Greenhill bowler Dave Smith triumphed on his home rink in the men’s singles in the Weymouth & Portland Open Bowls Tournament.

Smith came up against young Alan Forrest from Fleming Park in Eastleigh in the final and initially his experience told as he stretched out into an 11-1 lead.

However, Forrest then overcame his nerves and began to stage a fight-back only for Smith’s big match temperament to come to the fore again as he went on to cap a 21-10 success.

The men’s triples final saw reigning champions and Dorchester trio Colin Ackerman, Peter Clarke and Eddie Young come up against Greenhill’s Dave Ralph, Lyme Regis’ Paul Pomeroy and Poole Park’s Chris Weekes.

It was a nip-and-tuck affair throughout until Ralph’s team inched ahead in the final stages to eventually win 20-15.

The men’s pairs materialised into a more one-sided affair with the Poole Park duo of Jim Garner and Weekes proving far too strong for the local pair of Ronnie Rutter and Howard King, who had defied the odds to reach the final.

This year’s Springfield Cup was also contested for in a pairs format with Wellworthy’s Joe Wahnon and Portland Borstal Officers’ Derek Wensley eventually taking the honours. They beat Melcombe Regis’ Jim Bridge and Wellworthy’s John Ives in the final 30-14.

The mixed pairs saw an all-Greenhill encounter with Martin Puckett and Kath Desmond overcoming the brave challenge of Kevin Hodder and Linda Bryson, who stepped in for ladies pairs finalist Bridget Hodder. Puckett and Desmond eventually claimed the title with a 22-10 victory.

Bridget Hodder also had to settle for runners-up spot, alongside her Greenhill colleague Anne Chislett, following an enthralling final against the Dorchester duo of Carol Baker and Pat Gore.

Bridget Hodder and Chislett won the ladies’ pairs title in 2009 and they looked on course to retaining their crown on the final end until Gore produced a fantastic saving wood to reduce the count to one shot and hand her team the match, 25-24.

There was also success for Poole Park’s David Stiggants in the under-18 final, after he came out on top 21-12, following an absorbing contest against Wellworthy’s Liam Rock.

The 51st finals day received great backing from a healthy crowd, which in the afternoon included deputy mayor Graham Winter and his wife Mary, who showed more than a passing interest in having a go at the game themselves.

A tournament organiser said: “We would like to thank all the sponsors, which included Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, the Crown Hotel, Co-operative Funeral Care, F Simmonds & Sons, The Dorset Bowls Resort and the florist P & M Read.”