The Chelmsford Bowling Club is again organising the popular 'Coronation Shield' Pairs competition.

This competition was started by the Club as a result of a request from the Chelmsford Borough Council for bowls to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and has been going ever since.

This year's competition has attracted 96 pairs from 17 clubs from around the town and also forms part of the town's 'Chelmsford Celebrates 2000' programme.

Messrs Rickwood and Spooner from the Marconi Bowling Club are the defending champions and they have a difficult opening match in the first round against Robinson and Sheppard of the Southminster Club.

Chelmsford Bowling Club President John Edwards said "We are delighted to once again run this competition which over the years has proved to be popular with bowlers.

''It is one of the few competitions where both men and ladies can play in competitive bowls together as usually each sex has its own playing code and competitions."

He added that the finals will be played at Tower Gardens, the home Chelmsford BC, on September 17.

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