This year's Holiday Fours had a slight hiccup before it got going.

Unfortunately, the ten o'clock session had to be moved forward to Monday night at six o'clock due to heavy rain at the start of the day. The good news was that the twelve o'clock session got going and so did the two o'clock with some showers in between.

However, just as the forecast predicted, the four o'clock session was played in glorious sunshine. This year we had thirty two entries, but by the time of play three teams had withdrawn.

There are plenty of matches to see throughout the week so if you are interested in bowls then get yourself down to the Hope Paton Green at six o'clock tonight, when there will be two sessions, and six thirty the rest of the week. The final is on Friday night at six thirty.

Monday Night

Two sessions were played tonight in sunny conditions and there was a good turnout of spectators. It was like turning back the clock with the double session and the days of large entries. Come alond during the rest of the week,six thirty start, and be entertained instaed of watching the telly. Maybe the bowls will be good as well.

Tuesday Night

Back to the miserable weather with the remainder of the second round games being played. Fortunately, we only had one shower which saw the spectators running for cover and the players for their waterproofs.

Hopefully, the rest of the week will be warmer and sunnier. Wednesday's games should see closer encounters and who knows, maybe the odd upset. If you want to see some shots of the event so far then click here.....

Wednesday Night

Thankfully the weather forecast was wrong and the quarters were played on a lovely summer's evening.

Three of the matches were safely achieved but the Stuart Hale v Ron Blacklaws tie was a close encounter decided at the last end. The game went back and forth all night but with one end to go Stuart's rink had a one shot lead. With one shot sitting on the Jack, neither Andy nor Ron could shift it, and the final score was 9-7 for Stuart's rink.

Thursday Night

Two good matches were offered up for the semis with both matches being seven shots each after seven ends.  It was the next few ends after this that decided both games.

Harry Dunn's team ran out comfortable winners, while The Mighty Melvins hit Stuart Hale's team with six shots in three ends from which they never recovered, despite a spirited four at the last to go down thirteen shots to twelve.

It should be a good close final tonight, and with that extra couple of ends, playing to fifteen, who knows what the outcome will be.

Why don't you come along and see for yourself! It's free! Tea and cakes/shorties for sale, along with lots of raffles.

Friday Night - The Final

The Mighty Melvins Are Un - Dunn!

One superb bowl from skip Harry Dunn was enough to bring the Hope Paton Holiday Fours Trophy back to the home green.

As on the opening day of this year's competition, rain tried to spoil the proceedings. The two teams however, had other things in mind.

The competition, apart from the first day, had enjoyed a good week of weather and bowls.

Harry Dunn's rink had the most comfortable route to the final, playing within themselves, and winning all their games with more than a few shots.

The Mighty Melvin's however, had a trickier draw with much closer matches being played. In the second round against Willie Whyte's rink, from the Inch, they had to to go to an extra end, eventually winning 15 - 14. Then in the semi - final against Stuart Hale's rink they appeared to have the game sewn up with three ends to go when Stuart's team made a late rally. Having a shot to tie the match in the last end with the last bowl, Stuart just failed to get the fifth shot the game deserved. It ended, 13 - 12 to The Mighty Melvins.

And so to the final. With grey skies all around,  the threat was always there that we were going to have a wet affair. And so it proved. This didn't deter the goood sized crowd who turned up, over sixty, who were expecting a close encounter. They certainly weren't disappointed.

By the fourth end The Mighty Melvins had taken a 4 - 2 lead, but then the rain became heavier, and this seemed to favour the home rink, who after the seventh end had opened up a five shot lead.

This was extended to eight shots by the tenth end, bringing the score to 13 - 5. The crowd were beginning to sense that the eleventh end was going to be a pivotal moment in the match, and some were even heading for the Legion thinking, it's all over!

Lee's team had other ideas, and sure enough the game was turned on its head in the eleventh end when the Mighty Melvins took four shots to bring the game back to life, and tie the crowd to their seats, and umbrellas. This was the impetus they needed, and before we knew it the score was just 13 - 12 to Harry Dunn's rink going into the last end. It was nail biting stuff as the rain got heavier, but nobody was leaving after the Mighty Melvins got the one shot they needed to take it to an extra end.

 They looked the much more positive team going into the extra end, having just won the last five ends. It wasn't looking good for Harry Dunn's side. Lee's team had the shot they needed for the match, with Harry's team vainly trying to win it back. With close efforts from either side it came down to last the bowl from each skip to decide the outcome of this year's competition.

Harry Dunn was first to play, and with all his experience and grit, he somehow found a way through all the bowls and picked up the jack to lie the match with only Lee's last bowl to play.

It looked an impossible task, with so many bowls in the way.  Somehow, Lee found a way through and managed to reach the jack. His bowl however, couldn't stay with it, and after it came to rest Harry's team were lying three shots.

Well done to both teams for delivering a very entertaining and exciting final. Also, thanks to all the other bowlers who made it another successful year for this long standing event.

Final Score    Harry Dunn 16 (A.E.E.)     The Mighty Melvins 13

What an end to a great final! After the match a number of spectators were heard to say that it was the best Holiday Fours' Final they had witnessed for many a year.

So come on, put this fixture in next year's diary and see if you can go one better!

If you want to see some shots of this year's event  then click here.....

You can keep up with how the competition is progressing by clicking on the link below.

Results......