Sunny blue skies ensured optimum conditions for the Tamworth City Open Triples, played on Saturday and Sunday.

The popular event drew players from near and far, with shirts displaying the clubs of Coffs Harbour’s Park Beach, Edgeworth Eagles, Manilla, South and West Tamworth, Kootingal and Goodooga evidence of that.

This year’s event held special meaning, named in honour of the late John Gleeson, who passed away in October 2016.

Gleeson, a life member of Tamworth City Bowling Club, is best remembered as the former Australian leg-spinner, who played 29 Tests and took 93 wickets from 1967-1972.

He won City’s club championship just three years after he first joined in 1980 and made a telling contribution across all walks of life throughout this region.

A total of 22 teams took to the greens, located on the corner of Brisbane and Napier streets for the two-day carnival.

Six matches were played, three each day, with the top prize going right down to the wire.

On one of the far rinks, tournament director Rob Key was summoned from his vantage point in the clubhouse onto the green.

He was required to establish just who had got shot on a very close end.

From the layman’s point of view, it appeared there was no margin as opposition bowls rested near the kitty, but Key unlocked the result.

Unlike some officials, who carry around little tape measures, Key had something a bit different in his back pocket.

“A feeler gauge mate,” Key said.

Having sorted that issue out, he returned inside to help tally up the score from across the two greens.

Some early finishers were enjoying a cold ale and reflecting upon their struggles across the two days.

One, a cheerful character laughed as he took the last sip of his beer, shook hands with everyone and headed home, planning to catch up with his niece, visiting from out of town.

As the shadows lengthened as the afternoon ticked away, the intensity rose as three realistic contenders for the title emerged.

The team skipped by Phillip Goodwin from Denman went into the final match with a narrow lead of one, but saved its worst showing for last and dropped out of contention.

The beneficiaries, a triumvirate headed by South’s Kim Greentree.

Greentree was sitting second behind Goodwin and scored 20 in their last match to finish on 98 points.

Sitting waiting, anticipating that result was Kootingal’s Zac Curtis, who had been the clubhouse leader on 92 points.

Completing a top day was the presence of sandwiches and platters for the hungry players.

And just as it was time to go, a City member yelled out – ‘make sure you tell them we’re open six days a week for bowls, anybody is welcome, doesn’t matter what age they are.’

Too right.