Madeira Bowling Club started the week with a couple of friendly fixtures. Nailsea Bowling Club travelled from the Bristol area with five rinks. They were defeated 122-63 defeat, but the highlight of the match was the visiting Captain, who played an exceptional game at the age of 94! Top score of the day was returned by Dee Williams, Gloria Taylor and Vic Doidge, skipped by David Macaulay.

Madeira also got the better of Sidmouth’s men, inflicting a 4-1 and 98-64 defeat at Exmouth. The top triples team of the day was Captain Brian Poulter playing with Danny Dorian and skip Leighton Burston.

Keith Weekes, in his first role as the new President of Madeira, welcomed Bowls Devon to the greens for the semi-final and final of the Grace Mathews Top Club. Madeira always hosts the finals of this Devon-wide competition, in memory of their esteemed past bowler.

Madeira did not reach the final stages this year, but many members played their part on the day - in the kitchen, preparing the greens and marking games. Torquay Kings emerged the winners with Topsham worthy runners-up. The final in the afternoon was played on one green with six rinks of the men’s Over 60s league being played on the other.

Lin Halpin played in the final rounds of the Bowls Devon 2 wood singles at Culm Vale. Lin did well in the Q/F - an excellent game which Lin won 16-14 against Sarah Vinnicombe from Torquay. In the next round, which was the Leamington Qualifier, Lin was disappointed to lose by 11-16 to Gill Grantham from Plymouth Sir Francis Drake. Lin and reached the same stage of the competition last time it was played in 2019. The hope is that it will be third time lucky next year and that she will deservedly reach the National Finals.

Janet Grundy and Jenny Smith’s run in the Bowls Devon Over 70s pairs came to an end when they lost the Section 3 final in the closest of games on an extra end (19-18), and by about an inch, to Di Morley and Sue Dando of Honiton.