Friday saw the curtain finally fall on another highly successful Open Week at Tenby Bowling Club.

And with the sun beating down on the immaculate Sutton Street green, it was perhaps fitting that the eagerly-awaited finals day should feature some of the best players ever to have graced the prestigious Tenby tournament.

Indeed, the mouth-watering line-ups in the semi-finals of the Gold and Silver competitions read like a ‘Who’s Who’ of past trophy winners.

Still there with hopes of achieving the ‘dream double’ was probably the tournament’s most successful ever bowler, David Kingdon.

Current international and Wales indoor captain, the man from the Kidwelly club had previously struck Gold no fewer than six times (including last year) and was also able to boast a couple of silver successes for good measure.

Also with his eye focused on that rare double was home club favourite and two times Gold Cup winner Paul Diment, who achieved the feat back in 2007, when he also bagged the Silver for the first time, going on to collect that trophy on a second occasion some four years later.

Another still with ‘golden’ aspirations was the talented Lee Williamson, who plays most of his bowls in England these days (being last year‘s English singles champion), but has been back with his home Tenby club this season in their quest for a second Carruthers Shield success.

Lee was bidding for glory in the Gold for a fifth time, being a two times Silver Bowl winner as well.

Also seeking to bag his second Silver trophy, meanwhile, was another home club player and current Welsh international, John Roberts, who achieved his previous success some 10 years ago.

Perhaps the odd man out in the line-up was Saundersfoot’s Myrddin Dennis - without a trophy to his name, but neverthless enjoying a very successful tournament.

And it was he who was to provide probably the shock of the whole week, as he shattered Kingdon’s double hopes by ousting him from the Gold with an impressive 21-15 semi-final victory. Not many can claim to have done that!

Diment continued on his golden way, though, with a comprehensive victory over team-mate Williamson, getting his nose in front early on and never looking back as he romped home by a surprisingly large 15-shot margin.

His Silver semi-final against Matthew Partridge was a closer affair, but he eventually disposed of the man from Parc-y-Dre 21-17 to book his place in his second final.

But who would be his opponent? A battle royal was ensuing on rink two in front of the clubhouse as international colleagues Kingdon and Roberts went head to head in a titanic tussle.

Roberts struck early to establish a six-shot lead after four ends, but Kingdon fought back to get his nose in front 11-10 by the 11th end.

The pair peeled 15-15 after 17 ends and 17-17 after 19 ends, but a three on the next gave Kingdon a significant advantage with just a single shot needed for victory.

It looked as if he might not get it, though, as Roberts himself was holding three on the next and looked likely to draw a winning fourth, only for Kingdon to bravely fire and ditch the jack. With his opponent now lying game, Roberts had a chance to draw in to save it, but fell just short.

Afterwards, he remarked that he had never played so well and lost, such was the standard on display.

While all this exciting action was going on, the two finalists in the Five Arches Bowl (for players making an early exit from the two premier competitions) were also being decided.

Whitland’s Liam Price won his way through following a 21-20 nail-biter against Paul Bancroft, of Carmarthen, while young Jack Breen, of Gilfach Goch, accounted for the experienced Keith Evans, of Kidwelly, 21-15 in the other semi-final.

FIVE ARCHES BOWL FINAL

First final on the green was the Five Arches Bowl.

Although perhaps taking a back seat to the other two finals, it in no way turned out like that, the two young combattants producing a thriller for the lagre crowd of spectators surrounding the green.

Teenager Breen took the early iniatitive as he opened up a 10-0 lead after eight ends, with Price struggling to get a foothold on the board.

After that, though, he slowly began to claw his way back into it and after another eight ends had reduced the deficit to just two at 11-9.

It continued to be nip and tuck throughout as the game developed into a real marathon, Price finally getting his nose in front after 26 ends, only for Breen to dig deep and level it all up again at 20-20 after 30 ends.

And with both now needing just one shot for glory, it was Breen who was lying game on the final end, with a wood alongside the jack, only for the trophy to be snatched from his grasp as Price delivered an inch-perfect last bowl to push it out and seal a memorable victory - much to his own amazement!

With a dead end included, the match had lasted no fewer than 32 ends - believed to be the longest game of the whole tournament. Phew!

SILVER BOWL FINAL

Now faced with back-to-back finals, double-seeker Paul Diment elected to play the Silver first against his old adversary David Kingdon.

And it seemed to be a wise decision as he started the better, taking two singles to lead 2-0 and then stretching the gap to 5-1 after five ends and 9-4 after nine ends.

The Kidwelly man hit back with a double of his own to cut it to 9-6, before Diment seemed to take complete control, picking up counts of three and two 2s to establish a healthy 16-6 advantage.

The trophy seemed in sight as the Tenby man then played three great bowls, only for Kingdon, with one wood left, to produce a ‘world class’ shot to pinch the end with a single.

