Building on a new "millennium pavilion" for Rochford Bowls Club begins this week - with memories of an outstanding season still fresh.

Rochford's clubhouse is being demolished and the new National Lottery-funded pavilion should be ready for the 2000 term.

However, the club will not be hoping for many changes to their fortune on the green itself.

Ladies pair June Tann and Jackie Swan reached the English Women's National Finals at Leamington Spa, losing in the third round to the eventual runners up.

Peter Rouse became the 1999 Southend Open Singles champion, while John Horrex, who won the title for the club the previous year, was a semi-finalist this time.

Internal club competitions have come to the fore in the past three weeks.

Rochford's men at last won the club's battle of the sexes - by 16 shots - after a full six-rink match, and the captain's select won the annual match against the president's squad.

Rochford's finals weekend was always well supported and enjoyed some very tight tussles.

Rouse has no need to grouse

Victory in the Southend & District Secretaries Cup at Westcliff-based Essex County rounded off a splendid season for Peter Rouse on the district finals day.

This last event also saw John Horrex reach his third major final of the year - and again just miss out.

This time, he went down to Prittlewell's Phil Bowyer in the district singles final.

One of the upcoming major events for Rochford will see ladies county champion June Tann contest the English Women's Bowling Association finals at Leamington Spa, trying to win the Champion of Champions crown.

District finals: Results

Men's champions - Alan Tann. Runner-up: Derek King (1998 champion).

Ladies champions - Sharon Packwood. Runner-up: Jackie Swan.

4-3-2-1 winner: Frank Potton. Runner-up: Jeff Jeffrey.

Long and short wood winner: Jackie Swan. Runner-up: Meg Disney.

Men's two-wood winner: Mike Spackman. Runner-up: John Clark.

Ladies two-wood winner: Sharon Packwood. Runner-up: Jackie Swan.

Club handicap winner: Jeff Jeffrey. Runner-up: John Staines.

Memorial winner: John Staines. Runner-up: Mary Neville.

Pairs winner: Jan Brandy and Brian Neville. Runner-up: Sharon Packwood and Mavis Fisher.

Two-wood handicap pairs: John MacDonald and Reg Ives. Runner-up: Audrey Suckling and Mary Neville.

Triples winner: Ronnie Butcher, Carol Ager and Peter Rouse.

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