Tournament bowled out for first time in 50 years

The event was to be held from July 25-30 and this would have been the 49th competition.

The organising committee met last Monday morning and decided to cancel because of lack of support this year.

There were simply not enough entries to make it worthwhile.

Secretary of the Bexhill Ladies Open Tournament, Carol Sutton, said: “We are very disappointed.

“We can’t say anything about next year, but we have’t got enough entries this time.

“It would have been our 50th year next year because this would have been our 49th competition.

“We made a decision and we are all very sad of course. It was not done lightly.

“But there is just no way that we can do the administration, such as getting the programme printed and everything.”

She said the club hoped more competitors would enter next year but said even if they came forward now it was too late to save the tournament.

She could not explain why this had happened because new members join the bowling community in Bexhill all the time, but few of them to want to compete.

She thought cost might be a factor with entrants who travelled into Bexhill and stayed the week and that petrol prices might be a concern.

Carol added: “We are not really sure if that is the reason.

“We can’t really say any more - it is just a disappointment. It was very reluctantly decided.”

Any enquiries should be made to entries secretary Sue Weekley on 01424 220843.

PICTURED: Ladies bowling at last year’s competition