ILMINSTER BC has two Somerset champions after Bev Brister and Louis Ridout won their events on county finals day on Sunday.

Bev is the Somerset County singles champion after defeating Bristol’s Neil Saunders 21-18 in a tight match on Sunday, which featured some excellent play.

This capped a great year for Bev, who has produced excellent performances all season, who also reached the quaterfinals in the county triples.

Ilminster Bowling Club would like to congratulate Bev on this great achievement.

Louis won the Somerset county champion of champions comeptition, defeating Don Rees from Keynsham BC, 21-14.

Louis was always in control of the match, bowling well throughout, to clinch his second county title in as many years.

This has also been a great year for Louis who travels to Wales next week to play for England Under-25s in the International Series, against Wales, Ireland And Scotland.

England will be playing to retain the trophy they won last year.

Ilminster’s Peter Mattravers also took part in county finals day, playing the two wood final against Colin Gazzard from Victoria, Weston-super-Mare.

Peter was always close until Colin pulled away and ended up with a comfortable win 21-14.

Meanwhile, Ilminster’s two sides both ended the Somerset County League season with victories on Saturday.

Ilminster A took on table-topping Bath A in Premier One and played some great bowls aginst the Somerset County champions.

Ilminster were well in front at the start, with one rink well up at ten ends. As the game went on Bath came back into it, but Ilminster were too strong in the end winning 10-2 on points.

The win means Ilminster remain second in the table, 11 points ahead of Taunton and Bristol, who both have a game left to play.

Ilminster B took on local rivals Donyatt A in their final game. The match went down to the wire with two rinks drawing and winning one but Ilminster took the game 10-2 on points.

■ CHARD won by three shots away to local rivals Ilminster in a ladies triples match on Thursday.

Skips: P Gill 14-21, S Read 18-9, R Grout 14-13.

On Saturday, Chard played away at Somerton in the Wessex Mixed Friendly League. It was mainly dull with a few interspersed sunny spells. Chard lost overall but a good sociable afternoon was had by all.

On Sunday, 30th August, Chard played away at South Petherton in the Wessex Mixed Friendly League. It was a damp dull misty day but somehow the rain held off. Chard won on one rink but lost overall.

On Wednesday, Chard hosted an Open lawn bowls ladies triples tournament with 14 teams from around the area participating.

It was an awful, dismal, dull drizzly day and after the first five ends, the weather deteriorated and it was decided to abandon further play, resulting in no winner.

However all the ladies enjoyed a tea of culinary delights and friendly banter which made up for the disappointing weather.

On Friday, 21st August, Chard played Donyatt in the Ladies League. Chard won overall with 41 shots to Donyatt’s 35 shots in the last match of the season.

Home skip: B Raistrick 16 shots. Away skip: P Gill 25.

■ ON Thursday evenings, beginners are welcome to bowl at Chard in a ‘fun evening’. The club will supply shoes and bowls, just go along at 6pm for a 6.30pm start.