BRAINTREE Bowling Club's inaugural Mixed Gala Day was a great success.

The club are now hoping the event will become a regular fixture in the club's itinerary over the coming seasons.

The Mixed Gala Day not only raised funds for Macmillan Cancer Support but also generated camaraderie and fun by the club's players of varying ability.

The format consisted of eight teams of mixed triples playing six ends over three games.

The accumulated shots scored from these three games denoted the winning team.

To raise funds during these matches, an adjudicator observed any infringements that would carry a 50 pence fine to place in the collection of charity funds.

These breaches of the rules on the day included hitting the jack, putting the jack or bowls in the ditch, wrong bias, any ungentlemanly behaviour on the green and any other wrong doings that warranted a fine in the adjudicator's opinion. Many other misdemeanours went unobserved but over the two hours on the greens, a total of £52 in fines was accumulated.

After an excellent buffet, laid on by the ladies of the club, there were several fun presentations to teams and individuals, plus a raffle and an auction which in turn added further money for the deserved Macmillan contributions.

It was announced that whatever funds were raised on the day, the Braintree Bowling Club would double that amount. This resulted in a total net profit of £420 (members £210 + £210 from BBC).