THE INDOOR bowling season is under way in Wiltshire, with several of the national men’s, ladies and mixed team competitions such as Egham Trophy, Denny Cup and Top Club getting started.

First up is the mixed Egham Trophy, two rinks home and two away, on October 16 where Clarrie Dunbar, losing semi-finalists last season, play old rivals Bristol with the winners moving forward to October 30 and a date with either St Andrews (Weston-Super-Mare) or Victoria (Street). The same day as North Wilts meet Nailsea.

Saturday, October 22 sees the men’s Denny Cup, national inter-club championship begin with the first local derby of the campaign between North Wilts and Christie Miller while Clarrie meet Thornbury.

The following day the Top Club, another mixed competition starts with North Wilts entertaining Nailsea and Clarrie Dunbar having home advantage against Clevedon.

Once again Christie Miller, North Wilts and Clarrie Dunbar will contest the men’s regional Wessex League - a four rink competition with two rinks home and two away.

The three local clubs will compete in the seven team Central Region alongside Bristol, Thornbury, Nailsea and Purnell (Paulton).

Central section fixtures begin on Sunday, November 6 with Christie Miller facing Bristol and Clarrie Dunbar playing Purnell.

North Wilts enter the fray on Sunday, November 20 when they meet Purnell.

The big two in the central section Clarrie Dunbar and Bristol clash on this date while Christie play Nailsea.

TROWBRIDGE’S James Shadwell impressed the selectors at the Bowls England U18 Youth Academy at Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa at the end of last month.

The 14-year-old is the son of Spencer Moulton’s England international Graham Shadwell, who was chosen to play in this year’s world outdoor championship for the three lions in Christchurch, New Zealand at the end of November.

Jamie is one of 16 players from an original list of 28 who have been chosen to return to Leamington in May next year for the two-day 2017 Youth Academy involving both theoretical and practical sessions.

Another promising young Wiltshire bowler, Kara Little (Box), has been named as one of six reserves for the two-day session.

Shadwell has been playing bowls indoors at Clarrie Dunbar for seven years and outdoors at Spencer Moulton Bowls Club at Bradford on Avon for four.

He was a regular in Moulton men’s four-rink league side last season and showed his promise at Leamington in August at the national championships when he reached the quarter-finals in the Sutton Winson U18 mixed singles competition.

Fifteen-year-old Little, from Melksham, first started playing bowls at Chippenham Town in 2010 but switched to Box a couple of years ago.

She is a regular in the Wiltshire ladies junior Amy Rose side as well as a member of the county ladies Johns Trophy team in the inter-county championships.

She has enjoyed a fine season in 2016 culminating in winning her first Wiltshire county ladies title in the triples along with Box colleagues Jane Taylor and Michele Williams.