CHRISTIE Miller ladies and men both went down in their Mason Trophy and regional Wessex League matches respectively.

The ladies, who had pushed North Wilts all the way in the Yetton Cup earlier in the season were brushed aside 53-29 by their neighbours in the O60s double rinks.

They trailed the Chippenham-based North Wilts side from the outset of the third round tie overall but led on Sheila Garlick’s rink in Melksham 7-5 at five ends and 12-8 after 10 but then were overhauled to trail 17-13 at 15 and 20-17 at the conclusion which came two ends early on end 16.

The away rink in North Wilts skipped by Bev Lilley struggled throughout after going 11-2 down after only five ends.

Overall Miller were 16-9 down at five and 29-18 at 10 ends. That increased to 50-24 and when a halt was called were still 53-29 adrift.

Despite sharing the rink honours 2-2 against bottom club Thornbury in the Wessex League on Sunday, Miller's men went down by seven shots as they were beaten 71-78.

Nigel Price’s foursome won 25-19 and Tom Newman’s four 23-20. But their plus nine shots could not wipe out the 10 shots loss sustained by John Crowder’s rink and six-shot loss from Andy Moore’s quartet.

But Christie still collected four points for two winning rinks and edged above Purnell by a single point into fifth place in the nine-team central region table in the Wessex League.

Miller have a break in the Wessex this weekend but Clarrie Dunbar play twice against basement club Thornbury on Saturday (re-arranged) and North Wilts on Sunday.

Clarrie are expected to climb back to the top of central table.

RESULTS

Christie Miller v North Wilts (Mason Trophy)

Home - Rink 1: Marian Lockey, Georgena Coomber, Sue Long & Sheila Garlick lost to Ann Roberts-Phare, Jane Taylor, Sue Cooke & Alex Jacobs 17-20. Away - Rink 1: Marie Greenwood, Wendy Gaisford , Marcia Cottle & Bev Lilley lost to Margaret Cooke, Viv Baskerville, Irene Button & Jean Collier 12-33.

Score: Christie Miller lost to North Wilts 29-53.

Christie Miller v Thornbury (Wessex League)

Home - Rink 3: Dale Hayward, Malcolm Hole, Colin Little & Nigel Price beat S Hunt 25-19. Rink 4: Richard Buckland, Steve Hockings, Alfie Maslem & John Crowder lost to J Phillips 9-19.

Away - Rink 3: David Hayward, Mike Over, Chris Moore & Tom Newman beat T Iles 23-20. Rink 4: G Moore, Rob Emery, Steve Moore & Andy Moore lost to Colin Luton 14-20.

Score: Christie Miller lost to Thornbury 71-78 and by 4pts to 14pts.

CLARRIE DUNBAR are well represented in the last stages of the men’s national championship and competitions with Graham Shadwell and Russell Francis through to Area 16 finals together in two events.

Shadwell has reached the area singles final and will play either Simon Jones or Mark Atkins, both from Malvern Hills by mid-February.

On route to the final former England international Shadwell has beaten Chris Pewsey (C Dunbar) 21-16, enjoyed a round two walkover, then edged past Clarrie team mate Keith Bailey 21-20. He followed that up by thumping Reece White (Bristol) 21-6 and thrashing Mark Woods (Clevedon) 21-5 in the area semi-final.

Shadwell has teamed up with Francis in the pairs and triples.

They have reached the Area 16 pairs final and will play Mark and his son Ryan Atkins (Malvern Hills) in the final which has to be arranged.

To reach the area pairs final Francis and Shadwell beat ex-England player John Hick (Clevedon) 19-10, Matthew Bartlett (Bristol) 27-4, Tom Newman (Christie Miller) 26-4 and John Freeman 23-12.

In the pairs area semi-final they beat fellow Clarrie Dunbar duo Wayne Snook and Andy Colebrooke 21-10.

Francis and Shadwell are joined in the triples by Craig Hadfield-Doughty.

They have accounted for three Dunbar trios led by Wayne Snook 22-12, Pete Hooley 15-6 and John Freeman 18-12 to book a semi-final slot against a trio from Clevedon led by Mark Woods - awaiting the winners in the Area 16 triples final are a trio from Malvern Hills led by Neil C Smith.

Only the foursome from Clarrie led by John Freeman are left running in the area 16 fours championship.

They have beaten Chris Moore (Christie Miller) 25-6, Matthew Elly (Purnell) 21-10 and blitzed Reece White (Bristol) 21-2 in the area fours semi-final to book a place in the area final against Neil C Smith’s Malvern four.

In the main ladies championship events Teresa King has reached the Area 16 ladies singles semis and will play Gill Fry (MidGlos).

Jo Dunford and partner have reached the pairs semi-finals and a game with Clevedon international duo Laura Holden and Stef Branfield.

In the triples Debbie Shadwell and her team face team mate Ailsa Midwinter’s trio in the area 16 triples quarter-finals.

And lastly Marcia Hartley’s foursome will face a quartet from North Wilts skipped by Fizz Mace in the area fours semi-finals.

Beaten finalists last season in the Top Club mixed competition Clarrie Dunbar only lost to Spalding by the odd discipline in five at York.

They are still running in the 2017/18 Top Club competition and will be bidding on Sunday to extend that run and move a step closer to the ultimate dream of the club a national team title so cruelly denied them last April at York IBC.

Clarrie face Portsmouth club Victory A at home on Sunday in round four (last 16) seeking to reach the quarter-finals and a meeting with Torquay United or Taunton Deane.

CELEBRATING their 115th year after being founded in 1903, Winsley Bowls Club are looking to recruit more members.

The club, based next to the village hall, made a successful application to Bowls Wiltshire to wear coloured shirts, white with blue and yellow trim from next season onwards but has only 26 male and 13 female members.

Newcomer sessions are held from 6pm on Monday evening from May to September for anyone interested, with only flat sole soft shoes are required.

BRADFORD on Avon Bowls Club, based in Culver Close, held its annual presentation lunch on Saturday at Cumberwell Park Golf Club.

Representatives from Porthaven's Wiltshire Heights Care Home, who have sponsored the club for the last two years, made the presentations.

RESULTS

Betty Fox Trophy - winner: Barry Giles; Runner up: Philip Sutton. 51 Up winner: Dave Gilchrist; Runner up: Mike Dennis; Mens' Pairs - winners: John Ward and Mike Dennis; Runners up Dave Gilchrist and Calvin James; Handicap - winner: Mike Dennis; Runner up: Morris Hughes; Two Wood competition winner: Dave Gilchrist; Runner up: Bob Pleece; Championship - winner: John Ward; Runner up: Dave Gilchrist.

Newcomers are welcome to give the sport a go at the club on Friday evenings from 6pm from April 13 onwards, with tuition is available free of charge.

For more information contact Lesley or Derrick, 01225 863066 or visit the website bradfordonavonbowlsclub.org.uk.