It has been a busy week at Sidmouth Bowls Club with Over-60s League games, county trophy matches, visiting touring teams and the Foxlands competition, writes Bert Hague.

I have enquired about the whereabouts of our wicker donkey, and it appears it is still in winter stabling at the Donkey Sanctuary!

I have been reliably informed that it will be back in its usual grazing position by the end of June.

The final day of May saw our first county trophy match. This was against Seaton, played in the evening, two rinks away, two at home. On this occasion, Sidmouth came second losing 79-70 overall. The Over-60s teams began June with some action.

The A team played at home against Seaton, getting beaten on both rinks, 11-18 and 13-22.

The B team fared better, playing Uffculme away where they bagged a 33-30 success. The C team stayed at home against Ottery, losing on both rinks, 22-16 and 27-15. Better results for all nest time out – hopefully!

A Foxland competition found one match saw Sidmouth in action against Axminster, one rink home and one rink away.

Unfortunately, we lost by five away and seven at home and so made an early exit from the competition this year.

The past weekend proved to be a busy one for the volunteers, ladies’ making the teas and men tending the bar!

Finding the resources for over 80 players stretches the club to its limits. Fortunately, the weather was perfect for bowling which tends to keep tempers calm and humour good!

Ashcombe Park a club based at Weston-super-Mare, pitched up with 10 rinks for a Friday encounter.

They had lunch at the club and then spent the remainder of a beautiful afternoon playing bowls. Sidmouth won by about 20 shots overall, but the visitors won on five of the ten rinks.

Our best winning rink was the one of; S Boyle, J Thomson, P Wrench and skip N Brimson. Last Saturday, the club was invaded by a vast number from Page Park, near Bristol, for a nine rink friendly.

I am assured that everyone had a splendid afternoon. The weather was warm, if not sunny and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and I believe the bar did excellent trade. The home team won by some 30 shots.

The best foursome being; P Ashton Pritchard, J Wrench, S Bonnell and skip Mike Borst.