ALTON Bowling Club celebrated their annual President’s Day on Sunday.

The great English summer smiled on the 50 or so bowlers and guests who enjoyed a spoon drive competition and then a lavish hog roast provided by the president, Bernard Abate, supplemented by salads and desserts donated by club members.

The spoon drive, organised by Brian and Sheila Crow, was won by Terri Beech after a nail-biting shoot-out with David Sims. Terri’s first wood nestled close to the jack, never to be dislodged.

David Sims did not go home empty-handed as, with a little help, he won the ‘spider’, the proceeds of which go to Treloar’s.

A surprise visitor, 94-year-old past club member Reg Trickey, was made very welcome. Reg chatted and reminisced with members who had bowled with him before heading home with carer Anne Heath .

In external competitions, Paul Schofield, Ronnie Roberts, John Blair and David Sims beat Oakley to reach the final of the Basingstoke & District Fours. The final will be played at Howard Park BC on August 19/20.

Success too for Alton’s ladies in the North Hampshire Women’s BA Pairs, with Norma Craighill and Linda Habberfield clinching victory against Stella Hayden’s Old Basing pair. Their next game will be the semi-final at Hook BC on August 24.

Eric Smith’s campaign in the Whitchurch Novice Singles ended with defeat to Nicolle Rogers of Oakley, a junior international player.

Alton achieved wins in the Three Counties League, beating Rogate and Stedham, both by 5-0.

Things did not go so well in the other leagues, though. Both the Whitchurch League teams lost: Alton A to St Mary Bourne (½-4½) and Alton B to Old Basing (1-4). In the Stan Hardman League, Alton lost 2-5 to Medstead and went down to Old Basing. The Basingstoke & District League team lost to both Oakley and Kingsclere.