THE history of lawn bowls in Bungay has been pushed back a further 23 years by Bungay club president Frank Honeywood thanks to his research in the Kelly's Directory of 1875.

THE history of lawn bowls in Bungay has been pushed back a further 23 years by Bungay club president Frank Honeywood thanks to his research in the Kelly's Directory of 1875.

The 134th season starts with an open drive at 2pm on Sunday at the club's green in Bardolph Road - green and weather conditions permitting.

The club has kept all of its existing sponsors for charity matches and club competitions and has also ensured that all four of its tournaments have title sponsors. New sponsors for the 2009 President's Shield Triples on Sunday, May 17 will be the Bungay-based kitchen and bedroom suppliers Jacobs who have a shop in St Mary's Street.

The three remaining tournaments, all played on Sundays and sponsored by local businesses, are the John Groom Catering and Carriages open pairs (June 21), the Graham Johnson Builders open triples (July 19) and the Waveney Windows mixed triples (August 16).

If you are interested in playing in these tournaments contact Ian Gosling on 01986 892982.

The first major event for club members is on Saturday, May 2 and gives the club a chance to raise funds for Quidenham Hospice along with long-time sponsors Parravani's Ice Cream. Members can also enter the club competitions that are staged later in the season and are again sponsored by the Three Willows Garden Centre.

The club will field seven teams in four leagues and enter six area and county cup competitions.

In the Suffolk Men's (Bowls England) competitions the club will play Woodbridge in the Norton Cup on Sunday, May 10; Melton in the Edwards Cup on Saturday, May 30 and Brantham in the Millenium Trophy on Sunday, June 7. In the Suffolk Bowling Federation competitions Bungay will play Halesworth in the Senior Cup and either Beccles Caxton or Wenhaston in the Junior Cup.

As well as captaining the club teams for those matches Roger Bullen will be hoping to continue the improvement made over the past two season to obtain a top-two place in the first division of the Lowestoft Men's Triple League and clinch a place in the county play-offs.

However, the loss of a couple of key players over the winter means that this could be a lot harder.

Ian Gosling captains the Men's B team in the second division of that league as well as the Benacre League team. He will be keen to get this team back into the first division of the Benacre League.

Both Beccles League teams are still stuck in Division Two and captains Les Knowles and Keith Brown - the latter sharing duties with Arnold King - will be looking to make their mark.

Barbara's Wortley's A team in Division One of the Halesworth

Three-Wood League will be fighting for a top-two finish. April Nunn continues to lead the B team.

In the individual County Cup competitions Roger Bullen, Peter Gunstone and James Gosling are entered. Area A Open U25's Pairs Champion James, along with Jack Powley, will hope to go further in the competition this season to compete for a national title. Friendly matches are arranged.

The club always welcomes new members: visit http://homespages.tesco. netbungay bowlsclub