WELLINGTON Bowling Club hosted the Disability Bowls England Regional Singles Play-Offs last Saturday.

This is the first time a Bowls England event has been held at the club.

The event was possible following the award of a grant last year from Taunton Deane Borough Council which allowed the club to make alterations to their facilities which have made the club disabled-friendly.

Eight competitors from the region took part and, following a draw, they were formed into two groups with the winner of each group going forward to the All England Finals.

The competitors were classified for different disabilities including visual deficiency, some with prosthetic limbs and some in wheelchairs.

None of them let their disability get in the way, as they provided some very exciting games, with all players giving their all over three games of 15 ends each.

The two winners who will go through to the finals are Paul Brown and Mike Diston.

The representative for Bowls England was Maureen Monkton, and she said she was very grateful to the club for supplying all the equipment and making it a really great competition.

She also congratulated the club members who worked very hard all day providing the match officials, assistance to the competitors, food and drinks.

Somerset County Gazette:

PROGRESS: Regional winner Paul Brown in action at the weekend.

Lawn Bowling is a great leveller that allows people from all walks of life to take part in competition, learn new skills, and make new friends.

If you would like to have a go to see if you like it, please see the club’s website, visit the Open Day on July 2, or come down to the club (next to the Leisure Centre on Corams Lane) on any Monday evening.

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HAVING returned from a tour, Taunton bowlers are back on track enjoying a busy week of matches.

Honiton was the venue where Taunton took three mixed rinks and, although close at tea, they pulled away to a 10-shot win.

Scores: Taunton 58, Honiton 48 - B. Deeks 20-19, D. Bridgeman 25-11, A. Bishop 13-18.

The next match was at Williton, where Taunton took four mixed triples.

The visitors did well to win by 15 shots on a difficult green.

Scores: Taunton 71, Williton 56 - D. Bridgeman 12-17, R. Buckingham 22-14, D. Buckingham 24-8, P. Hartley 13-17.

Taunton ladies went to Wellington with three triples and returned with a seven-shot victory.

Scores: Taunton 56, Wellington 49 - C. Simcock 21-12, F. Hunt 17-21, M. Wallanger 18-16.

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WILLITON entertained Wellington in the West Somerset League and won on two rinks, losing on one, 39-48 overall, to pick up four points.

Scores: A Cane, C Thorne and Derek Sully lost 6-27; M Grogan, A Harrod and A Sully won 21-10; J Short, C Penner and D Donald won 12-11.

They entertained Taunton Vivary in a friendly, winning on two rinks and losing on two, for a final score of 56-71.

Scores: L Dunkley, H Husband and C Penner lost 14-22; R Browne, S Every and R McNally won 17-13; J Thorne, P Gliddon and A Harrod lost 8-24; L Lapham, T Gibson and H Poole won 17-12.

Wellington A were the visitors for a County League match, with Williton winning on two and losing on one, 69-49 overall, taking 10 points.

Scores: A Cane, R McNally, R Mitchell and Derek Sully won 21-13; M Grogan, H Poole, C Penner and D Donald won 29-8; A Harrod, D Gwyer, C Thorne and C Harrod lost 19-28.