Almost 150 people are competing in the inaugural Open Triples outdoor bowls tournament on Great Yarmouth seafront.

Eastern Daily Press: The Great Yarmouth Open Triples Bowls Tournament taking place over the weekend.Picture: James BassThe Great Yarmouth Open Triples Bowls Tournament taking place over the weekend.Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk © 2014)

Forty-eight teams of three are playing on the Britannia Greens this weekend, with the quarters, semis and grand final scheduled to take place tomorrow (Sunday).

The two-day tournament was sponsored by Great Yarmouth Borough Council and is being overseen by stalwart tournament manager Derek Webster, recent recipient of the Queen's British Empire Medal (BEM).

With total prize money of £1,200, players have travelled from all over the UK to take part - and most will return next month for the world famous

Annual Festival of Bowls.

The winners of this weekend's triples tournament will take home the Linda Moore Memorial Cup, named in honour of the much-missed owner of Prince's Tearooms on the seafront

A raffle being held all weekend is raising money for the James Paget University Hospital renal unit, in memory of Linda who died in November last year.

Tournament manager Mr Webster hopes the Open Triples will become another calender event, saying: 'If it does take off that will be another feather in Great Yarmouth's cap, bringing in scores of visitors who will collectively plough thousands of pounds into the local economy during their stay.'

The Great Yarmouth Festival of Bowls, the largest outdoors bowls event in the country, takes place at the Britannia Bowling Greens, from August 25 to, September 12. More than 1,800 participants compete in men's, ladies' and mixed teams for singles, pairs and triples titles.

Don't miss Monday's EDP for a 12-page picture special, featuring the best of Norfolk's weekend events.