TAVISTOCK Bowling Club captain, Brian Preece, began his year in office with a week of mixed fortunes when he saw the club teams win three and lose three of the season?s opening matches.

The first was against a Civil Service Evening League team and saw a Tavistock men?s team go down 59-96, skip Roy Northam and his team of David Perry, Sandy Sanders and Colin Tremaine managing a creditable 20-20 draw, whilst all three other skips lost.

Skip Mike Allen lost 16-25, skip Der Saunders saw his team go down 16-23 and skip Eric Stevens suffered a 7-27 defeat.

Saturday?s local derby against Callington resulted in a 84-115 defeat for the Tavistock mixed team which won on two rinks, but lost on three. Skip Mike Allen led his team of Shirley Blackburn, Pat Hoar and Der Saunders to a 27-17 victory, while skip Malcolm Bloomer achieved a 21-13 win thanks to his team of Jenny Tremaine, George Blackburn and Norman Paramor.

Skips Marion Allen 15-20, Ron Cooper 13-32 and Colin Tremaine 8-33 all suffered defeat.

Wednesday saw another local derby, this time against Okehampton which ended in a 93-72 victory for the Tavistock team who won three of the five rinks played.

Skip Der Saunders and his team of Lionel Sims, David Perry and Gill Saunders won 24-16. Skip John Smith led his team of Brian Preece, Joan Northey and D Jones to a 18-11 victory, while skip Roy Northam achieved a 23-10 win thanks to his team of Clive Jago, Roy Gill and Val Southern.

Friday saw Tavistock men facing a strong Plymouth Sir Francis Drake team in a County Trophy match, which ended in a 77-107 defeat for the Tavistock side. Only skip Eric Stevens achieved a win, 28-21, thanks to his team of Clive Jago, Norman Paramor and Lionel Sims. Skips Roy Northam, 18-24, Mike Allen, 19-23, and Der Saunders, 12-39, all tasted defeat.

Saturday saw the return to Tavistock of another team from the Plymouth Sir Francis Drake Club determined to repeat Friday?s victory. The Plymouth side won two of the five rinks played, but lost the match thanks to good wins from skips Mike Allen, Roy Northam and Colin Tremaine.

Mike led his team of Ray Meneer, Clifford Hicks and Ray Moore to a 21-8 win. Colin achieved a 25-13 victory thanks to his team of Tom Sharp, John Smith and George Blackburn

Skip Roy Northam saw his squad of Gordon Northey, John Timmins and Brian Preece achieve a 21-18 victory. Skips Der Saunders 12-18 and Norman Paramor 10-23 both lost.

The ladies? section had only one match during the week, at home against a Plympton team. The two league rinks fought out a close run battle for the league points with Tavistock running out winners thanks to a good win 28-16 by skip Marion Allen and her team of Betty Browse, Gill Saunders and Marlene Paramor.

Skip Jill Lacayo saw her team of Shirley Blackburn, Jean Flay and Hazel Lovell lose 18-21, which gave Tavistock an overall victory by 9 shots.

The friendly rink played alongside the league rinks resulted in a 26-12 victory for Tavistock, thanks to skip Joan Northey and her team of Val Southern, Catriona Meek and Freda Isaac.

Club members can now look forward to another open day on Sunday May 11, when members of the public have an open invitation to come along and try out the game. Sessions are at 10am and 2pm. Equipment is available and no costs are involved.