The new Great Yarmouth Open Triples outdoor bowls tournament will take place at Britannia Bowling Greens on Saturday, July 26 to Sunday, July 27, 2014.

Organised by Great Yarmouth Borough Council, this new tournament will further cement the borough’s status as the ‘UK Capital of Bowls’. Great Yarmouth already stages the Astro Communications Cups in June, and the Great Yarmouth Festival of Bowls, from August to September – the largest outdoor bowls event in the country. And just down the road at Hopton-on-Sea, Potters Leisure Resort hosts The World Indoor Bowls Championships every January.

The triples tournament, managed by bowls stalwart, Derek Webster (79), came about in response to demand from bowls clubs across the country. It is hoped that 48 teams will enter this new competition and enjoy a weekend in Great Yarmouth, which is a top 10 UK seaside resort.

The deadline for entering the competition is June 25 2014.

The tournament is played by teams of three on a ‘round robin’ basis, rather than a knock-out. Every team is guaranteed at least three games on the Saturday, with the quarter finals, semi finals and finals played on the Sunday.

The prize money is £1,200, with £200 to each winner, £100 to each runner-up, and £50 each to the losing semi-finalists. The trophies for the winner and runner up are sponsored by the Princes Tea Rooms and the Beach Terrace Tea Rooms.

Entry forms are available from Derek Webster t. 01493 603976 or m. 07747 412307, or from Great Yarmouth Tourist Information Centre t. 01493 846346, www.great-yarmouth.co.uk. Entry costs £15 per team and the deadline is June 25.

Derek Webster, who is also tournament manager for the Festival of Bowls, said: “The Great Yarmouth Open Triples Tournament further solidifies Great Yarmouth’s position as the ‘UK Capital of Bowls’, fitting nicely between the Astro Communications Cups and the Great Yarmouth Festival of Bowls, to create a summer of bowls.”

“In the last few weeks, 20 teams have signed up to compete, which is an amazing response. And if it does take off – and I’m pretty confident it’s going to – that will be another feather in Great Yarmouth’s cap, bringing in scores of visitors who will collectively plough thousands of pounds into the local economy during their stay.”

The Great Yarmouth Festival of Bowls, the largest outdoors bowls event in the country, takes place at the Britannia Bowling Greens, from Sunday, August 24 to Friday, September 19. More than 1,800 participants compete in men’s, ladies’ and mixed teams for singles, pairs and triples titles. The entry form can be downloaded via http://www.great-yarmouth.co.uk/whats-on/festival-of-bowls.aspx. The deadline is June 2.

The Astro Communications Cups, sponsored by Astro Communications Ltd, takes place at the Britannia Bowling Greens on Sunday, June 22. There are open singles competitions for under 25s and under 15s, with prize money totaling £1,000. Entry costs £5 per player and the deadline is May 31. Forms are available from Derek Webster.