This year's Hope Paton Mr & Mrs Competition was won by Amy and Andy Ruxton from Hillside Bowling Club.

This popular bowling event, sponsored by Mr & Mrs George Norrie, was a resounding success once again, with the spectators staying right up to the last bowl at five o'clock.

The forecast was for a great day, and we weren't disappointed. At the beginning a shower threatened to spoil the occasion, but the sunshine forecast won the day and certainly raised everyone's spirits.

The bowling began with a Round Robin of four sections, six couples in each section. The games were fast and furious and soon we could see how the the day was developing. One minute we had optimism, the next disaster.... but I think all the couples are still together.

By three o'clock we had reached the knockout stage and the qualifying teams were as follows:

Mr & Mrs J Rushmere   V    Mr & Mrs A Ruxton

Mr & Mrs W Donald      V    Mr & Mrs W Gordon

Mr & Mrs W Pirie          V    Mr & Mrs W Masson

Mr & Mrs T Kirkaldy      V    Mr & Mrs K Morrison

Two couples from the Round Robin stage were undefeated, the Wattie and Isobel Donald (10pts ) and Willie and Liz  Pirie ( 9 pts ), yet both fell at the first hurdle of the knockout.

In the all Montrose Bowling Club affair, Wattie and Isobel Donald were just edged by the Anne and Bill Gordon, and Willie and Liz Pirie could just not get going to a much in form Bill and Greta Masson from Drumlithie Bowling Club.

Meanwhile, Ken Morrison and his wife Joyce from Brechin Park View, were seeing off last season's winners, Tam and Aileen Kirkaldy from Hillside.

Last but not least, Amy and Andy Ruxton just managed to edge out John and Arlene Rushmere in a close encounter, seven shots to five.

So to the semi-finals....

In a one sided affair, Amy and Andy Ruxton, who hit top form, easily disposed of the Bill and Anne Gordon who had no answer to Andy's deadly deliveries.

The other match was much closer, but due to a  couple of  perfect shots by Ken Morrison, the victors were the Morrisons, who would meet the Ruxtons in this year's final.

After the wonderful weather of the afternoon, the sky was beginning to cloud over, and both finalists decided against a break and head straight into the final.

And what a final we had!  After the first five ends it was all square, four shots all. The sixth end proved to be the decisive, with Amy and Andy both playing their best bowls to take a full house.

This left the Ken and Joyce needing four shots to tie, and force the match into an extra end. It was not to be, as they only managed a single, and Amy and Andy Ruxton were this year's Champions eight shots to five.

A great day was had by all spectators and players, and everyone is looking forward to the same again next season.

A big thank you to all who made the event a great success, especially the ladies in the kitchen who kept everyone watered and fed with their delights.

For more shots click on this link Mr & Mrs 2009