The mixed fours tournament and the men's High Fives events including pairs and triples competitions took centre stage at the Morrison Indoor Bowls venue over a Festive four days.

In the mixed fours every team was guaranteed to play six games over two days with a maximum of 12 points at stake.

Winning all six games would surely guarantee a top five place and a good chance of capturing the top gold spot. All the competitors realised that winning at least five games was a must.

For the travelling Parklands Teesside team Vi, Inga, Ralph and skip John remained unbeaten over two days and deservedly finished top in the mixed fours.

They beat Concordia of Northumberland 14-6 and also defeated Ann Brown and Jenny Basham, Barry Atwood and skip Dave Barron from Great Aycliffe 17-3 after winning the first five ends.

They went on to beat a strong rink from Aycliffe including Emma Robson, Norma Cooper, Alan Cooper and skip Vince Robson by 14-7 after another good start this time recording 12 shots to two after only seven ends.

A Darlington Northgate team including Jim Weston, Ann Summers, Joyce Weston and skip Stan Summers came nearest to beating the Parklands four. The Quakers lost narrowly 6-7 in a tough and interesting game. Parklands beat Stanley in another close game 9-4 after ten ends.

The runners-up silver medals went to John Bassett, Maureen Whitton, Ann Anderson and skip Allen Moore impressively collected ten points from five good wins and finished with 52 shots to spare after six games losing by 9-11 in the first match to David Webb of Stanley.

A strong Durham side including John Quigley, Pauline Christie, Ann Bernard and Dennis Christie lost only one game and were close to living up to their tournament status of favourites.

They finished in the bronze medals third place with ten points having 49 shots to spare.

Rockets, Stanley, Blackpool and Darlington C filled the next four places from a field of 24 with only two teams finishing without a win.

In the men's High Fives which included 14 entries, no team won all their games. Out on top at the finish were a star-studded Nottington team capable of beating all-comers. They included British Isles champion Duncan Robinson (Nottingham), Ted Mitchell (top national crown green ace from Lancashire), National champion John Wells of Hartlepool and two of the best Quaker bowlers Mark Jones and Andrew Kirtland from Morrisons.

In the pairs games Barry Cooper and Stewart Clarke of Darlington raced into a 7-1 lead and finished with a three to beat Mitchell and Robinson 12-10.

Mark Jones, John Wells and Andrew Kirtland had four wins from six games in the triples. They lost 10-14 and drew one by 8-8 to finish with 17 points from a total of 24. This was good enough over the two days to finish level at the top with Durham (17 points) who had to take second place on shots difference.

This week the Quaker Ladies Team have a tough game against Hartlepool played on a home and away basis in the All England Yetton Trophy championships.

The Darlington squad includes: Sadie Lynch, Dorothy Donald, Maureen Whitton, Peggy Clarke, Marjorie Bousfield (captain), Tracey Fairless, Mary Armstrong, Ann Simpson, Kitty Robinson, Audrey Cairns, Kath Campbell, Joyce Stephenson, Shirley Andrews, Barbara Watson, Rene Gordon, Dulcie Harbin, Doris Rewcastle, Edith Dunn, Vi Johnson and Joan Winter. Full report next week.