. Jackson 15; R. Hugh 13 J. Baggott 21; G. Hewitt 11 N. Rees 21; A. Howells 21 B. Young 14; G. Thomas 14 T. Daniel 21; D. Gough 10 D. Denison 21; S. Turner 21 W. Warren 14; J Roberts 21 L. Williamson 14; P. Lewis 9 N. Davies 21; M. Howells 21 L. Lacy 16.