THE WADDINGTON Village Club Floodlit Bowls competition is up and running with the first three pairs booking their place in the grand final of the long-running event.

The competition, a permanent fixture in the local bowls calendar, got under way last Tuesday – the first of eight qualifying rounds to be held over three weeks.

Finals night takes place at the Ribble Valley club were pairs will be battling it out for the £250 first place prize fund.

Michael Beardmore and Stuart Gall were the first to book their place on finals night when they beat Alan Gregory and Jack Lord in the first qualifying evening under the floodlights.

Peter Harrison and Phil Wilkinson joined them after their victory over Mick Burns and Craig Rammell in the second qualifier on the Wednesday night.

And Peter O’Mera and John Larder completed the first week of qualifiers after they beat Dave Pilkington and Joe Ellison on another busy evening of bowls.

The remaining five qualifiers begin this evening when holders, the talented young duo, Dean Butler and Daniel Parkinson, kick off their defence of the title they won in such impressive fashion last season.

There are also qualifying rounds tomorrow and Thursday and next Tuesday and Wednesday before the grand final takes place on Thursday, September 18.

The competition is run by Bill and Wendy Rome who, thanks to their hard work, have made it one of the most popular tournaments.

“We used to struggle for numbers but now we have a waiting list,” said Wendy. “We have worked very hard and now we have entries from as far as Preston, Southport, Bury and Bolton and of course plenty of local bowlers as well.”

The competition is sponsored by Adrian Hurst from Kopparberg Cider and also Castle Cement.

As well as the £250 first place prize fund, there is £120 for the runners-up, £80 for losing semi finalists and £40 for losing quarter finalists.