NATIONAL competitions are finally beginning to reach the business end in both team and singles events such as champion of champions and men’s and ladies Under 25 singles.

In the team competitions, Westlecot are through to round five in the new year in the men’s O60s double rinks, while they face Clevedon next weekend in the Denny Plate.

Swindon Manor ladies’ four-rinks team were the only ones from the Rodbourne Cheney club to enter a national event and are still running in the Yetton Plate and have been drawn to face Avon Valley on January 16 in round three.

In the men’s and ladies champion of champions inter-area finals, father Neil Smith and daughter Katy, from Westlecot, both lost in the last 32 and missed out on a place at Warner Leisure, Hayling Island at the end of January in the final stages.

Meanwhile Katy, 18, and her 20-year-old sister Lucy, 20, have both qualified for the last 16 in the ladies U25 singles at White Oak, Swanley, Kent on February 6-7.

Unfortunately, the draw has not been kind and they face each other in the last 16 of the competition.

However, Mike Titcombe’s hopes in the men’s U25 singles are over after losing in the Area 10 final 2-0 in sets to Jack Daniels (MidGlos).

In all of the other national championships events such as singles, pairs, triples and fours and all the competitions, area quarter or semi-finalists should be known after December 20.