CLARRIE Dunbar teams recorded a mixed set of results last week in national senior competitions.

The ladies made a winning start in the Mason Trophy, ladies over 60s double rinks against Purnell (Paulton) but the men’s B team lost out in the first round of the men’s O60s double rinks to Thornbury.

Clarrie ladies were seven shots down across the board against Purnell B In their preliminary Mason Trophy match trailing 21-14 after ten ends.

But they turned the match around completely in the next five as Jo Dunford’s away rink gained eight shots and Jeanette Wheeler’s home quartet increased their advantage by six shots to put Dunbar 31-24 up and they finally ran-out ten shots winners 41-31.

However, Clarrie B men, despite a stirring comeback, fell on the last end of their first round O60s game against Thornbury.

They made a sluggish start and were 31-15 down at ten ends across the board but a spirited comeback saw them tie the score 41-41 going into the last end. But Thornbury denied them scoring one shot on both the home and away rinks to record a last gasp 43-41success.

RESULTS

Ladies v Purnell B Home: Shirley Samuels, Maggie Morgan, Teresa King & Jeanette Wheeler beat C Shearing 21-12. Away: Ruth Haines, Jan Alden, Sadie Farrell & Jo Dunford beat J Bridges 20-19.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat Purnell B 41-31.

Men B v Thornbury Home: Mike Samuels, John Arnold, Francis Parker & Duncan McGovern beat C Luton 22-21. Away: Dick Discombe, Keith Bird, Alan Brown & Glyn Jones lost to Terry Winter-Alsop 19-22.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar B lost to Thornbury 41-43.

BRIAN Hawkins, the Clarrie Dunbar proprietor and manager, who regularly competes in planetbowls.com tournaments enjoyed one of his best to date last weekend in Lincolnshire.

He competed in the Lincoln Open Singles Tournament last weekend and reached the last eight (quarter-finals) before going out agonisingly on a sudden death tie breaker.

In round one Hawkins beat Mike Ramsden 2-0 (Stamford, Lincs) 5-3 7-2 and then chalked up a 2-0 success over Croydon’s Josh Grant 5-3 7-6.

Another 2-0 success 7-4 6-5 followed in the last 16 over John Lopes (King George Field, Chessington, Surrey), as Hawkins booked a place in the quarter-finals against local Lincoln player Kevin Rands but lost 2-1.

Hawkins lost the first set 8-3, won the next 10-2 to force a tie breaker but went down 2-1 in the best of three ends winner takes all showdown.

Sunday heralds the start of Wessex League games in the Central Region of the highly popular regional competition.

Overall winners of the Wessex League in 2009 and 2013 and losing semi-finalists last season, Clarrie Dunbar kick-off their 2014/15 campaign against Purnell (Paulton).

Meanwhile Christie Miller face a very stiff task indeed as they meet the 2012/13 central league champions Bristol in their opening game.

The other match in the section features Thornbury and Nailsea while the seventh team in the group North Wilts do not enter the fray until the second round of matches on November 23.