The revival of The Northern Echo Quaker Bowl Open Bowls Tournament takes place later this month after a lapse of seven years, but it was almost delayed even further until.

The return of the tournament, taking place at Eastbourne Sports Complex in Darlington, nearly hit the buffers after it was found that the selected dates clashed with another tournament and some prospective teams were having difficulty in finding bowlers who could turn out on both days.

But a resourceful Cummins Bowls Club organising committee rose to the occasion and revised the format so that it can be played off all in one day.

The tournament was originally to be played on July 24 and 25 but under the new format will now by played on July 25 only with an early start of 9.30am on the bowling green.

It still remains as advertised a three bowls open triples whistle stop tournament. The main difference will be that shots difference will be replaced by points scoring. After the group stage the winners of each of the four groups will progress to the semi-finals with the subsequent semi-final winners contesting the final.

There are changes to the prize money which sees the first day's prize money is withdrawn. The tournament winners' prize money remains at £200, runner-up £80, third £60, fourth place is to be announced and the same applies to the four group runners-up. Entry fee is reduced from £15 to £10 per team. As in the first 17 years when it was a singles tournament.

There will be more about the revised tournament format in next week's Local Heroes.

Entries to Alan Cooper, 20 Grosvenor Street, Darlington. Telephone (01325) 260769.