Less than a week into the season the men played their first competitive games, writes John Mason.

The O60s’ A team, who were last year’s Division A champions kicked-off their season with a home match against newly promoted Crediton.

Conditions were good but the A team did not have it all their own way. They had to come from behind to register a win by three shots, scoring six league points overall.

The B team, away to Belmont (Exeter), also managed six points and were close to gaining all eight points Nevertheless, it was a good result on their travels.

It was a very busy Bank Holiday weekend with the West Midlands Police team arriving at midday on Saturday for a buffet lunch for 54 people, laid on by our wonderful ladies and suitably imbibed by our barmen.

The match was played in some dismal but mostly dry conditions and in a good spirit. Sidmouth won five of the nine rinks and by 27 shots overall.

The top rink of Ann Capon, Phil Meadows, David Fairclough and John Mason (skip) won 22-5.

Sunday saw visitors from nearby Lyme Regis for a mixed triples game. Deteriorating weather meant the match ended after just 14 of the scheduled 18 ends.

The visitors from across the bay took the honours four rinks to two and by 81 shots to 59. Sidmouth’s top rink was skipped by Ron Cook, ably supported by Pat Poole and Jason Quinn.

Bank Holiday Monday was, some say, the most important game of the season when the ladies challenged the men and were seeking revenge for their defeat at the end of the indoor season.

Unfortunately, the game was curtailed after 16 ends by dreary conditions, but not before the men had built up a substantial lead, winning five of the six rinks and drawing the other.

The rinks of John Greenaway, James Poole, David Fairclough and Peter Mison (skip) and Ray Tallent, Garry Hargrave, Jim Wrench and Mike Borst (skip) returned exceptional scores.

Pride and bragging rights maintained for now.