NEIL Smith and his two daughters, Lucy and Katy, enjoyed success in national championship events and competitions last week.

Father Neil, who made a successful England indoor debut in a mixed Test match against Wales at Stanley in County Durham recently, got the ball rolling in the Champion of Champions area final.

Smith, who was national Champion of Champions runner-up in 2007 to current world number one Nicky Brett, defeated 2014 winner England junior international Ryan Atkins (Malvern Hills) 21-17 at home at Westlecot in the Area 30 final to reach the last 32.

The 49-year-old was never behind against his younger opponent. He led 9-4 and then 13-10 before being pegged back to 13-all. A single and a three put Smith 17-13 up but back came Atkins with two twos to tie the game again. However, a three and a single then saw Smith over the line.

Smith now faces Simon Jones (Desborough, Maidenhead), the Area 15 winner, in the last 32 - just one step away from a place Champion of Champions title shoot-out at Hayling Island at the end of January.

Meanwhile, Lucy, 20, and 18-year-old Katy have been drawn to go head-to-head in the last 16 of the U25 ladies championships at White Oak (Swanley, Kent) next February after both successfully came through the west regional finals at Bristol.

Lucy was drawn against Laura Holden in the first round but the Clevedon junior international failed to turn up, so Smith had a walkover.

She then faced Cathy Edwards (Whiteknights) and, after being 5-1 down, fought back to tie the set 7-7 and in the second Smith was always in front, eventually winning 11-6.

Katy, beaten in the last 16 last season by eventually winner Chloe Wordingham, played Yeovil’s Emily Corner in the first round.

She won the first set 9-4 but in the second, Corner raced into an 8-1 lead. However, Smith fought back to go into the last end 9-8 down, and then bagged the one she needed to win the match.

In the second round, she saw off Rebecca Cresswell, from Dolphin in Poole, 6-6, 15-1 win to book her place at White Oak as well.

 

WESTLECOT senior men are still running in one of the main national competitions - the men’s over 60s double rinks - after pulling off a 50-30 success over Malvern Hills.

After being 5-2 down after five ends, the home foursome of Kevin Embling, Geoff Smith, Terry Walton and Dave Snell picked up a six on the 10th end and never looked back, winning 22-13.

Westlecot’s foursome at Malvern of Denis Holborow, Tony Rivers, Dave Matthews and John Thomas made a flying start leading, 9-1 after five ends before powering to an impressive 28-17 victory.

They now meet Gloucester in round four.

 

SUNDAY sees the two local indoor bowls clubs in Swindon, Manor and Westlecot, clash in a men’s group match in the east region of the Wessex League.

Westlecot will be bidding to regain top spot, and in order to do so they must win on at least three of the four rinks.

Interestingly, Manor have included Craig Morphet as an away skip. He has played this season already for Westlecot in the U25s double rinks, Egham Trophy and Yetton Plate but not in the Wessex League.