Two great wins on the first day of the pairs competition at the Personal Touch sponsored Southend Men's Open Bowls Tournament were music to the ears of Hadleigh's Lewis Walker and superbly named playing partner Albert Hall.

The duo, with no disrespect, are well-known for playing their bowls for fun rather than expecting to make major progress in top tournaments, but, after beating Ray Smith (South Benfleet) in the opening round, they disposed of fancied John Beckwith (Bournemouth Park) 25-15.

In today's third round they were taking on Hockley's Fred Benee who left Thorpe Bay's Alex Lynam, the Tournament treasurer, trailing in his wake by roaring into an 18-0 lead.

That was after only eight ends and, although Lynam fought back with a better finish, he still went out 27-13. The fancied Essex County duo of Len Pemberton and Bill Driscoll are also through to the last 32 after sending P Buck (Clementswood) packing to the tune of 30-8. They now take on A Stacey (Dagenham).

Holder Bobby Barnes (Tilbury) suffered a shock second round defeat. He took on Vic Henstock, better known locally for his umpiring skills rather than performances on the greens, and lost 24-12 to the man who came in as a late replacement.

Thorpe Bay's Tom Nelson was 18-11 down after 16 ends, but then got his eye in against the Rochford father and son pairing of Ben and John Staines and scored nine shots without reply to win 20-18.

R Taylor (Woodside) was five down with three to play against Lionel Glanville (Essex County), but got the one, three, two necessary to win 20-19.

Bowlers could be excused for thinking that someone up there has got it in for them during this year's Tournament, which is mainly based at Priory Park but does use other greens in the Southend area.

The bowls clubhouse at Priory burned down a few weeks before the two-week event got started and only went ahead thanks to the hard work and enterprise of many, including Southend Council, who provided a Portakabin as a Tournament base and temporary toilets.

One bugbear, however, particularly with yesterday's temperatures well into the 80s, is that, although soft drinks are available at the Park cafe, there is no alcohol on site apart from a few cans bowlers bring along themselves and stash away in the fridge that's been installed in the temporary office.

The lack of beer was perhaps a bonus yesterday as a water main burst put all facilities, including the conveniences, out of action for a number of hours yesterday (Monday) morning.

Perhaps all this played a part in some remarkable comebacks in the morning's opening round with Hockley's Jim Keogh grabbing a three on the last to tie 17-all with T Wilson (Bournemouth Park) before winning the extra end.

The end is near - right at the beginning. Southend's Mayor, Councillor Howard Briggs, sends down the first wood to officially open the Southend Men's Open Bowls Tournament at Priory Park

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.