Pavilion to host first outdoor Planetbowls event

After the prestigious event took place for the last time in Worthing in 2013, Worthing Pavilion Bowling Club members have been working to find a replacement bowls competition for the town.

As a result, over the three-day May bank holiday weekend, the Pavilion Road club have been selected to host an open tournament based on the growingly-popular Planetbowls format.

Bowlers will be able to compete in Pavilion’s Jack of Clubs competition – which will be the very first outdoor Planetbowls event.

There will be a bumper prize pot of more than £3,000 on offer, with the overall winner pocketing £1,500.

Planetbowls is a new concept, originally for indoor bowls and attracts some of the top bowlers in the UK.

A host of open singles events take place throughout the bowling calendar at participating clubs and results contribute to a rankings list.

All are played to standard rules and conditions, operating as a straight knockout with an open draw and best of two sets.

At the end of each season the top-ranked players on the rankings list qualify for the grand prix events, which are streamed live on the internet for bowls fans all over the world.

Pavilion chairman Malcolm Gilbey said: “Worthing Pavilion Bowing Club has some of the best greens in England, which are looked after by their over 30-year serving full-time professional greenkeeper Vince Ruttledge, which is why Pavilion was chosen for the first outside venue.

“The directors of Worthing Pavilion Bowling Club are very pleased that their venue has been chosen for this most prestigious competition.”

The event is organised by Jack of Clubs Insurance, which is the trading name of Warwick Davis Insurance Consultants.

Entry costs £20 and forms can be downloaded off the Planetbowls website at www.planetbowls.com/worthing_outdoors.html or Pavilion’s website at www.wpavilionbc.org

Spectators are welcome and entry is free.