WILTSHIRE Ladies made an impressive start to their bid for glory in this season’s inter-county championship for the Atherley Trophy.

They cast aside a poor record in recent seasons against Gloucestershire of two defeats, including one by 63 shots, to gain ample revenge this time around with a 38-shot win as they ran out 142-104 victors in their opening round Atherley tie last Sunday at home at North Wilts.

With 14 of the Wiltshire side members of the host club the county team made home knowledge count as they dominated from start to finish.

Across the board Wiltshire led Gloucestershire 33-28 at five ends and 69-52 at ten before extending that advantage to 26 shots moving 102 -76 clear at 15.

They continued to pull away going 120-87 up at 18 ends and finally won the first round tie 142-104.

Wiltshire took the honours on five of the six rinks with Sheila Garlick’s quartet just recording the county’s highest winning margin of 16 shots.

Close behind though were the rinks of Alex Jacobs (15 shots) and Sue Cooke (14) while the foursomes skipped by Janet Hardie and Fizz Mace won their games by ten and seven shots respectively.

The only blot on the scoresheet was the 24 shots loss suffered by the all-Five Rivers, Salisbury, rink skipped by Joan Coleman.

Wiltshire now face Somerset who beat Oxfordshire 140-91 in round two on Sunday, December 7.

RESULTS

Rink 1: Ann Roberts-Phare, Jane Taylor, Irene Button & Alex Jacobs (all North Wilts) beat Maryann Pye 28-13. Rink 2: Norma Rowden, Karen Funnell, Jean Collier & Sue Cooke (all NW) beat Margaret McColl 25-11. Rink 3: Eileen Hawker (Christie Miller), Jan Tombs (NW), Bev Lilley & Sheila Garlick (both CM) beat Sue Latham 29-13. Rink 4: Julia Hunt (Westlecot), Barbara Shepheard (NW), Wendy Anderson (West) & Janet Hardie (NW) beat Pauline Gunn 27-17. Rink 5: Marian Menzies, Mary Buckle, Janice Bull & Joan Coleman (all Five Rivers) lost to Gill Fry 11-35. Rink 6: Linda Perfitt (West), Carol Massey, Brenda Bowen & Fizz Mace (all NW) beat Cynthia Winter-Alsop 22-15.

Score: Wiltshire beat Gloucestershire 142-104.

NORTH WILTS Ladies made a winning start last week in the Vivienne Trophy, a national inter-club championship event only open to players who have not played in the main Yetton Trophy competition during this current season.

In the first round, North Wilts beat old adversaries Bristol by ten shots as they ran-out 91-81 victors despite rink honours being shared 2-2.

With both home rinks at Westcroft in fine form North Wilts were always ahead across the board leading 26-10 at five ends, 46-31 at ten, 66-51 at 15 and 77-66 at 18 before finally winning 91-81.

Brenda Bowen and Anne Greenland’s home rinks won by 23 and 19 shots respectively to wipe out the losses in Bristol and ensure victory.

In the next round to be played on December 4, North Wilts face Nailsea.

RESULTS

Home - Rink 1: Julie Underhill, Margaret Walker, Sue Hodkin & Brenda Bowen beat J Leavey 35-12. Rink 2: June Coyle, Jan Tombs, Lyn Brown & Ann Greenland beat J Stevenson 31-12.

Away - Rink 1: Carol French, Beryl Waters, Pam Blackman & Meryl Williams lost to S Hopegood 14-30. Rink 2: Ann White, Jill Lewis, Evelyn Crossman & May Brand lost to I Lamb 11-27.

Score: North Wilts beat Bristol 91-81.

IN OTHER national inter-club championship events North Wilts are still running in two women’s team competitions (beside the Vivienne Trophy) and one mixed.

They have qualified for the third round in the Yetton Trophy, which they won six years ago, after beating Thornbury 84-73 and then Clarrie Dunbar 86-61. North Wilts are now due to face Bristol this  Saturday in the third round.

North Wilts senior ladies B side are through to the second round of the Mason Trophy - O60s Double Rinks - and will meet Clarrie Dunbar tomorrow morning (Friday 10am).

So far they have dispatched Clevedon 49-20 in the preliminary round, and North Wilts A comfortably 49-25 in the first round.

Meanwhile the North Wilts mixed team had a bye in round one of the Top Club and are therefore through to a round two local derby against Melksham’s Christie Milller which is due to be contested by December 6.