I’m not sure who started this heatwave rumour (Alexa?!) but 12-13 C doesn’t seem that warm up here in Leamington.  How is it in London?  Kevin & Lucy play Ange & Dave at 6.00 pm at Masonians tonight in the Middlesex Mixed Pairs.  Good luck to both pairs.

Some good matches in the Under 25 Boys’ Singles yesterday.  Ollie lost 18-21 after a good comeback fight.  Being 12 years old isn’t easy when you’re facing young men twice your size and age!  He is a very competent bowler indeed for his age and should do really well in the coming years, although needs a bit of assistance with etiquette and focusing on the match in hand, rather than worrying about those on the bank.  It’s still an emotional journey for someone so young.

The Junior Girls Pairs semis and final showed the skill and expertise of these youngsters who will be keeping bowls alive into the future.  Chloe & Becky from Huntingdonshire dispatched their Surrey opponents with ease and Devon’s Emma Cooper & Nicole Rogers took out Kent comfortably after a slow start.  All set for a great line up in the final.  Unfortunately the Devon pair struggled with the different green and made a very good middle game but not enough to stop Huntingdonshire claiming the title.

Today, there is a lot more interest for Middlesex as Tina Cooper (Bishop Duppas/CP), Isobel Morton (Bishop Duppas), Ashley Tanner (Ashford) and Kevin Ward (Holtwhites) all start in the Two Bowl Singles.  Tough games in store for all of them.  Tina has a bye in the first round and then comes up against one of two Senior Internationals for her first game.  However, bowls is all on the day and we have seem former champions going out in the first round.  Everyone has as good a chance as their opponent at winning.

In the afternoon Hannah Hollis (Bush Hill Park) starts her Champion of Champions event against Loraine Kuhler from Oxon – another senior international with a Commonwealth medal under her belt.  So, now it is Hannah’s time to shine we think!

Good luck to all of them.  There are quite a few of the Middlesex supporters up here today backing every one of our players.

With the lower-than-forecasted/anticipated temperatures, Bowlswear Direct and the Aceit shops are doing very well on hoodies, fleeces and jackets!