Essex sides notched up victories against London in the opening stages of this year's winter season.

The premier team won by 190 shots to 139, with only the singles clash giving Essex any cause for concern.

Both Canvey's Alan Jones and Corringham's Stuart Lowe lost one of their games. But their shots superiority in their winning clashes carried the day.

In the pairs Basildon's Kevin McBride and Billericay's Sam Lambert lost one game and scraped through on their second by 12 shots to 10.

England pair Steve Killington and Bill Dillworth triumphed in both their pairs games, winning 10-9 and 18-9.

The triples and fours saw Essex winning all their games for a comfortable final victory.

The county's 'A' team also triumphed against London in a tougher game than the 192-149 scoreline suggests.

Essex were on top until the triples, when under 18 England player Craig Burgess, Derek Dorrington and Tony Hayes lost both their games.

The other triples team - Canvey's Ken Burns, Billericay's Mary Parmenter and Chadwell Heath's Tony Brooks - lost one, won one.

The convincing score margins in the singles, pairs and fours carried the day, with the help of sterling leadership from fours skipper Tony Orpin from East Hanningfield ensured a win.

Both matches were played at Woodlands School in Basildon and both the premier and 'A' sides will be away to Norfolk in November.

Galleywood Short Mat Bowls Club opened its new season with the annual Bowlathon in aid of local charities.

After three sessions totalling 12 hours of bowling, the Douglas Godwin Trophy was eventually won by Peggy Parsons.

It was Ladies Day with a vengeance for all three sessions ended with the fair sex being victorious in the form of Jean Benjamin, June Welch and Marian Rook.

Ultimately, the real winners were The Farleigh Hospice and The Chelmsford & District Cardiac Support Group who will share the amount raised of over £450.

The season now starts in earnest with the first league matches being played next week.

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