Bowlers from all over the South Hams will have been inspired by Devon’s players at the Bowls England Championships at Royal Leamington Spa.

On Sunday, ex-Kingsbridge student Harry Goodwin helped bring the curtain down on a fabulous month of action at Victoria Park as Devon’s players won a ninth title with victory in the White Rose Trophy men’s U25 inter-county double-rink.

In the semi-final, Devon beat Oxford­shire 42-29. Ryan Turn­er (United Services), Adam Loveridge (Barn­staple), Joe Melmore (Kings) and Michael Coombes (Shaldon) beat Shane Cooper 24-12 and Kieran Kniveton (Kings), Sean Howard (Newton Abbot), Harry Goodwin (Kings) and Ryan Whitlock beat Gary May 18-17.

In the final, Whitlock beat Northants skip Callum Height 19-17 and Michael Coombes had a super 22-14 win over newly-crowned Bowls England Cham­pion of Champions winner Jamie Walker, who also won the national two-wood singles.

Whether you’re a young prospect like Connor Thompson (Plymstock) or a county veteran like Tina Thomas (Kingsbridge Park), it has been an exciting summer, rich in promise of much more to come.