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This year Resolven Bowls Club (RBC) celebrated 93 years since the formation of the Club and the Pavilion which was opened as a Community Hall for the first time in 1932. The original Pavilion was a striking green wooden building with a front porch which saw great service for many years.

Due to its age and as the old Pavilion was being used extensively the Resolven Community Council replaced it in 1987 with a new brick building – which included a kitchen, a large meeting room, separate changing rooms and external toilets.

The RBC celebrations were held on Sunday, 3 August with rain clouds in the morning, but the afternoon turned out to be fine and warm, changing the surface of the green which provided a challenge for the bowlers. There was some very good, skilfully clever bowling to appreciate and admire from many International bowlers from all over Wales.

The whole event was organised very efficiently and confidently by Andrew Hopkins supported by Simon Ace (who had been trained well by the original Convenor, Mike Herbert advising from South Africa) and they were helped by very many local Volunteers. It proved a complex system to organise with over 70 entries, almost half either current or past International bowlers, but the system worked very smoothly and successfully throughout the day.

The day attracted many spectators and their families, and refreshments were readily available for all present. The Resolven Green has become well known for being “one of the best” not only in the area but in Wales. All credit to the Community Council Groundsman and all bowling helpers who give of their time freely to ensure that the Green and surrounding area is as good as it could and should be.

Losing Semi-finalists were the Resolven triple of Shaun (Ned) Kelly, Regan Ace and Stephen Allen who lost out narrowly to the eventual winners John Roberts, Mike Jackson and Resolven’s own Nigel James, on an extra end, whilst Jake Hancock, Jordan Driscoll and Jamie Harries beat defending Champions skipped by Ross Owen. but then lost to Carl Wood’s triples. The Finals were held late afternoon and the bowling was thrilling to watch, especially as there was a team from Resolven Bowls Club in the Semi Finals.

The Semi-finalists, Finalists and Winners presentations were done by Resolven’s BC Chair, Andrew Hopkins, Secretary, Simon Ace and President, Hugh Lewis.

The ‘Plate’ final saw Gareth Lewis, Ian Henderson and Marc Wyatt winning against the regular Pontrhydyfen triple in this event Chris Jones, Barrie Evans and Ben Thomas.

Another successful event that the Resolven Bowls Club can be proud of and a bright future looks promising for the sport of Bowls in the village of Resolven.

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Photographs by Lionel Stock and Hugh Lewis

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