Triples competition heats up

Teams were feeling the heat of the summer and the heat of competition as Bloomfield Bowls Club in Bath held their annual Triples Championship, which is open to clubs around the South West. Seventy-two bowlers and their supporters travelled for an early start with each team of three playing four games split into two divisions with the top two from each side progressing. The standard of bowls was top quality, with tightly contested rinks from some of the best bowlers in the region. The competition for third and fourth places was fought out between The Outsiders from Paulton and Castle Cary A with Castle Cary coming out on top. Against the expectations of many people, Bloomfield’s Bibendum and Victoria Park B contested the championship final, Bibendum winning 9-3 in an eight-end game. This caused great excitement as Boomfield Bowls Club has not won the competition for 19 years. Team Captain Danny Skean said: “What a day, we had to work very hard to win this because the standard of bowling was very good all round. “I want to thank Gren Ingleson, my two team mates and Becks Lager for what is the best ever moment in my bowling life.” Organiser Gren Ingleson added: “This competition has been going for a great many years and without support from our sponsors it could be difficult to stage it every year, so I want to extend a massive thank you to Michael Hughes of Pritchard’s estate agents Bath who sponsored the day.” Bath Ladies Bowls club had a busy weekend, playing the top club at home on Saturday and on Sunday travelling to Castle Cary to play in the final of the Southey trophy. Two excellent games were played, but Bath were runners-up on both days. On Sunday it was particularly difficult due to a tyre factory not far from the club catching fire, so there was black smoke billowing over the green. Bloomfield Triples champions 2018. From left: Fez Parker, Danny Skean, Ken Fry and Gren Ingleson.