Triples Championship games got underway at YWBC on Thursday 21, under dark skies, with drizzly rain and flukey winds. In these less than ideal conditions, the games still brought forth some fine bowling, with the game between Lorraine Ashbury’s and Wendy Ballantyne’s teams proved to be a real nail-biter. The score after the regulation 18 ends stood at 10 all. Clearly, neither team could create many opportunities, and most ends resulted in only singles being scored. After Lorraine opened with a 2, Wendy’s team of Wynne Bell leading and Kaye Mason, second, scored singles on each of 5 consecutive ends to lead 5-2 on 6. But then their opponents hit back with their own string of singles to lead 9-6 on 14. Gwen Hoskin got some lovely lead bowls away for Lorraine, and with new bowler Sue Lindsay playing some delightful shots, they were looking the goods. However, despite some near misses from Lorraine, Wendy and her team drew on their experience to steady and lead 10-9 on the penultimate end. The 18th end was one where the shot changed several times, with Lorraine finally levelling at 10 all and forcing the extra end. Winning the toss, Wendy gave away the mat, and her team steadied to play very well under pressure to grab the highest score of the game with a 3 on the extra end to win 13-10. Lorraine’s team must also be congratulated. She led by example with some wonderful bowling and was ably supported by Gwen and Sue. In other first round action, Chris Cole’s team of Joan Scadden and Denise Burey led comfortably for most of the game at 19-9 on 13 over Isabel Neill’s. but they had to withstand a late come-back from Gloria Davis, Judy Pryor and Isabel after they bagged a 5 on the 14th. However, Chris hung on to win 21-18. The final game between Jan Dunning/Marie Stone/Lyn Olsson and Raels McKibbin/Ros Moore (sub for Cheryl Delaney) and Margaret Durante was also a tough one, with a number of big swings in the score, but on 13 ends it stood at a tight 15-13 to Lyn. While Margaret’s team put in a creditable performance, the experience of their opponents prevailed, and through some fine deft bowling from them all Jan, Marie and Lyn ran out winners 21-14. One second round game was also played early, and it resulted in a comfortable win to Val Terry/ Dot Gleeson/ Monica Conlan over Ros Dickson/Pam Conley/Lily Medhurst. Lil’s team started really well to lead 5-2 on 5, but then Monica’s team put together some great ends and surged to an 18-6 lead on 14. To their credit their opponents toughed it out, but went down 19-11. Other second round games set down for Tuesday 26th are Wendy Ballantyne’s team versus Lyn Olsson’s; Chris Cole’s plays Maria Sakac/Ruth Fletcher/Judy Sinclair; Helen Scott/Robyn McPherson/Marj Thompson are up against Cathryn Aitchison/Judy Abbott/Kerry Pedder. Meanwhile ‘Princess of the Green’, Judy Sinclair, has successfully seen of the challenge of Cheryl Deveny on Tuesday 19. Judy got off to a flyer shutting Cheryl out for the first 6 ends. Tenaciously, Cheryl fought back, but the start was too great to overcome, and Judy ran out a comfortable winner. The next challenger will be Jill Miller. Tuesday 19th also saw a great turn out for social bowls, and lucky rink winners of the Bowlo Bucks were Cynthia Lydiard and Marjorie Thompson, with runners up Glenda Davis and Judy Button. The consolation bucks went to Lily Medhurst and Wynne Bell. Ladies please note that Social Bowls will commence this Thursday, 28 at 8.30am. In addition, the sheet for the District Presentation Day on Thursday August 11 is on the noticeboard. It is an event which we hope to have a good number of members attending. Finally, our thoughts and prayers go out to Sonia and her family. Wendy Ballantyne