The craic was great at Madeira on Monday, as bowls aficionados gathered to watch the final of the Croft Triples, writes Terry Dowrick. With the holders having been eliminated at the quarter final stage, there were certain to be new names on the trophy.

Recent Phear Park emigres, Keith and Annette Bister, along with evergreen Madeira stalwart Vic (the Wick) Doidge were definitely motivated. Winning the Phear Park Ladies Handicap Championship earlier the same day had not blunted Annette’s appetite for silverware and Vic was aiming to prove that age was no barrier to success.

In opposition, at exactly half Vic’s age, Duncan Allen was determined to enjoy his first competitive final and Coach Chris Reed with Jude Latta was aiming to prove that those who teach can also do.

The stage was set, the cast assembled and the rain eased to no more than a mizzle.

The final comprised two sets of six ends each and the opening set went the way of Keith Bister’s trio. In the second set, Coach Chris Reed briefly rallied his troops to an early lead but was shortly overtaken as a result of some magic from Vic Doidge and steady bowling from the Bister’s, which was enough to secure the Trophy.

Then on Friday, with the Met Office forecasting everything except a plague of frogs, the Madeira Bowls Club Night was enlivened by a return visit from the Tri-Hards. An enjoyable evening both on and off the rinks, with several of the visitors showing potential.

Finally, on Saturday, five East Devon clubs each sent fours to Exmouth to vie with Madeira teams for the Coronation Cup. It was a tightly contested affair with Crediton leading the way for the challengers.

When the results were tallied, there was a tie for first place, but on a countback of ends won, the Madeira four of Dave Mansell, Duncan Allen, Roger Davis and skip Dave Moody were awarded the cup. A job well done from the Madeira team.

Exmouth Journal: Annette Bister and Vic Doidge