WHEN you first set out on a journey with a sport you have to learn the rules and regulations and then try to improve your ability.

It is just the same when writing Crediton Bowling Club articles for the “Courier” and to those of you who are seasoned bowlers apparently I’ve been mixing up my articles by not differentiating properly between a competition and a tournament.

I will try to improve as my week’s copy goes on but in seeking clarification from a well-known England bowler I tried to simplify things by suggesting that a tournament is played on one day but a competition is played over weeks and months.

Her response will all give you the clarity we seek when the reply back was “Sort of! Tournament’s tend to be a one-off event put on by a Club for a prize. Competitions are usually County or National which are based on knockout system. But they could also be Club Competitions! There are very few Tournaments taking place so it’s safer to call everything Competition!” There you are clear as mud. So here is a round up of this week’s results from matches played!

On Bank Holiday Monday the traditional needle match between the men and the ladies went right down to the wire.

Triumphing on the final end were the Men which means the Ladies have the honour of being awarded the “Wooden Spoon” for this year.

In the National Fours the Crediton team of Rob Paxton, Chris Bond, Liz Smerdon and Amy Simpson lost 21-15 to Barnstaple but there was better news for Chris and Amy as they battled through to the next round of the National Mixed Pairs.

In the County Pairs Liz Smerdon and Mike Canning defeated a pair from Heavitree and will next play the Crediton pairing of Roy Andrews and Alison Blackburn. The Club Mixed Pairs day was won by Trevor and Jenny Newbury.

As a sign that normality is beginning to return, the Exeter and District Triples League has returned and over the coming weeks the three Crediton teams will alternate between home and away as competitive bowling against other clubs is back.

In the first week the “A” team beat Okehampton and the “C” team overcame Exonia. The “B” team travelled to Belmont but will have to wait for their first victory.

During this past week many who attended the England Bowls weekend have been returning to try their hand once again on the green.

When you are out in Newcombes Meadow for your walk you can always see the telephone number displayed on the side of the Clubhouse for those who want to give it a try.

And have I mentioned before that for those who become members the bar prices are very, very, very competitive against what you might pay elsewhere in the town? Not that that should be the reason to join!

Mike Canning