THE annual 18th Ampleforth Short Mat Open Bowls Pairs competition will be held this weekend at the St Albans Centre, Ampleforth College.

The competition, which has a new format this year, has attracted entrants from 22 clubs throughout North Yorkshire.

Forty pairs will play three games on Saturday morning, starting at 9.30am, and 40 pairs will play three games in the afternoon with the top 20 pairs from each session qualifying for Sunday.

Each pair will again play three games with the top 16 qualifying for the knockout stages starting at 1.30pm. The final will start at 3.55pm and will last for 40 minutes.

All spectators are welcome and entrance is free of charge.

Updated: 11:51 Thursday, February 14, 2002