Bowls centenary gets ready to roll

The popular annual competition will run from August 8-13 at the White Rock greens.

Entries are up 17 per cent compared with last year for the ladies’ and men’s singles, ladies’ and men’s pairs, and the open triples. The line-up includes 22 entries from Houghton Regis BC, Dunstable.

Proceedings will commence at 9am on the Monday with a welcoming address by the town crier followed by the official opening in the form of a two bowl contest between deputy mayor Cllr Alan Roberts and tournament president Mark Gardiner, of main sponsors Croft Glass.

The tournament will get underway half-an-hour later with the start of the ladies’ pairs and men’s pairs followed at 1.30pm by the preliminary round of the men’s singles. The day’s play will conclude with the first rounds of the men’s singles and open triples.

Programmes and draws were posted last Friday, along with numbered council concession tickets, and details of the drawn pairs subsidiary competitions open to markers and those entrants who have been knocked out of all events entered in the main tournament.

These competitions will take place on the afternoons of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for cash prizes with the overall winners receiving trophies and King George V 1911 pennies, as will the winners of all main events.

Entrants are requested to note the changes to dress code set out in the programme.

A short centenary booklet on the history of the tournament, with foreword by bowls legend David Bryant, is now available for £2.50 together with the programme and draw (£2), centenary lapel badge (£2.50) and centenary bowls stickers (50p a strip).

These can be obtained from the main bowls pavilion or bowls reception in White Rock Gardens. For postal requests, add 70p to the above prices. Cheques should be made payable to Hastings Bowls Tournament, Main Bowls Pavilion, White Rock Gardens, Hastings TN34 1LD, giving your contact details. Orders can also be taken on 461803 or via www.hastingsbowlstournament.com