A bright and sunny day saw the Monmouth bowlers meet on Friday 17th September for their annual bowls tour to Barnstaple, North Devon.

After crossing the River Severn at low tide, the group travelled across the plains of Somerset and into the foothills of Devon and then down the coast road to Barnstaple.

With the body and soul refreshed after a light lunch, members booked into their hotel and then proceeded to their first match against United Services, Barnstaple BC and were beaten 93 to 113 shots.

The evening was spent planning the next day's game and the mistakes that they had made, but the opinion of the members was that the loss could be put down to the hours of travelling and lack of fluids during the day.