THE outdoor bowling season will be declared open at Headwell on Saturday after the club rounded off the indoor campaign in style.

The opening of the green at the Shamrock Street club marks the start of outdoor bowling but, indoors, they enjoyed success in the Headwell Team Championship competition for the first time in 12 years earlier this month.

Eight teams - each comprising of one ladies rink, one senior gents rink, one mixed rink and one gents rink - took part in the event, which began in early January.

Perth Indoor Bowling Club saw off borders team Teviotdale to progress to the semi-finals against an East Fife team that had won by two rinks to one over Abbeyview, with the final game being tied at 20 shots apiece.

The lower half of the draw paired the hosts against Falkirk Indoor Bowling Club and, in a tough match, the ladies rink got them off to an excellent start with a 24-18 win.

Although the senior gents were defeated, the mixed and gents rinks enjoyed victories by three and four shots respectively to see Headwell through to play West Lothian, who overcame East Lothian 72-71 after both sides secured two wins.

The first semi-final was played on March 11 between Perth and East Fife, and it was the former that claimed a place in the final with a three rinks to once success.

In the second last-four contest, Headwell's ladies and mixed rinks finished just in front of their West Lothian opponents, but the gents rink went down by seven shots.

The senior gents, however, came to the rescue by picking up seven shots on the final end to secure a drawn game and allow Headwell to take their place in the final, which was played on Sunday April 8.

In a closely-fought contest that swung back and forward throughout, both sides finished with two winning rinks and, with the result hinging on the overall shots score, it ended 84-72 in Headwell's favour to ensure victory in their home competition for the first time since 2006.

The winning Headwell team were represented by Sadie Philp, Eleanor Kennedy, Evelyn Stewart and Kaye Cullinan in the ladies rink; Gavin Lock, Brian Kinnell, Brian Scott and Graham Martin in the gents rink; Robert McLaughlan, Alfie Falconer, Donald Waite and Joe Marshall in the senior gents rink; and Pamela Mitchell, Claire Ewing, Stewart Cook and Ross Kinnell in the mixed rink.

Headwell's outdoor season begins with the opening of the green, which takes place at 1pm tomorrow.

Anyone interested in joining the club for the new season, or wishing to come along and give bowls a try, will be made more than welcome.

The club can be contacted on 01383 724425 for more information.