THE county ladies two wood singles competition took centre stage last Saturday as players from around Wiltshire battled for a last-eight spot and to keep their hopes alive of a place at the national championships at Royal Leamington Spa in August.

An initial entry of 69 players was scheduled to contest the opening rounds at three venues around the county - Pewsey, Avon (Melksham) and Spencer Melksham - with only one of last season’s quarter-finalists qualifying for the last eight again this time around - that being Alex Jacobs (Box), the defending champion.

Pewsey Bowls Club hosted the group in the northern section in the ladies county national two wood singles championship and, from an entry of 32 players, Janet Hardie (North Wilts), a former national two wood champion in 2002, Lucy Smith (Royal Wootton Bassett), Julie Jones (Purton) and Julia Hunt (Wanborough) battled their way past the opposition to qualify for the quarter-finals and semi-finals at Wroughton this Friday evening, June 16 (5.45pm).

The two southern groups at Avon and Spencer Melksham were dominated by bowlers from Wiltshire’s top ladies club Box.

At Avon, Kathryn Yeoman (Box) beat team colleague and 2015 winner Jean Collier 16-9 while Margaret Cooke (Broughton Gifford) eliminated Christabel Francis (S Melksham) 16-13 to book a quarter-final place.

Meanwhile at Spencer Melksham reigning champion Jacobs (Box) beat Janice Bull (Amesbury) comfortably 15-9 and Sandra Bartlett (Winsley) defeated Sue Cooke (Box) 14-11 to also book a place at Wroughton tomorrow night in the last eight.

DRAW Quarter-finals (at Wroughton, Friday June 17) at 5.45pm: Margaret Cooke (Broughton Gifford) v Alex Jacobs (holder, Box); Julie Jones (Purton) v Lucy Smith (Royal Wootton Bassett); Sandra Bartlett (Winsley) v Kathryn Yeoman (Box); Janet Hardie (North Wilts) v Julia Hunt (Wanborough).

RAIN delayed pairs were finally completed last week on Monday and Friday in the north and south sections of the county ladies pairs championship producing four combinations in each section to contest the quarter and semi-finals at Westlecot this Saturday (10.15am).

In the southern area the two all-Box clashes resulted in wins for Kara Little and Debbie Shadwell over Karen Funnell and Jean Collier.

In the other Box clash, Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs, three-time county pairs winners in the last six years, beat Lauren and Michele Williams.

Two Devizes pairings, Ellen Styles and Marie Greenwood as well as Bev Lilley and Sheila Garlick, missed out, losing in the third round with their conquerors losing in the fourth round (last 16) to Ann Humphries and Janice Bull (Amesbury) and Wilton’s Dawn Toomer and partner Lesley Trattles respectively.

In the north area, Purton’s duo of Chris Mitchell and Alison Fail beat Linda Perfitt and partner to book a last-eight spot.

Wroughton’s June Corbett and Margaret Dowthwaite were also successfully in the last 16 stage beating former pairs champion Janet Willis and partner.

Joining them will be Westlecot duo Jayne Croston and Lynda Whittingham who were conceded their tie by Pewsey pairing Sue Allsop and partner early into their match.

Completing the northern qualifiers for the ladies pairs quarter-finals were Wanborough’s two Johns Trophy players Julia Hunt and Deanne Davis who defeated a Royal Wootton Bassett combination, skipped by Bev Williamson.

The two combinations or singles left standing qualify for county finals day as well as earning the honour to represent Wiltshire in the national championships at Royal Leamington Spa in August in their respective event(s).

DRAW

Quarter-finals of pairs at Westlecot, Saturday (at 10.15am): Chris Mitchell & Alison Fail (Purton) v Jayne Croston & Lynda Whittingham (Westlecot); Kara Little & Debbie Shadwell (Box) v Julia Hunt & Deanne Davis (Wanborough); Dawn Toomer & Lesley Trattles (Wilton) v Anne Humphries & Janice Bull (Amesbury); June Corbett & Margaret Dowthwaite (Wroughton) v Sue Cooke & Alex Jacobs (Box).

Semi-finals will be played in the afternoon approx 2.30pm.

OTHER county ladies championship results from last week included the opening round in ladies U25 singles, in which Royal Wootton Bassett’s Katy Smith beat Emily Jacob (Trowbridge Westbourne) and followed it up with a quarter-final win over Lauren Williams (Box).

Meanwhile the first round in the ladies national singles championship took place on Monday evening in the northern and southern groups in the county. The only surprise was a defeat for Box player Sue Cooke.

COUNTY Ladies selectors have made changes to the side for the next Johns Trophy, inter-county championship match following the first west group game a 115-97 home defeat at Devizes to Dorset.

They have left the Alex Jacobs, Kathryn Yeoman and Delia Godwin rinks alone for the game against Cornwall at Tiverton West End on June 24.

However, they have made four changes to players and a couple of positional switches to the other three rinks. Stepping down are skip Rosemary Fitzpatrick (Chippenham Town), Jean Collier (Box) and sisters Lucy and Katy Smith (Royal Wootton Bassett).

Coming into the team are Maisie Daniell (Bassett) and Salisbury area trio Janice Rowe (Amesbury), Mo Woolley (Alderbury) and Lesley Trattles (Wilton) while Salisbury’s Margaret Annetts reverts back to skipping again in the Johns Trophy.

Wiltshire ladies were also due to face Somerset away on Tuesday in their second South West Counties League match of the season.

They won the first at Tiverton West End against Cornwall 102-90 in mid-May.

THE Wiltshire county ladies selectors have named their side for the first round Walker Cup tie against Gloucestershire at home at Devizes on Sunday, June 26 (1.30pm).

In their first game, a preliminary round tie with Warwickshire, Wiltshire only won on the last end by one shot 42-41. Alex Jacobs' rink leading from end three to win 25-16 but Kathryn Yeoman’s four were always behind losing 25-17.

The county selectors have made two changes to the previous line-ups for the Gloucestershire clash.

Sue Cooke comes in for Carol Grenfell on Jacobs rink while Ann Hindley replaces Katy Smith in Yeoman’s quartet.

Wiltshire will be bidding for a victory and a place in the ladies Walker Cup west regional final.

TEAM

Rink 1: Chris Mitchell (Purton), Sue Cooke (Box), Alison Fail (Purton) & Alex Jacobs (Box). Rink 2: Georgina Newman (Avon), Ann Hindley (Wilton), Marcia Hartley (Avon) & Kathryn Yeoman (Box). Res: Carol Grenfell and Kara Little (both Box).