SWINDON-BASED players featured prominently in the planetbowls.com Bournemouth Open singles tournament at the start of the year.

Westlecot’s John Anderson, Denis Holborow, Ian Jefferies and Neil Smith all managed to reach the last 16 of the tournament from an entry of 77 but only Smith progressed further.

Holborow, who enjoyed his best run in a planet tournament so far, beat David Stratton (Bournemouth) 5-6, 13-0, 2-0, Chris Cheesley 8-4, 5-7, 2-0 and Andy Colebrooke (Clarrie Dunbar) 6-3, 0-9, 2-0.

But he was then edged out in the last 16 against Keith Bailey (Clarrie Dunbar) 5-4, 2-7, 0-2.

Jefferies beat Sean Gingell (Egham) and Percy Parkes (Bath) but then lost narrowly in the last 16 to David Richardson (Grattons, Crawley), losing the first set 5-6 and drawing the second 4-4.

Anderson beat Gary Fountain (Dolphin, Poole) and then England junior international Lloyd Sabatini (Whiteknights, Reading) 4-9, 7-2, 2-0, but was second best to Westlecot colleague Smith in the last 16, losing 7-5, 7-8 0-2.

Smith had earlier beaten Trevor Roberts (Falaise) and then Steve Broome (Bromsgrove).

In the quarter-finals Smith accounted for David Richardson 5-3, 6-5, but then lost in the semis to Clarrie Dunbar’s Keith Bailey. Smith drew the first set 5-5 but lost the second 2-9.

Smith is seventh in the planetbowls.com rankings on 114 points, with Jefferies 41st on 61.

The next planet tournament is not until January 24-25 at Wey Valley (Guildford).

WILTSHIRE Ladies faded on the run-in and were beaten in the quarter-finals of the Atherley Cup at North Wilts by Devon.

They were only one shot adrift at 18 ends across the board in the inter-county championship last-eight home tie but then dropped 20 shots in the last three ends and only scored eight to lose 125-112.

Wiltshire ladies’ much-changed side made a flying start and led 37-18 at five ends and 68-61 at 10 but were then hauled back.

Visitors Devon edged 95-91 ahead at 15 and held a narrow 105-104 advantage at 18 but then powered away to victory, although rink honours were shared at 3-3.