National stage for Portsmouth contingent

It’s been another good summer with the ladies leading the way in qualifying for the Bowls England summer showpiece.

Milton Park quartet Carla Woolvin, Rose Rogers, Marion Wilcockson and June Roberts have already started their campaign for ladies’ fours success.

And it will also be a busy time for members of Cowplain.

On Sunday, Honour Plowright, Jane Franklin and Pam Lambshead will be starting their triples campaign.

Franklin and Lambshead will also compete in the pairs competition starting on Thursday, August 18.

Meanwhile, the annual Pembroke Gardens open triples tournament proved a big success with clubs from across southern Hampshire represented.

A total of 24 teams took part, split into ladies’ and men’s sections.

The winners of each section then met in the grand final.

The ladies section needed a play-off to decide the victory as the triples of Rose Rogers and Caroline Cuerdin couldn’t be separated after a very hard-fought contest.

It was Rogers, Linda Maple and Sandy Pullin who recorded the victory against Cuerdin’s former champions.

In the men’s section, three triples ended their games with the same number of points.

So it was down to shot difference as to who got through and it was skipper Malcolm Jones, Roy Toovey and Tom Suthers who triumphed.

So, after seven hours of keenly contested games, the line-up for the final was Maple, Rogers and Pullin against Jones, Toovey and Suthers.

With a good crowd watching, the ladies convincingly won 13-6 and picked up the £90 prize fund.

Winning skip Sandy Pullin said: ‘We look forward to coming back next year to defend our title.

‘Thanks to the tournament organisers for all their efforts during the day.’

The tournament is part of the events Pembroke run each year to raise funds for a local charity.

This year money raised will be going to the Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association.