THE new outdoor season really kicks into gear this weekend with several important matches at county level.

The ladies hold the first of their two Johns Trophy, inter-county trial matches on Saturday at Wroughton (1.30pm). The second will be staged at Devizes next Thursday evening (6pm).

Those taking part include the Box septet of Debbie Shadwell, Jane Taylor, Carol Grenfell, Sue Cooke, Alex Jacobs, Kathryn Yeoman and Jean Collier, Rosemary Fitzpatrick and Viv Baskerville (Chippenham Town), Avon trio of Georgina Newman, Marcia Hartley and Dawn Edwards, North Wilts duo Fizz Mace and Ann Roberts-Phare, Bev Lilley, Ellen Stiles and Marie Greenwood (Devizes), Sue Bird (Warminster), Maisie Daniell and Charlie Godwin (Royal Wootton Bassett), Marilyn Jay and Delia Godwin (Spencer Melksham) and Margaret Cooke (Broughton Gifford).

WILTSHIRE'S U25 side will play another friendly match on Saturday at Swindon BC (Shrivenham Road) at 10.30am when they entertain Oxfordshire U25s in preparation for the national White Rose Trophy, inter-county U25 double rinks competition match next weekend.

The match with Oxfordshire will feature four rinks of four players.

TEAM

Rink 1: David Murray (Highworth), James Vincent, Jordan Moody (both Salisbury) & Mike Titcombe (Westlecot). Rink 2: Adam Bolwell (Spencer Moulton), Haydon Daniell (Royal Wootton Bassett), Tom Newman (Avon) & Craig Morphet (RWB). Rink 3: Jake Webster, Ben Choules (both W’lecot), Phil Gregory & Craig Hatherall (both RWB). Rink 4: Jamie Shadwell (Box), Isaac Jacob (Trowbridge Westbourne), Josh Fail (Purton) & James Richman (W’lecot).

WILTSHIRE Ladies, under the stewardship of 2018 president Dawn Edwards (Avon), begin their season-long friendly matches next Wednesday, May 9.

They cross the Severn Bridge to play West Glamorgan at Brynhfrid Bowls Club (1.30pm).

The national competitions get under way this Friday evening with the opening round in the ladies fours being staged in the southern section of the county.

The northern section which includes Chippenham and Royal Wootton Bassett starts next Monday.

Two places at the national finals at Royal Leamington Spa in August representing Wiltshire are the prize on offer for the two Wiltshire ladies fours finalists.

ANDY Moore (Christie Miller) and Wayne Snook (Clarrie Dunbar), have qualified for the Open Singles Circuit (OSC) 2018 Grand Final at Potters Leisure Resort, Hopton-on- sea, Norfolk, in late November.

Christie Miller’s Moore, plus former North Wilts and Christie Miller member Snook, who moved to Clarrie Dunbar IBC for the last indoor season, both sealed their spots in the top 32 of the OSC rankings and a place at the 2018 Grand Final at the last two tournaments of the 2017/18 at Bristol and Ipswich recently.

However, Dunbar’s Andy Colebrooke, who had a slim chance of qualification but needed a very high finish, missed out.

Moore won his first two games at Bristol and Ipswich to finish on 250 points and sixth in the rankings while Snook at Bristol won his opening match but then lost to Torquay’s Ryan Whitlock to end on 212 points and 11th place in the rankings.

Colebrooke, a previous OSC winner, had an outside chance of qualification as he was on 55 points from earlier tournaments but only reached the Bristol quarter-finals to move up to 91 points and 63rd place.

During the season Snook won the Moonfleet (Weymouth) OSC tournament in early season and followed it up with success over Easter in Devon at the Torquay United OSC tournament.

Moore, a regular on the OSC circuit after several quarter-final finishes this term, cemented his place with victory in late March when winning his first OSC tournament, the North Wilts Open.

The schedule for next season’s OSC tournaments has just been announced and will feature 28 tournaments.

It begins in the north with the South Shields tournament on September 8 and the Worksop tournament on September 22-23.

The OSC moves south for the Moonfleet (Weymouth) tournament on the weekend of October 13-14.

Clarrie Dunbar and North Wilts once again feature in the schedule of tournaments.

The annual Clarrie Dunbar tournament will be staged on the weekend of February 28-29, 2019 with the annual North Wilts Open being held three weeks later on the weekend of March 16-17, 2019.

DEVIZES Bowls Club celebrated their centenary last season.

They are one of the biggest clubs in Wiltshire for membership and are one of the rare clubs in Wiltshire who can boast two full size greens.

However, they are actively seeking new members and will be holding an Open Day at the club premises in Long Street, Devizes SN10 1NW this Saturday morning from 10am until 12.30pm.

A warm welcome is assured for newcomers who would like to give the sport a try and for those who have played before and are thinking of taking the sport up again.

Coaching and all equipment will be supplied at the Open Day.