Pembrokeshire County Bowling Association is celebrating one of the top achievements in its history

Pembrokeshire County Bowling Association is celebrating one of the top achievements in its history.

The county team has won one of Wales’ most coveted team titles.

The team bridged a 70-year gap of successes in the Welsh Lawn Bowls’ county championship when they lifted the Alec Crate Shield for the first time since 1954 and only the second in history during the WLB’s national finals at Llandrindod Wells BC.

The side dedicated their win to team manager Andrew Muskett and his son Adam who tragically lost his life with his girlfriend in a road tragedy earlier this summer.

For one of the team members, Paul Diment, the win was extra special for his grandfather, the late Bobby Diment, a past president and life member of Tenby BC, was a member of the first victorious side.

After accounting for Carmarthenshire and Mid Wales in the group games, Pembrokeshire earned a place in the semi-final where they beat holders Monmouthshire, winners on 24 previous occasions, by four shots, with another dramatic finish in the final when it went down to the last bowl against Vale of Glamorgan and a one-shot victory, 118-117.

Rink scores for the final (Pembs names first, Vale skips only): Rhys Day, Ben Simmons, Peter Day, Paul Diment 28 M Harding 14; David Davies, Myrddin Dennis, Joe Dennis, Berwyn Dennis 23 M Clarke-Squires 16; Keith Thorpe, Paul Griffiths, Keran Peregrine, Chris Court 17 M Prosser 27; Huw Williams, Steve Reese, Dion Peregrine, John Roberts 14 A Western 21; Ashley Hooper, Jon Webb, Andrew Muskett, Ryan Thomas 19 G Thomas 20; Cameron White, Peter Morgan, Mike Jackson, David Kingdon 17 C Bayliss 19.

The shield was presented by the WLB president who this year just happens to be Arwel Edwards, of Pendine BC, a former PCBA president and current treasurer.

There was double success for Pembrokeshire at the national finals with Tenby’s BC members Mike Jackson and John Roberts winning the men’s pairs championship for the first time which will see them represent Wales in the British Bowls Championships being hosted by Wales at Llandrindod Wells BC next June.

After winning the county title, the pair chalked up successes against Penygraig, Ely Valley, Havelock Park and RTB Ebbw Vale in the final to bring the winner’s shield back to Tenby BC for the third time following Pat Currie and Paul Diment in 2002 and Ryan Thomas and Paul Diment in 2018.