RADNOR Indoor Bowls Stadium hosted their Heart of Wales tournament on the weekend commencing September 30.

An entry of 20 triples were attracted to the Heart of Wales. Teams competing from Flint, Frith, Whitlands, Pembrokeshire, Iyslwn, Merthyr and Hereford with players travelling as far away as Devon.

Play commenced on Friday with the group stages, these continued through to Saturday. Once all the group matches were completed the top team plus the highest in each group plus the highest three losers continued in the knock out stages for the main Heart of Wales tournament, the rest of the teams played off for the Barry Halstead Memorial Trophy.

In one semi-final, the ‘Far-Wen-Q’, players were Gareth Lloyd; Ken Price; Chris Lewis and Wendy Price versus ‘Harry’s Heroes’ whose players were David Aldridge; Kevin Davies; Neil Aldridge and Nigel Frankland. Two local teams against each other.

In the second semi-final there were two visiting team going head to head ‘All about Bowls’, Ffion Reed; Alan Reed and Jim Knowles against ‘Talacre’ players Kevin Jones; Barbara and Kevin Woolmore.

The final, played over 18 ends or a four hour time limit was played in a very competitive style the teams were ‘Far-Wen-Q’ against ‘Talacre’.

The match was played in a very competitive spirit. ‘Far-Wen-Q’ players showing outstanding skill and ability which took them into a convincing lead, that despite their very best efforts ‘Talacr’e players found difficult to match. ‘Far-Wen-Q’ went on to win the Heart of Wales tournament.

In the Barry Halstead Memorial trophy team , ‘Barrett’s Barmy Army’ comprising of Andrew Barrett, Colin Reese, Sineon Park and Andrew Jones played the ‘Bulmers Boys’ – Luke Harwood, James and Dan Powell.

This was a very tightly played match with ‘Bulmers Boys’ leading from the start though the ‘Barmy Army’ were always tight on their heals, ‘Bulmer Boys’ managed to hold them off to come through to win.

At the end of the tournament the vice president Ken Evans announced the winners and thanked all those who took part to make the event such a success. Ken went onto thank the local sponsors Tremont Garage in Llandrindod Wells and Felinfeol Brewery.

Organiser Pauline Wilson was delighted that this year’s tournament was as successful as last years. This was the second time that she had organised the tournament.

Pauline was pleased to see more teams compete this year, and that teams were coming from further afield.

On a personal note Pauline, a Para bowler herself was encouraged to have two teams both including Para bowlers competing in this year’s event. More so that the runners up of the Heart of Wales’ team comprised of two para bowlers Barbara and Kevin Woolmore.

It’s absolutely brilliant that we can compete against able bodied bowlers and give them a competitive and determined performance.