Short mat bowlers from across Pembrokeshire recently gathered for a competition.

On Saturday, November 16, the South Pembs Short Mat Bowls Association held its annual Handicap Fours competition at the Community Hall adjoining St Johns Church in Pembroke Dock.

The competition was designed to encourage participation from all clubs by levelling the playing field through a handicap system.

Clubs were awarded extra shots per game based on their final league position from the previous year.

East Williamston, the league winners, received no additional shots, while Kilgetty, the lowest club still competing in the league, was granted the maximum five shots.

This system forced lower handicap teams to score as many shots as possible to win, promoting a more aggressive scoring strategy.

Games were restricted to five ends due to the use of only two mats at the venue, further complicating the task of winning a game.

The teams were divided into two groups, with the winners of each group playing a final match to determine the overall champion.

Kilgetty dominated the first group, winning every match.

In the other group, all teams were even after four games, and the winner had to be decided by shot difference, resulting in Cosheston, the second highest handicapped team, being declared group winners.

This set the stage for an exciting final, which Kilgetty eventually won.

St Johns SMBC, who initiated the competition some years ago, presented the trophies.

Members of both the winning and runner-up teams received decorated mugs as keepsake trophies.