JERSEY bowlers are currently in second position in the team event in the European Championships taking place in Paphos, Cyprus.

A total of 16 teams are competing in the Championship with Jersey currently on 78 points, two ahead of third-placed Guernsey and eight behind leaders Scotland.

Each team consists of four bowlers, two men and two women, who all play a series of singles and mixed pairs matches over six days. Matches consist of two sets, each of either seven or nine ends and sets won or drawn earn points for the team.

Play yesterday finished under floodlights as a result of torrential rain, gale force winds and hail stones.

Malcolm De Sousa and Eileen Vowden had an excellent 7-5, 11-2 win against Scotland’s Lynne Stein and Jim Gilruth. De Sousa also took a set off Gilruth in the singles on Sunday while yesterday he defeated his Netherlands opponent in two sets.

Jersey’s Gaynor Thomas and Cyril Renouf are also performing admirably with a comfortable mixed pairs win against Germany and a draw against Spain. In the singles, Thomas beat Ireland’s Ina Culligan 12-3, 12-5 while Renouf beat Portugal’s Amadeu da Rocha 8-6, 13-6.

Jersey’s Chris Grimes, who has played in the last three Europeans for Jersey and has been selected to represent the European Union in the Championship this year, is currently fifth overall in the women’s singles.
Yesterday Grimes won her singles 7-6, 10-3 against Portugal’s Janeth da Rocha while in the mixed pairs Grimes and England’s Ken Drury featured in drawn matches against both Ireland and Spain.

• Picture: Malcolm de Sousa, Cyril Renouf, Gaynor Thomas and Eileen Vowden