A husband and wife Llanbradach bowls team won the mixed-pairs event at the Weston-super-Mare Men’s Open Bowls Tournament last week.
Bowlers Phil and Mary Brown had never heard of the tournament until Mr Brown visited the host club Clarence with tourists Penyrheol in May.
Mr Brown, who went out in the third round of the men’s singles, and his wife, who are both skips for Llanbradach, came through two very close matches to reach the mixed semi-finals.
In their semi, they were convincing winners against the 2013 champions Don Towie (Clarence) and Carol Webb (Wessex Ladies), by 27-18.
Their final opponent were another pair of former winners, Mike Ricketts (Ledbury) and Chris Peart (Wessex Ladies). The Browns led 19-5 after 13 of the 21 ends and looked certain winners.
However, Peart and Ricketts shortened the jack and mounted a comeback which left them just three behind with one end left. On that last end, Mary Brown put three woods near the jack for three shots, while Peart had three behind.
With Phil Brown unable to get any of his woods far enough through to get among his opponents’ bowls, Ricketts had four attempts at trailing the jack sufficiently to give his team victory.
All four missed and the Browns were winners in a tense finish.
Afterwards, Mr Brown said: “I was worried about knocking one of their woods up or trailing the jack myself.
“The change of length certainly threw us a bit, but Mary played very well and we just made it.”