Young skittler Dan emulates the feat of his father (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Young skittler Dan emulates the feat of his father

PETER Castle was a member of the Wells Fargo team when he won the Malmesbury and District Skittle League U21s Cup in the 1979/80 season.

And on Monday evening of last week Peter, who now plays for Starlites, was present on the Bowl Club's alley to see his son Dan, also of Starlites, complete a unique family double.

And Dan, who competed in this season's U21 cup final at just 17 years of age, had scores of 8-9-8-8-7-8, and the 48 pins he amassed proved enough for him to be crowned this season's U21 champion.

Dan finished his successful evening one pin ahead of Tom Allen, of Bowls Club B, who was left to reflect on what might have been.

For on his fifth roll-down, Tom won himself a spare but then, to his utter dismay, saw his spare ball pass all the pins without hitting down any of them.

On Tuesday evening, the final of the Senior Citizens' Cup took place on the Red Bull alley.

From a field of 25 entrants, Peter Clarke, of Somerford Show, emerged as the winner with 51 pins.

Peter started his evening with just four pins, but then went on to hit scores of 15-7-6-11-8 to finish four pins ahead of Ron Pavey (Pic and Mix).

Ron, who had scores of 11-6-6-7-9-8, had to bowl off with Gill Bristow (Brassmonkeys) before he could claim the runners-up spot.

In the bowl-off, Ron hit down eight pins to Gill's six.

What's in a name? Nothing according to Steve Hull, captain of Rock Bottom.

But in the final of the Captain's Cup competition, held on the Volunteer alley on Thursday evening, Steve finished 'Top of the Lot'.

Steve had scores of 8-6-9-7-9-9 to total 48 pins, the same total as Dave Rymell, of Oaksey Throwers, whose 48 pins was also amassed without the aid of a spare.

In the following bowl-off, Dave hit down six pins, but Steve made sure of being crowned champion by hitting down eight.

Badminton B took another step towards the triple by winning the Knockout Cup on Wednesday evening.

Because they were to meet their alley rivals Cubs in the final, the game was transferred to the Badminton Club alley.

Here, Badminton B were given a good start by Michael Bird, David Salt and Brian Spruels, who all hit down 47 pins, giving their team a first leg lead of 19 pins.

This lead was increased to 23 pins at the end of the second leg and, although Brian Mould hit down 50 pins for Cubs in the third leg, Badminton B held on to win the trophy by a 21-pin margin.

On Friday evening, pairs from Matadors, Rebels, Sure Losers, Wells Fargo, Cabbage Patch, Crown, Fruit N Nuts and Somerford Shower qualified for the final of the pairs competition which is being held on the Football Club alley this Friday.

Latest results are as follows:

50 Club: Stuart Pell (Wells Fargo) 62, P Clarke (Somerford Show) 51, M Heal (Cabbage Patch) 51, M Stoneham (Volunteer) 51, B Mould (Cubs) 50.

200 Club: £10 Rosehips Skittle Team; £5 J Greenhill, Little Somerford. Finals results: U21 Cup: winner D Castle (Starlites) 48; runner-up T Allen (Bowls Club B) 47.

Senior Citizens' Cup: winner P Clarke (Somerford Show) 51; r-up R Pavey (Pic and Mix) 47.

Captains' Cup: winner S Hull (Rock Bottom) 48 - bowl-off 8; r-up D Rymell (Oaksey Throwers) 48 - bowl off 6.

Knockout Cup: Cubs 367, Badminton B 388.