The third week of the Yarmouth Festival of bowls got under way yesterday with the mixed pairs sponsored by Aitchison Brothers of Freethorpe. This competition was played in a round robin format of 24 groups of four teams, with each game consisting of 10 ends.

The third week of the Yarmouth Festival of bowls got under way yesterday with the mixed pairs sponsored by Aitchison Brothers of Freethorpe.

This competition was played in a round robin format of 24 groups of four teams, with each game consisting of 10 ends.

The group winners and best eight runner-ups qualified for today's second round of round robins from which the league winners, will progress to the quarter finals.

Last year's champions Caister's George and Margaret Haylett, with two wins and a draw, qualified for the second stage as did last year's runners-up from Acle, Geraldine Reeve and Tony Dunton, who made it through on shot difference.

Today should see some very interesting games, with many of the players who have done well in the previous two weeks qualifying. Wilford's Enid Adams and Graham Row made it as runners-up while David and Elizabeth Shorter, North Walsham, breezed through their league, as did Freethorpe's Janet Stone and John Harris.

Two wins and a draw saw Arthur and Corinne Lowbridge of Northgate make it through as well. Heartsease Carol Jay and Martin Rounce qualified while dropping only one point while team-mates Norman and Yvonne Gant went through unbeaten. The Thackers, from Wymondham, eased through, as did the Colbournes from Manchester. Thetford's P and T Scott looked very good while the other pair from Thetford, J Downie and T Thorpe, made it as runners up.

Notable losers were Mark Turner and Sue Gee, Freethorpe's Janet Church and Ronnie Mallett and Stalham's B and S Cutting.

There were many high scores recorded in yesterday's games, with no less than 16 sixes, two sevens and one full house of eight scored by Yarmouth's Sue Edmunds and Bryan Drake over club-mates Ken Dunn and Debra Nicholson.