It has been a busy time for bowls club as the season strides into top gear.

Potters Bar began the year with friendly matches before making a start of the competitive side of the sport.

More than 60 members played in the first spoon drive of the season where the winning rink was Dave Reddington, Jill Nowell, Jim Shine and Ken Huntley.

The club also held their Dearman Cup competition with last year's captain, Mick Brennan, taking the honours ahead of runners-up Marion Powell and Ann Harrison.

The annual Nethercott Cup competition between Bar, Harperbury and North Mymms was held at The Walk and saw Mymms takes the prize ahead of the hosts.

Bar's participation in national competitions has begun too with David Salmon and Steve Jewell advancing in the senior pairs with a 18-9 win over Mill End.

The county fours team of Colin Malone, Chris Gregory, Dave Sparrow and Paul Stevens beat Batchwood BC 18-10 while there was 21-9 success for Pam Rodgers, Diane Jewell and Sue Powers in the ladies' county triples against North Mymms.

Potters Bar's first open morning also took place and attracted 19 wishing to try bowls for the first time.

They were welcomed by the club’s coaching team who took the visitors through their paces, with many keen to return for further coaching.

Shire Park are preparing themselves for their open weekend, running from Saturday, May 27, to Monday, May 29.

There too potential new members will be welcomed as well as offered half-price membership for the first year.

On the green, it was a mixed week for the Tewin-based club.

Mike Howe's team of four lost fought back from 10-0 down after three ends against Welwyn & District in the East Herts fours, eventually running out of ends before the comeback was complete, losing 18-16.

Howe also led a trio that were beaten by Potters Bar in the county triples but there was better news in another East Herts game as they won 25-19 away to the Bar and on both rinks, the best of them a 13-9 success for Bill Griffith, Ian Kirsch and Gus Edwards.

Park then beat Welwyn & District 38-21 for another six points, top honours this time going to Barry Wright, Bill Draycott and John Hastings.

In the Welwyn Hatfield League, Shire Park Greens picked up their first points away to Sele Farm, thanks to a winning rink for Mike Bridgeman, Byron Sinfield and Bernie Kleiser.

However they lost 31-27 overall.

Datchworth’s first match in the Welwyn Hatfield League this season ended in a 38-28 loss at Parkside Woods.

They did, however, pick up two points thanks to an 18-10 rink win for Nicki Berry, Ian Green and Terry Metcalf.

Another defeat followed in the WHBL John Brown Trophy, losing 33-30 to Welwyn Woods.

The home triple of Barbara Williams, Metcalf and Jim Smith held and lost the lead a number of times.

They led 14-13 after 16 ends but four shots lost on the penultimate end proved crucial and they finally went down 17-15.

The triple at Welwyn, Janet Akers, Richard Harper and Steve Chamberlain, led 4-0 after three ends, but lost the next five to trail 12-4.

They were two shots down going into the final end but could manage to win one, losing 16-15.