Carruthers 2009

Tenby Bowling Club is number one in Wales- and that's offical!

Tenby club can rightly boasts this prestigious accolade after being crowned Welsh Champions on Saturday 29th August 2009 when they lifted the highly-prized Carrruthers Shield,And what an historic and momentous day it was for the talented Tenby team. and there loyal band of supporters who have followed them on what has been an incredible journey of success.

For when captain Dai Spencer was presented with the shield one of most sought-after trophies in Welsh Bowls it was not only the first time the club had won it , but the first time since the competition began in the early 1900s that it had been won by a Pembrokeshire side But few who were there could have envisaged the drama that was to unfold upon that final day of reckoning on the hallowed turf at Llandrindod Wells, the Meca oif Welsh Bowling.

If Tenby were to walk away with the trophy they would need to play two matches back to back, and having travelled up the day before ready for an early start there first opponents in the morning semi-finals were 1980 Carruthers victors, the vociferous Harlequinns of Aberdare Tenby got of to a flyer racing away to an early lead, only to be pegged back and fall behind themselves, Had they missed their chance? No, certainly not. This team is made of sturn stuff and they again rallied in the closing stages to silence there opponents with a thrilling two-shot victory Said captain Dai Spencer afterwards, "Pat Currie was in outstanding form as were Luke Guymer and Michael Jackson, Andrew Muskett was five down on the last end, but ditched the jack, killing the end to save the match

If any finger nails were left after such a tense semi final then they must surely have been well and truly bitten to the quick by the end of the final that was to that was to follow little more than an hour later Opponents this time were Ely Valley , winners of the shield two year previously, who had disposed off the people's favourities Pontrhydyfen in the other semi. With large crowds watching from every vantage point around the green, the match was almost a carbon copy of Tenby's semi- final clash as they were again quickly out of the blocks, building up an early advantage. But again their opponents steeled themselves and hit back to trail by just three shots and just one rink left on the green to play.

The trophy was within a whisker of Tenby's grasp, but the valiant Valley men had other ideas and showed their own mettle as somehow they conjured up those three shots to tie the match. Who would have believed it, after 21 ends of an epic tussle, and scores across the board were all square at 88 shots apiece But there was to be no sharing of the shield, Instead all players had to retake the green for a dramatic deciding extra end.

What would be the outcome? Who would hold their nerve? Who had the "bottle" in this pressure-cooker situation Ely Valley appeared to be in control as they built up what looked like being a healthy four count on the end rink,but as they say, cometh the hour cometh the man With one bowl remaining Paul Diment-always a player for the big occasion produced a wonder shot, smashing into the head and scattering the woods to amazingly leave his rink six shots to the good Wow what a turnaround that was It was the shot in the arm that Tenby needed ,Now with the upper hand and a more than useful cushion of shots, the other rinks were able to keep the Valley men at bay as they went on to record a famous and breathtaking victory by seven shots There were outstanding performances in the final from Andrew's and Paul's rinks Carpy produced a shot of the day saving a count of seven while Pat's rink again and delighted Dai Spencer later

As the final wood was bowled, meanwhile, It was the signal for scenes of great celebrations to begin, not the mention the odd tear being shed as pent up emotions were finally released It was that sort of day and your reporter is proud to say "I was there"