St. John’s, Fivemiletown held their very popular Annual Triples competition over three nights of play plus a final night.

The number of triples taking part was 72 an increase of ten triples on last year.

On the finals night eight triples returned with P Wilson, St. Michael’s beating A Wray, Trory 11 – 8; R Stubbs, Christchurch beating K Moffitt 9 – 3; N Rutledge, Sixmilecross beating I McElroy, Aghavea 9 – 11 and F McGready, Eglish beating R Wallace, Aughntober 8 – 7 in the preliminary rounds.

In the semi-final R. Stubbs’ triple played P Wilson’s triple and after three ends played, the game was all level at three shots each. In the fourth and fifth end, each triple picked up one shot each to level the game again. But in the final three ends the Stubbs triple secured seven shots to run out clear winners by 11 – 4.

In the other semi final taking place between F McGready triple and N Rutledge triple, N Rutledge was leading by three shots to nil after two ends played and in the third end F McGready secured four shots to take the lead.

In the fourth end, N Rutledge picked up one shot to level the game, in the following two ends N Rutledge secured five shots to lead the game at 9 – 4 and in the seventh end, F McGready picked up a single shot leaving them going into the final end four shots down only to lose another shot leaving the overall scoreline in N Rutledge’s favour, 10 – 5.

The final was played over nine ends with Basil Stubbs leading, Gordon Stubbs second Ronnie Stubbs skip playing James Rutledge lead, Marcus Rutledge second and Norman Rutledge skip.

After three ends played there was little to separate the two triples with each sitting on two shots each. In the fourth end, R Stubbs picked up a single shot and in the fifth end there was a no score while after the sixth end played, the Stubbs’ picked up another single shot leaving the scoreline at four shots to two in favour of the Christchurch Triples.

In the following two ends, the Rutledge triple gained a single shot in each end to level the game at four shots each going into the final end. After the final bowls had been played in the last end, Ronnie along with his brother Gordon and father Basil secured two shots to claim the St. John’s title, 6 – 4.

At the conclusion of the night, Sandy Atwell thanked all the bowlers for their support and the St. John’s club members for their help including the umpire Ernie Clarke. He then called upon Mrs Edith Robertson to present all finalists with their prizes.