KIND-HEARTED bowlers from Helensburgh and the surrounding area raised around £3,700 for the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre at a brand new tournament on Sunday.

Ninety-six bowlers from the area locked horns at Colgrain Bowling Club for the first playing of the ‘Flip Cup’, an open fours competition organised in honour of Colgrain member Robert Phillips, who is currently battling against cancer.

Players from throughout the Dunbartonshire County headed to the Colgrain green for the event, and were joined by two Scottish junior internationalists, Emma McIntyre and Michelle Keenan.

Though the dismal weather did its best to ruin the day, with heavy rain forcing an early halt to action on the green, that didn’t stop the Colgrain quartet of Kirsteen Dunbar, Alison Shaw, Michael Harrison and Colgrain club president Robert Cavana becoming the first winners of the trophy.

Scott Moorhouse from Colgrain BC told the Advertiser: “The weather was terrible but everybody still turned up, which just shows the high regard Robert, or ‘Flip’, is held in, not just at Colgrain but throughout the county.

“He wanted all the money raised to go to the Beatson and although the final sum is still to be calculated, to raise £3,700 or thereabouts is an amazing achievement.”