A three on the next reduced the deficit to 16-10 and then Kingdon had three more around the jack, only for Diment to play weight and spring it to make shot.

It meant Diment now only needed four for victory, but it was Kingdon who grasped the nettle, picking up a maximum four of his own, before adding a three on the next to level the match at 17-17.

After that, the end was not long in coming, as Kingdon’s fightback was complete with a single and a three sealing victory for the man in black and yellow, leaving Diment’s double dream in tatters.

GOLD CUP FINAL

After the disappointment of defeat in the Silver, the question everyone was now asking was could Diment pick himself up again for the Gold against Saundersfoot stalwart Myrddin Dennis.

The answer was not long in coming, for deciding to go straight back on the green without a rest, he was soon into his stride, picking up a two on the very first end.

Dennis responded with a single on the next, before Diment crept away again to open up a 5-1 lead after four.

The Saundersfoot man, playing in his first final, was continuing to produce some excellent bowls, though, and following a dead end, a three on the next saw him close the gap to just one at 5-4.

But, as it turned out, that was as good as it got for Dennis as Diment began to stamp his authority on the game, allowing his opponent to score on only three more ends as he continued to stretch away and finally laid claim to his third Gold Cup by a comfortable 21-8 margin.

• Following the finals, the presentations were made by club president, Peter Hooper, who also paid tribute to tournament organiser Lynne Delabertouche Rafferty and thanked all involved in the success of the week, including players, spectators, markers, greenkeepers, kitchen staff, bar staff and generous sponsors Molson Coors.

As well as the magnificent trophy, the winner of the Gold Cup also received a prize of £1,000, while the Silver Bowl winner received £500.

WHAT PAUL HAD TO SAY

Afterwards, Paul Diment told us: “Having done the ‘double’ before in 2007, and almost doing it again it 2011, I knew the experience and the knowledge that as long as you keep winning, the adrenaline stops fatigue setting in, I was happy to play the Silver Bowl first. The good thing when I played David was the weather slightly changed and went cloudy - after playing four games on the Thursday and then on the Friday, this was my third game, so the change in temperature did help as it was a very hot morning.

“I felt in total control and the three I was lying to go 19-6 up would, in my opinion, have been the end of the game bar the shouting. To be fair, though, David played a great shot that not many players would have been capable of - it was pure instinct. That seemed to ignite David and taking a three soon after, his body language changed and momentum of the game changed.

“Momentum in bowls is everything and I was disappointed with some of the half-hearted weighed shots I played. I was simply trying to be too perfect, rather than resort to my trusted full-out forehand drive shot.

“But David is unique and one of the very best singles players Wales has created. I must say that David is a very hard competitor, but is a true gentleman. You cannot tell too much from his manner whether he has won or lost as there are never any over-the-top celebrations. David commiserated with me and wished me well in my next match.

“I decided to play immediately as I didn’t want my old limbs to start seizing up. I started well with a two against Merv and I was trying to put the game away early, as I didn’t know how much physical or mental pressure I could endure after two days.

“I was under so much pressure due to the Silver Bowl loss. Merv had a few bad ends in respect of luck and I did seem to get a few more touches of fortune. Even when I built up a 16-7 lead, the experience of the Silver final made me more focused and I was so relieved at the end to get through the final hurdle.

“I don’t think for one minute that 21-8 was a true reflection of the game and Merv should be congratulated on not only the way he played, but his tournament. I have lost in five Gold Cup finals, so I can empathise with Merv, but he should look back on his achievement with a lot of pride, especially as he defeated the defending champion in the semi-final.”

Continuiing, Paul remarked: “For me, winning the double for a second time would have been incredible. But it just shows how hard it is, as only five people, since 1924, have achieved it.

“My ambition when I first started playing bowls was to win the Tenby Gold Cup. The reason was it was something my grandfather, Bobby, never won. I tried so hard to win it when he was alive and lost 21-20 in 1994 and 21-16 the following year and then 21-19 in 1999. He passed away in 2001 and I finally won it in 2004. That was my dream come true.

“To win it three times and to now beat the legends of the tournament, such as Crofton Johns, Alywn Adams, Gwyn Griffiths and JJ Nicholl, and to be joint third with my friend Simon Evans and only one behind my childhood friend Lee Williamson, is something which I am extremely proud of.

“What is special, though, is that after my first win in 2004, I had my picture taken with my daughters Ellie and Lucy. Then in 2007 the same picture with my daughters older when I won the Gold and Silver. I remember their grandmother lifting them onto the green and them running towards me in celebration. In 2011, when I won the Silver Bowl, William joined the family picture. I am so happy that now, in 2015, my son Joseff can join Ellie, Lucy and William in having his picture on the wall.

“One day, my children will visit the club with their children, my grandchildren, and be able to show them that they are very much a part of the history of this great club. That to me is what makes this tournament special - to be able to share it with your family and in particular your children.”