Open bowls tournament ready to roll

The majority of reigning champions will return to the White Rock greens to defend their titles at the fortnight-long competition which gets under way on Monday August 16.

Joining them will be old stalwarts plus new entries who should swell the field up to around the 350-mark.

The tournament will be opened by Hastings Mayor Cllr Pam Brown OBE and Carol Ashby, World Champion indoor bowler in 2002 and 2003, and England's No.1 indoor lady bowler.

The men's singles, ladies' singles, men's triples and mixed pairs will take place during week one while the men's pairs, ladies' pairs and men's fours will be decided the following week. There are plans to introduce a ladies' triples in 2005.

For anyone requiring assistance on-duty committee members will be wearing yellow armbands with a C marked on them.

Markers are still required to cope with a busy programme which will mean all 36 rinks being used at times during the tournament, contact Keith Westwood on 222218 or Gordon Leggatt on 461803.

The organisers would like to thank Hastings Borough Council and Pavco for their support, and sponsors Hastings Printing Co. Ltd, Anglo Irish Bank, Onyx UK, Clambers and Rigby Taylor.

The success of White Rock Ladies in the Inter-County Double Fours has resulted in Tricia Fry and Geraldine Friola having to withdraw from the ladies' singles at the Hastings Open as they will be playing, alongside Sue Crouch and Pam Farrance, against Worthing Field Place in the final at Haywards Heath next Friday. The previous day they are joined by Joyce Cox, Jean Vickers, Sheila Brook and Pat Upton in the Inter-Club Double Rinks Final against Chichester at Popes Mead, Crawley.