The always popular event has been sponsored since 2004 by W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons, the independent family funeral directors, of Tenby and Narberth, and is played at each of the respective clubs on a rotatation basis.
This year it was the turn of Whitland to host the tournament and a splendid day was enjoyed by the 19 pairs taking part, not to mention the supporters on the sidelines.
The pairs were split into two groups to play in round robin leagues, with the four leading pairs in each going through to contest the quarter-finals.
Perhaps not surprisingly on their own green, Whitland players featured prominently on the day, not least the Thomas family, with three members, all going through to the knockout stages in separate pairs.
Son Ryan, who now plays for Tenby, and his partner Andrew Evans, of Whitland, were seeking to lift the prestigious cut glass trophy for a third successive year.
But on this occasion it was dad Timothy (Tights) and mum Sarah Thomas who enjoyed the bragging rights.
The holders eventually saw their bid come to an end in the quarter-finals as they lost a nail-biting sudden death clash against Tenby’s Evan Day and Dion Peregrine, while Tights and his partner also had to go to a sudden death end against Huw Nicholas, of Whitland, and Steve Davies, of Tenby, before earning their place in the semi-finals.
That set-up what was probably the most entertaining game of the day, a head to head clash with wife Sarah and her partner Dianne Scoufield, who had edged a close encounter with father and daughter Neil and Katie Dickinson, of Tenby.
As it turned out, despite some good-natured banter from the bank, it was Tights and Ashley who eventually prevailed to reach the final, where they met Steve Dick and Joe Dennis.
The Saundersfoot pair had accounted for Liam Price (S’foot) and Scott Lewis (Whitland) in the quarters and Tenby’s Evan and Dion in the semi-finals, and must have been quietly confident of achieving success in the final, having earlier defeated their opponents in the round robin stages.
But the Whitland pair obviously had other ideas and making good use of ‘local knowledge’ on rink one, produced a high class display to turn the tables and win the trophy in convincing style.
Alongside them, Sarah Thomas and Dianne Scourfield completed a good day for the home club by winning the third place play-off against Tenby pair Evan and Dion.
Afterwards, Steve Reese, of the Whitland club, thanked everyone involved for making the day a great success and announced that as a result, in the region of two-hundred pounds had been raised for the charity CRY (Dean Mason Memorial Fund).
Prizes were then presented by Richard Rossiter, on behalf of the sponsors, with a sumptuous buffet (catering courtesy of Sarah) enjoyed by all present.