THE extremely popular Helensburgh Bowling Club Honda gents' open pairs competition, was held at the club last week. The competition is kindly sponsored by Helensburgh Honda and it runs on a knock-out basis, this year it attracted a large entry from within and out with the Helensburgh area.

The early rounds were played on Monday, Tuesday and the early session on Wednesday all over 13 ends.

The semi-finals were played Friday and in the first of them Allan Howie and Gordon Stephen from Helensburgh, last year's winners, won through in a tight game against Simon Wade and Charles McLelland from Garelochhead/Helensburgh BC, by 12-9.

The second semi-final resulted in a comfortable win for the young pair from Garelochhead BC, Kevin Leishman and Stuart Horne from Garelochhead BC over another local pair, father and son, John McBride and Duncan McBride Snr from Colgrain BC.

The final was also played on Friday evening over 13 ends and was watched by a large audience in the clubhouse.

The game was a close encounter from start to finish with some excellent bowling from all the players, Kevin Leishman and Stuart Horne scored the first shot before Allan and Gordon scored a three at the second end.

The Garelochhead pair then scored three shots in two ends to lead 4-3, back came the Helensburgh Pair of Allan Howie and Gordon Stephen with another count of three, followed by a lead by 7-4.

Kevin and Stuart however were not finished yet and responded with a four to lead by eight shots to seven.

The Helensburgh pair then scored a one to level the game, only for the Garelochhead pair to regain the lead with a two at the next end, yet another one shot scored by Allan and Gordon narrowed the lead to one shot to set up an exciting final two ends.

In the event Kevin and Stuart score a one shot at each of these ends to snatch the trophy from last years winners with a well deserved 12 shots to six win to take the trophy to Garelochhead After the game president Walter Jamieson introduced Eric Chattelle from Helensburgh Honda who congratulated the players on the excellent bowling. Eric then presented the prizes to the losing semi-finalists, the runners up, and finally the trophy and prizes to the winners Kevin Leishman and Stuart Horne from Garelochhead.

The president then thanked Helensburgh Honda for their continued sponsorship and the competitors for taking part in what was another excellent competition this year.