BOX Ladies missed out again on their annual trip to Royal Leamington Spa to contest the last eight of the ladies Top Club championship, writes DAVE EATON.

They made a swift exit this year falling at the first hurdle last Saturday morning in the quarter-finals.

Box were beaten 3-1 by Parkway BC (Huntingdonshire) going down in three of the four disciplines losing in the pairs, triples and fours.

Their only success came in the singles where Jean Collier won her discipline beating Emma Thurston 21-15.

But Box went close in the pairs with Karen Funnel and partner Alex Jacobs only losing by two shots but the triples team went down by five shots while the fours suffered a heavy 16 shots loss.

Box’s conquers Parkway then bagged a big scalp defeating Kings, Torquay 3-1 but were whitewashed in the final 4-0 by holders Wigton (Cumbria) who retained their title. Wigton also lifted the trophy in 2012.

RESULTS

Quarter-finals: Box v Parkway BC (Hunts) Singles: Jean Collier beat Emma Thurston 21-15; Pairs: Karen Funnell & Alex Jacobs lost to Hannah Overton & Catherine Popple 18-20. Triples: Lolly Braddon, Kathryn Yeoman & Sue Cooke lost to Mel Randle, Karen Martin & Julie Masters 14-19. Fours: Kara Little, Jane Taylor, Debbie Shadwell & Michele Williams lost to Sarah Newson, Merisha McKernan, Val Newson & Pat Reynolds 8-24.

Score: Box lost to Pakway BC 1-3.

Other quarter-final scores: Swinton (Yorks) drew with Sutton (Surrey) 2-2 but lost on shots 66-80; Cove BC (Farnborough, Hants) lost to Wigton (holders, Cumbria) 1-3; Norfolk BC (Norwich) lost to Kings (Devon) 1-3.

Semi-finals: Sutton drew with holders Wigton 2-2 but Wigton won on shots 74-72; Kings lost to Parkway 1-3.

FINAL: Holders Wigton beat Parkway 4-0.

THE 2017 outdoor bowling campaign is rapidly drawing to a close with only two weekends left this month, the traditional end of the season.

However, the winter leagues have already commenced at the areas three indoor clubs, North Wilts (Chippenham), Christie Miller (Melksham) and Clarrie Dunbar (Standerwick, Frome).

The central region of the Wessex League which only contained seven indoor clubs last season - Bristol, Christie Miller, Clarrie Dunbar, Nailsea, North Wilts, Purnell and Thornbury - has been boosted to nine.

Clevedon have rejoined the Wessex league as have fellow Somerset side St Andrews, Weston-Super-Mare.

As a result the central region fixtures will begin much earlier in October this year.

Christie Miller play Clevedon on Sunday, October 1 while North Wilts face Purnell (Paulton) and overall Wessex League championship holders Clarrie Dunbar begin the defence of their title against Thornbury, both teams play on October 8.

The second round of central group matches are on November 19 but Christie Miller have a bye as there are nine teams in the central region this time around.

The first local derby is on December 3 when Christie Miller and North Wilts clash. The second local derby is a fortnight later and features Christie Miller when they face Wessex league holders Clarrie Dunbar.