It seems a long time coming - and then suddenly the outdoor season is here, writes Susie Bonnell

Sidmouth Bowling Club’s outside rinks rang with laughter and the sound of woods whooshing up the greens on the penultimate Sunday of April for the opening drive.

With 70 bowlers ready to join in on the first game of the season, the greens were handed over for play by Jeff Turner, chairman of Sidmouth Town Council along with Lester Willmington, chairman of Sidmouth Rugby Club.

The weather was very kind and the sun shone brightly (well at least until teatime) while the match got under way.

As is custom, first the members started with a fun exercise - the spider.

Basically it’s a bit of mayhem, whereby the bowlers stand anywhere on the edge of the green, with one foot in the ditch and bowl one wood towards the centrally placed jack.

The owner of the wood nearest the jack is the winner - and on this occasion, long-standing member Frank Adlam managed to get nearest the spot. Well done, Frank!

The first match of the season saw a winning rink skipped by club chairman, Peter Mison, with his team, Wendy Cox, Maury Ervine and Gary Hargrave.

The triples winners were Jean Brimson, Phil Meadows and skip, Bert Hague. Well done, to everyone who took part and here’s to a wonderful successful summer season for all the members of Sidmouth Bowling Club (and we shall all ignore the forecast for wind, rain, hail and snow!).