Finals day competitions at Sidford Short Mat Bowls Club were hotly contested.

All club members were eligible to compete in the singles, with the pairs being randomly drawn on the day.

The semi finals of the club pairs and club singles were first to be decided.

The pairs was keenly contested as the pairs were evenly matched. The game between Carol Beckett and Jean Frewin against Rob Frewin and Peter Ellis went to an extra end before the ladies emerged as winners.

The other semi, between Eric Leonard and Betty Smith, playing Bernard Perrigo and Harry Townsend was also close but Leonard and Smith failed by just one shot to force an extra end and Perrigo and Townsend went through to the fnals.

The finals was a close run thing but, much to the delight of the lady members, the ladies’ pair prevailed - short mat bowls is a game where men and women compete on level terms.

The singles semis provided two absorbing matches, but the results did not reflect the closeness of the competition.

Tony Lavers beat Ian Friedlander 11-3 and Rob Frewin beat Betty Smith 11-6.

The final was between two former holders of the club singles champion title - Lavers and Frewin. After four ends the match was evenly poised and then Tony Lavers began to gain the upper hand and went on to beat Frewin 8-3.

The new trophies for the Pairs competition were donated by Jenny Chaplin and Shirley Cambridge in memory of their late husbands John and Geoff. Jenny watched the matches and presented the trophies to the winners and runners up.

The Cyril Smith Singles Champion Shield commemorates the long service given to the club by Betty Smith’s late husband and Betty is still bowling to a high standard in her nineties ,as witnessed by her presence in the singles and pairs semi finals.

? The club is always keen to welcome new members and if anyone would like to know more about the game and make new friends in a sociable and friendly club, please phone secretary Tony Lavers on 01395 579678.

The club meets every Tuesday and Wednesday between 2-4pm in Sidford Social Hall and caters for beginners and experienced bowlers.