LOCAL clubs supplied more than half of the members on the Wiltshire men’s annual Past President’s tour.

Under the stewardship of past men’s county presidents Barry Wheeler (Swindon) and John Wilks (Wootton Bassett), a total of four games were played over a long weekend in Worcestershire, with the touring party winning one match and narrowly losing two others.

Of the 29 players that headed to the Midlands, seven came from Swindon, four from Wootton Bassett, Rodbourne Cheney supplied three players, with a member from Supermarine and Westlecot also making the trip.

The touring party consisted of six ex-Wiltshire men’s presidents, a Bowls England director, several county officials, including 2016 men’s county president Peter Sanders, and other players from around the county with 15 Wiltshire clubs represented.

The opening day saw Wiltshire Tourists face Worcester club St Dunstan but lost by 14 shots going down 124-110 and only took the honours on two rinks - those skipped by Dave Royle (15 shots) and Cliff Gumm (one shot).

On day two, despite leading 96-92 at 18 ends across the board, the tourists fell away and lost 119-101 to the Worcestershire Bowling Association at Barbourne, only winning on two rinks.

Dave Royle’s foursome hung on for a three-shot win, while Cliff Gumm edged home again by one shot.

On the Sunday, Wiltshire blew a 111-89 lead at 18 ends and went down by four shots in a 123-119 defeat to Stourport.

Despite the closeness of the final score, Ian Francis was the only winning skip with a 30-11 success. However, the rink of John Snell, Brian Raymond, Harry Langley and skip Dan Harvey (R Cheney) had the distinction of recording a rare hotshot (maximum count of eight) on the 14th end but eventually lost 28-27.

The winning formula was finally unearthed by the Wiltshire tourists on day four on the way home at Faringdon where the Moonrakers won by 35 shots, registering a comprehensive 133-98 victory.

The Moonrakers took the honours against Faringdon on five of the six rinks and only lost on one of them.

The rink of John Snell, Mike Tuohy, Roger Green and Dave Royle (skip) produced the best score of 31-14 but Royle’s Rodbourne Cheney team-mate Steve Rose skipped the only losing rink.

Next year Wiltshire men’s annual UK tour will be a county president’s tour to North Devon and based in Barnstaple under the stewardship of president-elect Peter Sanders.