The outdoor bowls season opened with local clubs taking to the greens.

CLUB president Jackie Ware raised the flag to open St Andrews outdoor bowling season, ably assisted by ladies’ captain Jackie Pitman and men’s captain Jim Warren.

There followed a men’s match between teams led by Warren and his vice-captain Alec Horsburgh, with the captains team coming out on top.

The afternoon was rounded off with a three-course meal in the clubhouse, where Warren welcomed those attending and looked forward to another successful season.

The club is open all year round with its outdoor and indoor bowling rinks, members also enjoy numerous social activities throughout the year.

New members are always welcome and qualified coaches are available for free instruction if required. For more information, phone 01934 415395.

VICTORIA Bowling Club completed their indoor season with their competition finals, which saw both Mike Stocker and Sue Newman secure a double of trophy championships.

Stocker played Pete Wyatt in the singles and made a blistering start to lead 15-6, but Wyatt recovered to 15-13, but Stocker went on to win 21-13. In the pairs, Stocker partnered his son Lee and played Bryan Stock and Malcolm Campbell, with Team Stocker finally winning by a close margin of four shots.

The mixed pairs saw an amazing last six ends when with the scores level, Campbell and Mildred Chudley picked up 13 shots to beat husband and wife team John and Sue Newman.

The ladies’ final saw Newman retain her title in a closely fought game against Chudley, with Newman winning by six shots. Carol Webb and Rose Cleeves had a slow start in the pairs, going behind 12-2 against Chris Sage and Newman, but recovered to come within two shots, but Sage and Newman ran out winners by six shots.

In the championship knockout, the Falcons took an early lead but the Doves took control and won comfortably 20-13. Team Echo triumphed in the triples knockout against team Charlie, but it required a triple on an extra end by skip Mike Adams to snatch the trophy 15-14.

ANDREW Alden, vicar of nearby St Paul’s Church, gave a blessing at Clarence Bowling Club’s captain’s day and promptly won the spider competition.

The first official wood on the opening day of the season was bowled by the club’s long-serving member George Bridge, a non-player these days. He is a former president of the Somerset CBA, which is celebrating its centenary this year.

Members then played a drawn triples competition, in which the winners were John Edwards, Jim Keay and vice-captain David Stott. Afterwards, they and guests enjoyed an excellent tea, provided by the ladies of the Clarence and Wessex clubs.

Clarence’s first match is an Over-60s League game at home to Victoria Vikings today (Thurs).

Two of the clubs based at Clarence Park have elected married couples to important offices this year.

The captain of Clarence men is Brendan Duffy, a retired businessman, while his wife Joan performs the same role for Wessex Ladies.

Their respective vice-captains are also husband and wife - David Stott, a retired teacher who is the Clarence club champion both outdoors and indoors, and his other half Elaine, a former PE teacher.

Clarence are holding free introductory sessions for prospective new members (all equipment supplied) on April 22 and 23, between 5.30-7.30pm (indoors if wet). There will be an open day on Sunday, May 18 (10am-4pm).

Further details from club coaches David Stott (625404) and Roger Burrough (627407).

ST ANDREWS comfortably retained the Tim Lintell-Smith trophy, played annually against Winscombe.

Having won the first leg by a considerable margin, the Saints were in no mood to allow Winscombe back into the match.

Although edging home on one rink, Winscombe could not stop the Saints take control on the other two, winning the game by 81-52.

Rink scores: P Smart, D Price, B Roberts, P Villis 17-21; G Cooper, R Brereton, J Laurent, A Horsburgh 25-17; T Hyde, J Steer, G Tofte, A Steer 39-14.

Because of problems due to players involvement in county and national competitions, Saints have been unable to attain a club finals weekend.

The mixed fours and open triples look as though they will be held over until the start of next years indoor season, but the rest of the competitions are being played.

Ladies’ singles champion is Jackie Ware, beating Ann Campbell 21-12. Men’s singles champion is Barrie Forse, who beat Tony Ware 21-12.

In the mixed triples final, Mo and Graham Millard, along with skip Brian Reeves defeated Ken Uglow, Ann Campbell and skip Alex Horsburgh 20-18. The ladies’ pairs went to the wire, with Jackie Pitman and Ann Campbell holding off the late challenge of Carolina Venn and Audrey Powell to 16-15.

PRESIDENT’S day at Winscombe is the traditional opener for the new season and Lew Collier watched as Janet Waymouth bowled the first wood.

There was then a spider the proceeds of which went to support education in Kenya.

A mixed match followed between the president’s team and captains’ Paul and Lesley Fredersdorff’s team. This resulted in a 135-117 win for the captains. Members then enjoyed an excellent supper in the pavilion.