Guernsey star Derek Tomlin, above, is full of concentration as he bowls during the singles event. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0570286)
THE Island Bowl was awash with strikes, spares and gutter balls at the weekend for the Senior Triple Crown.
It was the first time that the prestigious annual tournament has been held in Guernsey. The event featured the best over-50 players from England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Jersey and Guernsey.
A total of 66 bowlers were involved. ‘It’s a good standard. There’s been a few 200-plus games,’ said the Guernsey Tenpin Bowling Association secretary Rick Lovell. ‘These guys have been playing all their life.’
The tournament got under way on Thursday evening with the opening ceremony, which was accompanied by traditional Guernsey dancers and the Bailiff Geoffrey Rowland.
Friday saw the men’s and women’s singles with the doubles and trios taking place on Saturday.
The team event and the masters competition, which sees the best eight men and eight women bowlers from the weekend battle it out, was on yesterday’s agenda.
‘The team event is the hardest event to bowl in because you only bowl every fifth time and it’s hard to keep your concentration,’ said the GTBA president Brian Tostevin.
But the weekend is not all about the competition.
It is a sociable event as well.
And the Welsh team have certainly got into the swing of things.
They arrived in the island last Monday.
‘It was the first time to Guernsey for all of us and we thought we’d have a chill out before bowling,’ said their team manager Sue Thomas from Llanelli.
‘We’re finding the place really good.’
And according to Chris French, who represented Guernsey along with her husband Nick, it was a special honour for them to host the competition.
‘It’s lovely – it’s super,’ she said.
‘We’re going to enjoy ourselves and if we bowl well that’s a bonus.’
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