The 93rd Weston Men’s Open Bowling Tournament begins on Sunday.

PLAYERS from all over the country will be flocking to Clarence Park next week for the 93rd Weston Men’s Open Bowling Tournament, which is sponsored by Optika.

The Mayor of Weston, Cllr Ros Willis, will open the event officially at 8.45am on Sunday, after which 156 players will compete in the open triples event, which goes on all day.

On Monday, singles champion Mike Ricketts, from Ledbury, will start the defence of his title against Brian Hunt (Rodbourne Cheney, Swindon). Ricketts and seven-times singles champion Adie Burbridge (Worcester) will also be attempting to retain their pairs title.

Locals Don Towie (Clarence) and Carol Webb (Victoria), who teamed up for the first time last year and stunned themselves by winning the mixed pairs, will be back to defend their title.

Arrangements for the tournament have been complicated by the fact that, for the first time this year, Somerset Bowls Association has scheduled the fifth round of its Turnbull Cup inter-club competition for the Tuesday evening.

The tournament triples event is played during the evenings, so registrar David Stott has had to ensure that no players likely to be playing in the Turnbull are down to play their triples on the same night.

Local opticians Optika continue to be the main sponsors, both for this event and the ladies’ tournament, which is in August. This year, three new sponsors have come on board, Cedarwood Property Services, Rowan Dartington investment managers and Dauncey’s Hotel.

The tournament continues until finals day on Saturday.