RINKS of lady and gents bowlers from the within the Gareloch area, and beyond gathered at Helensburgh Bowling Club to play in the ever popular Open Mixed Rink Competition on Sunday, September 20.

Sixteen rinks of players from as far away as Ardrishaig assembled for the competition which is sponsored by James Auld Funeral Directors.

After the section games which were played over six ends, the following rinks qualified to play each other in the semi-finals with the results as shown: In the yellow section: Alex Moffat, Liz Fraser, Liz Smith and Joe Cameron from Helensburgh qualified to face the runners-up from the purple section Jackie Proctor, Liam Sharpe, Margaret Weir and George McMartin from Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Clubs in the semi-final.

The Helensburgh rink were really up for this game but started by losing the first end by one shot and then scoring nine shots in four ends to win the game by nine shots to one.

In the orange section: Valerie Turner, Kathryn Fotheringham, Billy Niven and Jim Murray from Helensburgh/Colgrain Clubs qualified to meet the purple section winners Margaret Hogg, Jill Dacombe, Allan Howie and Ian Robb from Helensburgh/Argyle clubs in the other semi-final and managed to get the better of the Jim Murray rink to reach the final.

The final was very close and after the regulation six ends the game was tied at three shots all which forced the game into an extra end. In the extra end it was nip and tuck all the way before the Ian Robb rink won by the smallest of margins, one shot, to claim the trophy for 2015.