Tournament off to positive start

The 2014 Hastings Open Bowls Tournament got off to a positive start despite very windy and cloudy conditions.
Hastings mayor Cllr Bruce Dowling opens the 2014 Hastings Open Bowls Tournament alongside Gordon LeggattHastings mayor Cllr Bruce Dowling opens the 2014 Hastings Open Bowls Tournament alongside Gordon Leggatt
Hastings mayor Cllr Bruce Dowling opens the 2014 Hastings Open Bowls Tournament alongside Gordon Leggatt

Cllr Bruce Dowling, the Mayor of Hastings, and tournament president Gordon Leggatt delivered the first bowls at White Rock Bowls Club on Monday morning.

The competition proper started at 9.30am with waterproofs being the order of the day for 20 matches in the men’s singles. It wasn’t long before heavy rain forced the players off the rinks, but the downpour was short-lived and play continued for the rest of the day without interruption.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ladies’ singles and more men’s singles games followed in the second session, while the first matches in the men’s pairs commenced at 3pm.

Although the wind was particularly strong on the more exposed rinks, there were some very evenly contested matches with one ladies’ singles game lasting a marathon 26 ends.

The play overall was of a particularly high standard and the competitors should be congratulated on the high quality of the matches despite the adverse conditions.

Matches have continued throughout the week on a knockout basis with the prizes and trophies to be presented to the winners on Saturday afternoon. The total overall prize-money is £2,000, and there are trophies for the winners and runners-up.

Entries are already coming in for the Charity Triples Tournament to be held on Sunday September 28 at the White Rock Bowling Greens. The closing date for entries is August 28.

Related topics: