AFTER the Wiltshire successes of Alex Jacobs and Highworth Ladies four at the English National Championships at Royal Leamington Spa, attention is turning to the men’s events.

Jacobs powered to success in the Ladies Senior Singles (Over 55) competition, beating Gloucestershire’s Sue Latham 21-9 in the final, while Highworth reached the semi finals of the national fours, where they lost 25-15 to Kingsthorpe (Northampton).

The mixed fours – featuring Carol Grenfell, Janet Hardie, Nick Grenfell (all Box) and Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton) in the last 16 – will take place next weekend.

Wiltshire’s Gary Morphet went out of the champion of champions competition 21-17 in the last 16 to Grant Burgess (Worcester) and Holt’s two teams exited the fours championship with unlucky defeats in their opening games, dawing their matches but losing out on the extra end.

Craig Doughty’s four lost 16-15 to Blackheath & Greenwich skipped by England international Andy Thomson who have reached the semi-finals, while Ben Gadd’s quartet went down 21-20 to Desborough Town (Northants) who went on to lose in the quarter-finals.

The triples championship featuring Holt and Spencer Moulton was starting today (Thursday) while Dave Snell (Wootton Bassett) sets out in the senior singles on Saturday.

The men’s pairs, two wood singles, and four wood singles, that features Holt’s Wayne Simmonds in his fourth national championship event, all start next week.

Meanwhile, Box Ladies have missed out on reaching Leamington next month in the final stages of the Top Club competition.

They were beaten last Sunday in the inter-area final (last 16) by Broadway 3-1.

Box only took the honours in the fours discipline while the Worcestershire side won the singles and pairs comfortably but had to come from behind twice before winning the triples section.

RESULTS

Singles: Michelle Williams lost to Sue Davies 12-21. Pairs: Karen Funnell & Alex Jacobs lost to Lin Ashby & Bridget Cresswell 13-31. Triples: Lolly Braddon, Jean Collier & Sue Cooke lost to Joan Parfitt 16-21. Fours: Debbie Shadwell, Jane Taylor, Janet Hardie & Carol Grenfell beat Yvonne Hopkins 23-16.

Score: Box lost to Broadway 1-3.

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