GRAHAM SHADWELL bids this weekend to add to his impressive tally of two national indoor championship titles.

The 43-year-old from Trowbridge will be representing Clarrie Dunbar in the final stages (last 16) of the men’s Champion of Champions tournament at Warner Leisure Hotels, Lakeside, Hayling Island.

He has won this competition twice before in 2004/05 when beating Paul Bennett (Bodmin) 21-16 and 2012/13 when defeating in the final Travis Meller (Isle of Wight) 21-13 at this same Hampshire venue.

With two titles under his belt Shadwell will this weekend be attempting to join an elite band of two players who have won the men’s champion of champions title three times, namely former world singles champions Gary Harlow (95/96, 08/09 and 15/16) and Nicky Brett (02/03, 06/07 and 09/10) both from the City of Ely club.

Shadwell is one of four players who have won two C of C titles.

To reach the last 16 at Hayling Island this weekend Shadwell won the Area 16 section of the champion of champions competition beating Matthew Ely (Purnell), Andy Moore (Christie Miller), John Hick (Clevedon) and Ryan Atkins (Malvern Hills).

Then he had to face Area 17 winner Robert Paxton (Taunton Deane),

who lost last Sunday in the world indoor singles final at Potters (Norfolk), in the inter-area final at Street in early December, which he duly won 21-17 to book his last 16 spot at Hayling Island.

Shadwell kicks-off his bid for glory in the champion of champions event this evening (Friday) at 8pm with a first round tie when he plays Michael Cheeseman from the Cyphers club in Beckenham, Kent.

If successful Shadwell will progress to the quarter-finals tomorrow (Saturday) and play either Jamie Holmes (Barking, Essex) or Martin Spencer (Spalding, Lincs) at 1.15pm.

The semi-finals and final are scheduled to be played on Sunday at 10am and 1.30pm respectively.

CLARRIE DUNBAR recorded a fine double last weekend extending their excellent run to four victories in the mixed Top Club national competition with a comfortable 12-4 home win over Victory (Portsmouth).

Twenty-four hours earlier the men’s team had thrashed Thornbury 113-60 in the central region of the Wessex League.

Dunbar won three of the five disciplines in the Top Club against their Hampshire opponents winning the ladies two wood singles as well as mixed pairs and mixed fours. They drew on the mixed triples with their only loss coming in the men’s two wood singles.

The biggest victory was registered by the foursome of Jeannette Wheeler, Debbie Shadwell, Russell Francis and Graham Shadwell who blitzed their opponents 28-11.

Other wins were recorded by Teresa King and Neil Collett in mixed pairs (four shots) while Jo Dunford won her singles match 13-11.

Andy Colebrooke’s trio battled to a 15-15 draw while Keith Bailey suffered a rare defeat in the men’s two wood singles.

Clarrie Dunbar have qualified for the Top Club quarter-finals in mid-April and will face their old Devon rivals Torquay United away for a place in finals weekend at Dolphin IBC, Poole Dorset on Saturday, April 28.

Last season Clarrie Dunbar reached the final at York but lost to Kent side Swale (Sittingbourne) by three disciplines to two (10pts to 6pts).

RESULTS

Top Club 4th Rd: Clarrie Dunbar v Victory (Portsmouth) at home

Two wood singles - Ladies: Jo Dunford beat Jackie Watts 13-11 (2pts). Men: Keith Bailey lost to Danny Smith 9-15 (0pts). Mixed Pairs: Teresa King & Neil Collett beat Rosemary Bailey & Colin Thresher 18-14. (4pts). Mixed Triples: Thelma Bailey, Wayne Snook & Andy Colebrooke drew with Barry Starks 15-15 (2pts). Mixed Fours: Jeanette Wheeler, Debbie Shadwell, Russell Francis & Graham Shadwell beat Gary Starks 28-11 (4pts).

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat Victory 12pts to 4pts and by 83-66 on shots.

OVERALL winners of the Wessex League last season after defeating Kingsthorpe (Northampton) narrowly in the play-offs final Clarrie men are well on course to reach the play-offs again this time around.

They thrashed Thornbury last Saturday by 53 shots as they ran-out 113-60 victors in their fourth match this season in the central region.

Dunbar scooped the full 16 points on offer to move up to third in the central table only seven points behind Bristol and nine behind leaders Clevedon but with a match in hand on both as well as fourth placed St Andrews (WSM) who they lead by eight.

Clarrie are warm favourites to win the central section again this season.

They can take a giant step to booking their play-off spot on Sunday as they face Clevedon, two rinks home and two away.

Elsewhere Christie Miller meet Nailsea who they trail by five points but with a match in hand while North Wilts play basement club Thornbury in what looks the battle for the wooden spoon. North Wilts are currently three points above Thornbury.

There is a full set of central regional matches this weekend as teams at the top jockey for a top two finish to claim an automatic place in the end of season play-offs while clubs at the other end of the table including North Wilts and Christie Miller seek a rare win to escape the basement area of the table.

RESULTS (skips only)

Home - Rink 2: Andy Colebrooke beat Tim Iles 34-13. Rink 3: Graham Shadwell beat Colin Luton 27-16. Away - Rink 1: Russell Francis beat Jim Phillips 32-12. Rink 2: Keith Bailey beat John Lowden 20-19.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat Thornbury 113-60 and by 16pts to Nil.

CENTRAL SCORES

Jan 27: Clarrie Dunbar 113 (16pts) Thornbury 60 (0pts).

Jan 28: Nailsea 74 (12pts) Purnell 72 (4pts); St Andrews 75 (4pts) Clevedon 90 (12pts).

CENTRAL FIXTURES

Sunday, Feb 4

Christie Miller v Nailsea; Thornbury v North Wilts; Bristol v St Andrews; Clarrie Dunbar (holders) v Clevedon. Bye: Bristol.