They came to try to win back the Ian Bensley Trophy, which we had held for the past two years, after they had held the trophy for many more.

They arrived just before lunch when they enjoyed our hospitality with a barbecue. Then the serious stuff began.

We were able to field five teams for triples and had two spares, who played social bowls with the visitors’ six spare players.

Gary Kiff’s team of John Bunn and Damian Campbell-Davies, and Jonathan Bunn’s team of Val Webb and Betty Jonas, had convincing wins of 19-11 and 19-12.

The other three teams lost their games just as convincing, or even more so, to see the Bensley Trophy loaded on the bus with the visitors after a very enjoyable game of bowls and renewal of old friendships.

The hope is that next year the trophy will return home.

The first game of the 2016 Fours Championship was played between Leroy and Damian Campbell-Davies, Gary Collard and Tom Watson against Stan Wisbey, Colin Elder, Rooster Grant and Laurie Riley, which saw Tom’s team get away to a flying start, leading 8-0 after three ends.

But that lead was short-lived as the score was 9-all at eight ends with the lead alternating to see a score of 18-all at the 21st end, to bring on an extra end, which was won by Tom’s team by one shot.

Following this another close game with Jonathon Bunn as skip with Steve Piper, Barry Osmond and Jungle against Aaron Clarke, Skip, Nigel McGrath, Luke Staunton, and Andrew Moran.

Jono’s team by the seventh end were in front 7-2, but Aaron’s team led 12-8 at the 13th end. Jono’s team fought back to be 14-all at the 19th end and finished the game in front on the 21st end at 16-14.

On Sunday (David Cargill) Tuby’s team of Peter (Camel) Camiller, Gorie Kite and Barry Broadbent played 88-year-old Ron Cooper and his team of Barry Backhouse, Simon Jeffery and Barry Jonas in a game that was played in between showers. Even these conditions saw heads that outshone the two above games that at 12 ends saw the score at 10-all. Then Tuby’s team went to 18-10 by the 16th end.

In the wet, Coop’s team conceded, but the last head was one that most bowlers dream about with so many bowls with in a half-metre of the white ball.

On Sunday, September 25 there will be a mixed triple carnival is hoped may develop into an annual event in which many players from other clubs will participate and there are still vacancies for this great day of bowls, with entries closing on Friday.

Remember: bowlers are not old, they just live longer.