There was plenty of action for Sidmouth bowlers in the past week with the start of some county and national knockout competitions.

There were four games in the County Mixed Pairs and on Tuesday Zena Johnson and John Mason played home against a pair from Seaton in breezy but mostly dry conditions and won comfortably.

There were three other Sidmouth pairs who had entered the competition for the first time and the first of these was played on Friday when Susie Bonnell and Terry Rawlings visited Ottery but came second to a strong pair.

On Saturday morning, Karen Hollingdale with Allan Davis lost to a pair from Chardstock. Linda and Garry Hargrave must be congratulated for a magnificent comeback from 16-3 down to beat another pairing from Seaton by a single shot.

At the same time a ladies’ team played in the national Top Club competition against Honiton, which consists of four different disciplines; a rink, a triples, a pairs and a four-wood singles.

Unfortunately all four disciplines were lost.

Finally, in the afternoon, the men sent two rinks to Honiton in the National Double Rink competition.

Although each team won a rink, Honiton went through on a better shot difference.

Interspersed with these games were the usual friendly matches.

A mixed team from Pembrokeshire visited Sidmouth on Thursday and in a closely fought match over six rinks Sidmouth came out on top by 110-103 shots; the captain’s rink of Jean Brimson, Brian Lamb, Chris Hamer and Mike Borst leading the way with a 22-12 win.

A team of Plymouth retired civil servants arrived on Friday for their annual visit but the game was curtailed by rain after 18 of the scheduled 21 ends.

The match was won 103-85 with the leading rink of Ray Tallent, Des Bridgeman, Bob Daniels and Frank Adlam (skip) scoring 31-11.

Better weather prevailed on Sunday when four triples teams went to Heavitree (Exeter) and although they found a green in a generally poor condition and difficult to deal with, this was more than compensated by an excellent tea. Although each team won two rinks, Sidmouth lost on shots.

A triples game against Budleigh on Monday was scheduled to be over six rinks, but Budleigh were unable to raise a full team so one Sidmouth rink was loaned to Budleigh and the game played over five rinks.

Unfortunately, the Sidmouth team of Mike Daw, Chas Coates and vice-captain John Mason playing for Budleigh ended up being the top rink of the day 28-8 and turned the match result in Budleigh’s favour by four shots.

Generous to a fault but a moral victory nevertheless.