APPLEBY Bowling Club hosted a competition to win a holiday and entry to the Vilamoura Autumn Bowling Festival in Portugal, worth £2,000.

And the sponsor of the event, owner of the Vilamoura Lawn Bowling Club and president of both the European Bowls Union and the Portuguese Bowling Federation, Amadeu Gil da Rocha, flew to England to present the winners with their prize.

Members of the Appleby club have been attending the festival in Portugal for eight years, and this year 43 players will travel from Cumbria to compete against some of the best players in Europe.

Amadeu, who flew in to England for the one-day event in Appleby with his wife and fellow lawn bowls player Janeth, said: “We have sponsored the Vilamoura Cup at Appleby for eight years and welcomed so many players from Appleby over the years we have always intended to come for the event itself and this year, just three days before the competition, we decided to book a flight and come over.

“Appleby Bowling Club is very beautiful and it has been a wonderful visit and a pleasure to present the winners with the two holidays.”

Winners were Appleby pair Brian Dixon, who organises the competition and trip, and Mike Sisson, who defeated Peter and Rosina Stephenson, from Carlisle, in a play-off.

A raffle held at the competition raised £83 for the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

BELOW: Brian Dixon and Mike Sisson (centre) with the Vilamoura Cup and sponsors, Amadeu and Janeth Gil da Rocha.