TEAMS from Devizes and Box have qualified for the county ladies triples final at Supermarine on July 30 and earned the right to represent Wiltshire at Royal Leamington Spa at the National Championships in the event at the beginning of August.

They booked their places last Saturday at Wilton when the quarter-finals and semi-finals were staged.

In the morning last eight (quarter-finals) at Wilton, the Devizes trio of Rosie Merritt, Patricia Reeves and Sue Ochyra edged out Stratton Churchway on the last end 18-17, while the other match in the bottom half of the draw saw Amesbury beat Highworth by five shots.

In the top half of the draw another Devizes trio of Ellen Stiles, Bev Lilley and Sheila Garlick thumped Purton 30-11, while Box triple of Kara Little, Jane Taylor and Michele Williams beat another Purton team led by Alison Fail by four shots 16-12.

Devizes could not complete a double in the afternoon semi-finals though as Sue Ochyra’s team were successful but Sheila Garlick missed-out.

Ochyra’s trio easily overcame Amesbury in a low-scoring match 18-9 to book their place in the county triples final as well as at Leamington.

The other semi-final was a much higher scoring game with the Box trio of Kara Little, Jane Taylor and Michele Williams beating Garlick’s team on rink three by eight shots 24-16.

Williams team are the second from Box to book a spot at the national championships at Royal Leamington Spa as Alex Jacobs’ quartet had qualified last month in the fours championship.

TRIPLES RESULTS

Quarter-finals: Chris Mitchell, Julie Jones & Alison Fail (Purton) lost to Kara Little, Jane Taylor and Michele Williams (Box) 12-16; Ellen Stiles, Bev Liilley & Sheila Garlick (Devizes) beat Judy Preddy, Val Baster & Judith Fish (Purton) 30-11; Rose Merritt, Patricia Reeves & Sue Ochyra (Devizes) beat Josie Lloyd, Wendy Anderson & Janet Willis (Stratton Churchway) 18-17; Maggie Jordan, Joanna Richman & Linda Kingston (Highworth) lost to Ann Humphries, Lyn Stanford & Janice Rowe (Amesbury) 18-23.

Semi-finals: Williams (Box) beat Garlick (Devizes) 24-16; Ochyra (Devizes) beat Rowe (Amesbury) 18-9.

THE LAST eight in both the northern and southern sections of the ladies county and national pairs championships were staged at various venues around the county on Monday evening.

In the south area third round two teams from Box, and one each from Devizes and Spencer Melksham booked their places in this Saturday’s pairs quarter and semi-finals being staged at Holt.

In the third round in the north, Smith sisters Lucy and Katy from Royal Wootton Bassett as well as duos from Supermarine, Wanborough and Highworth reached the last stage at Holt.

The draw has been kind to the two Box pairings and kept them apart meaning they will only meet if successful in the county pairs final at Supermarine at the end of July.

The prize as well for the two teams left standing at Holt is the opportunity to represent Wiltshire at the national championships in the pairs.

PAIRS DRAW

Quarter-finals at Holt, Saturday, June 18 (at 10.15am). Marilyn Kilburn & Pat Jones (Supermarine) v Joanna Richman & Linda Kingston (Highworth); Karen Funnell & Jean Collier (Box) v Lucy & Katy Smith (Royal Wootton Bassett); Eileen Hawker & Marilyn Jay (Spencer Melksham) v Lolly Braddon & Carol Grenfell (Box); Rose Merritt & Sue Ochyra (Devizes) v Jean Crepaz & Deanne Davis (Wanborough).

Semi-finals will be played in the afternoon.

THE BUSY weekend of ladies national and county championship events continue with the staging of the quarter and semi-finals of the two wood singles at Box on Friday evening (June 17).

The draw is dominated by players from the Box club with holder Jean Collier as well as Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs all qualifying for the last eight.

The two left standing at the conclusion of the quarters and semis will contest the county two wood singles final at the end of July at Supermarine and also qualify to represent Wiltshire at Royal Leamington Spa in this event in August.

DRAW

Quarter-finals at Box, Friday, June 17 (at 5.45pm) Jean Collier (Box) v Ginny Nash (Royal Wootton Bassett); Irene Button (Chippenham Town) v Ann Hindley (Wilton); Joanna Richman (Highworth) v Sue Cook (Box); Alex Jacobs (Box) v Laura Latham (Swindon Town Gardens).

THE COUNTY ladies selectors have named the two rinks to represent Wiltshire in the first round of the Walker Cup against Dorset on Sunday, June 26 at Devizes (1.30pm).

Half of the players named for the inter-counties double rinks tie are from the highly successful ladies section at Box.

The quartet of Sue Cooke, Alex Jacobs, Jean Collier and Carol Grenfell are equally divided into the two rinks.

The real surprise is the selection of Royal Wootton Bassett’s Katy Smith, who played for England U18s last season versus Wales, as she was not chosen at all in the team of 24 for the opening Johns Trophy match with Devon in early June.

The entire Alex Jacobs’ rink chosen to face Dorset played last year against Gloucestershire in the Walker Trophy and won by nine shots as Wiltshire beat Gloucestershire 41-39.

TEAM v Dorset

Rink 1: Alison Fail (Purton), Margaret Annetts (Salisbury), Sue Cooke & Alex Jacobs (both Box). Rink 2: Jean Collier (Box), Katy Smith (Royal Wootton Bassett), Linda Kingston (Highworth) & Carol Grenfell (Box).

Reserves: Deanne Davis (Wanborough), Georgina Newman (Avon) and Sue Ochyra (Devizes).