Stonyhill Indoor Bowls Club held its annual Christmas mixed four's competition over the weekend. Attendance was excellent with many experienced bowlers taking part and everyone enjoyed the exercise after the long break.

Each team played four games with a playoff for the main competition and another for the plate.

The main competition was won by Edna Painter, Ruby Sewell, Arthur Painter and Bob King. Runners-up were George Green, Joan Holmes, Val Green and Lionel Lee.

This was a hotly contested match with Lionel Lee's rink storming ahead to a 9 - 0 lead. Undaunted, Bob King's rink then went on to pick up three successive 3's to make it 9-9.

With everything left to play for and feeling confident, they then went on to win two more ends to become the 1998 champions.

The plate was also a tussle with the ultimate winners being Brian Gaitley, Gina Patient, Barbara Lacey and John Murray. Runners -up were Maureen Backhouse, Jean Smith, John Smith and Graham Brinkley.

The first few ends were nip and tuck until Graham's rink lost a four. John Murray's rink were then all geared up and raring to go and ultimately won the game 10-5.

After the match there was a short presentation by Lady Captain Maureen Backhouse, assisted by vice-captain, Rose Henstock, who ensured all the winners and runners- up had prizes to take away.

A mix up with dates made it a long day for Lionel Lee and George Green who together with Brian Lucas went straight back on the green to contest the fourth round of the National Triples.

Overcoming tiredness they went into a convincing lead and were five shots up with four ends to play.

The Falcon team of Stan Lee, Ed Lee and Ernie Brockman edged back over the next three ends winning a three a two and a one to make it 18 -18 with one end to play.

Tension was high as Brian drew shot. Ernie Brockman edged this out with his last bowl and Falcon were congratulating themselves when Lionel went down to bowl his last wood.

Summoning all his concentration he played a perfect bowl and drew the shot, much to the relief of his team, who now go into the fifth round.

In the National Mixed pairs John Brinkley and Beryl Hope stormed into the lead against Richard Murphy's team from the Jacks Centre.

A rally by the Jacks pair meant the game was neck and neck for a while but John and Beryl won through securing their place in the next round.

There was great excitement for Alison Dartnell, Dilys Russ, Vera Croft and Margaret Rayment when they won their round of the County Fours.

Not having played at this level of bowls before, it was with great trepidation when they met the more experienced Barking rink skipped by Joyce Edmeades.

Finding themselves a good match for Barking and with confidence growing, they notched up a 30 - 13 lead with two ends to play, and this was too much for Barking who then conceded the game.

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