Players at a Wiltshire lawn bowls club have returned to the greens after two years, with the support of Swindon motor dealer Pebley Beach.
While Wroughton Bowls Club continued social games in the latter stages of the pandemic, Saturday April 16 marked a welcome return to league and competitive matches.
The enforced break was said to have given the club a chance to re-level its six-rink green, and order new team shirts, emblazoned with the Pebley Beach, and club logos.
Harry Threlfall, son of Pebley Beach managing director Dom, and showroom sales manager Emerson Phipps, were invited to bowl the first woods of the season.
The relationship between motor dealer and bowls club goes back to 2007, with this year making the 15th of Pebley Beach sponsorship.
The club was also founded in 1982 - the same year that the family opened its first car dealership in Wroughton.
Pebley Beach has since moved to a larger showroom in Swindon, where it holds the franchise for Hyundai and Suzuki cars, but the association is said to remain as strong as ever.
A spokesperson for the business said: "Not only does the firm’s sponsorship help upkeep the immaculate six rink bowling green, but the 100-plus members of the bowls club receive discounts on MoTs and repairs."
Harry Threlfall said: “Many of the members of Wroughton bowls club are very loyal customers of ours, and we’re proud to be associated with the club for a 15th year.”
Pebley Beach also sponsors the bowls clubs in Cricklade, and in Cirencester where the firm has a Suzuki showroom.
Wroughton Bowls Club welcomes players of all abilities and hosts matches from social to county competition level. It also has a Youth Academy. Games are played most days and evenings throughout the summer months.
Peter Harding, club secretary, said: "It was great to welcome back so many of our members who, following the pandemic, now feel confident enough to return. We have welcomed quite a few new members – both social members and full members – and the club is in good health.
"The pandemic gave us the chance to make repairs to the green and to order new shirts. This would not have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors and it is so important to the club – a good green will attract new members."
There will be a chance to budding bowls players aged 7 years and upwards to try their hand at the sport during the annual Wroughton Duck Race on Bank Holiday Monday, 2 May.
Taster sessions will be held between 11am - 4pm and refreshments will be available throughout the day.
For more information, visit http://wroughtonbc.clubbuzz.co.uk
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