Always their first touring team of the summer season, Sidmouth Bowls Club entertained Westlecot Swindon last Friday.

They have visited us for over 30 years now and always stay at one of our seafront hotels for a long weekend .

They also bring several visitors along with them, so hopefully helping our town's local economy in these difficult times.

They are a great crowd, such good company and out to enjoy themselves.

Last year, it was a very close game with Sidmouth the victors by just 8 shots overall.

However this year was a 'disaster' for Sidmouth with just 3 of our 10 rinks winning.

It's best not to mention the overall score, suffice to say they beat the pants off us.

At least we made them happy, so they will return next year as all in all it was a great day.

Christine and Chris had a really busy time serving 80 people with a cream tea, also the bar stewards Julie, Carol and Tony were kept very busy.

They loved our hospitality and almost drunk us dry.

Thankfully the weather did stay dry.

Our top rink of the day was Brian Deam, Chas Coates, Allan Davis and skip Mick Cox 19 - 13.

Good to see Mick back bowling and skipping the winning team.

Sidmouth Herald:

Next came our Gents v Ladies.

Early in the season as the greens have not being played on since the end of September, it's a little heavy for some ladies but certainly not all to reach a long jack.

So rarely do the ladies win in this early internal fixture.

Actually that said, two years ago the ladies only lost overall by 3 shots at 103 - 106.

This year it was 66 - 113 overall and with just one winning rink for the ladies, they were Lucy Parsons, Joan Crook and acting captain Jill Bishop 15 - 13.

The men had two top rinks with equal plus scores and they were David Parsons, Wilf Radburn and skip David Timms 23 - 9.

Also Mike Blake, Paul Stanton and skip Peter Mison 22 - 8.

Good to see both Lucy and David Parsons in winning rinks.

Weather wise it was probably the sunniest and warmest day we have had so far this year and long may it continue.

Sidmouth Herald:

Finally , Beryl Whitbread (Bolton) on May 2 reached her 100th Birthday.

Beryl was a Life Member of Sidmouth Bowls Club and also our Ladies Indoor Secretary, a great bowler and in 1993 was president of the DCLIBA (Devon County Ladies Indoor Bowling Association).