DESPITE the downpours on Sunday, Alton Bowling Club’s 24th annual Husband and Wife Tournament, superbly organised, as ever, by Sheila and Brian Crow, was enjoyed by all who took part.

Ten couples entered, half from other clubs, and the pairing of Gerry and Sandy Harris, from The Bourne BC, won the trophy for the second time.

The pairs competed in one league, each playing against five other couples drawn at random, with the top four going through to the semi-finals.

It rained on and off for most of the day, but the competition was completed more or less on time. Due to the weather, the semi-finals and final were reduced to five ends.

Results: semi-finals – Gerry and Sandy Harris (The Bourne) beat John and Christine Williams (Alton) 4 shots to 3; Robert and Margaret Hutchinson (Petersfield) beat Rod and Shelagh Spencer (Burpham) 5 shots to 3. Final – Gerry and Sandy Harris beat Robert and Margaret Hutchinson 5 shots to 2.

Lunch was organised and provided by Janet and James King. John and Wanda Driver ran the bar and members provided additional cakes, set up the club and sold raffle tickets.

The trophies were presented by Brian Crow.

• Alton Bowling Club’s Eric Smith continued his campaign in the Whitchurch Novice Singles by defeating Dave Rushen of Old Basing 21-10.

Alton had another mixed bag of results in league matches. Alton A had another success in the Whitchurch League Division 2, beating town rivals Alton Social 41/2-1/2 and Old Basing Roundheads 5-0. However, Alton B lost 5-0 to AWRE in Division 4.

In the Three Counties League, Alton recorded a good 4-1 win against Cranleigh, but then lost 5-0 to Liphook B. Alton beat Four Marks 5-2 in the Stan Hardman League, then lost 4-3 to Alton Social.

A 4-1 victory against Howard Park in the Basingstoke League was followed by a 3-2 defeat to Whitchurch.