IT had taken eight years before the weather took its toll on the highly prestigious Bere Alston Bowling Club?s eighth Invitational Mixed Fours Tournament last Sunday.

Twenty-eight top teams from Devon and Cornwall entered this competition which is growing in stature every year. But this time, after seven years of sunshine, the weather had its say.

After three houre of bowling, the tournament not even at the half-way stage, club chairman Keith Whitting reluctantly declared the driving rain had beaten them.

The event was sponsored by West Point Financial Consultants of Plymouth and the 28 teams had been split into two sections. One section had played two games, the other only one when torrential rain fell.

Defending champions, Unity Park, agreed there was no alternative but to abandon proceedings when water built up on the green. Along with all others they vowed, however, to be back next year.