INDOOR clubs Westlecot and Swindon Manor go into the new year both still actively involved in one national team competition.

Westlecot have reached the last 32 in the men’s Over 60 inter club double rinks and face a fifth round tie (last 32) against City and County of Bristol Indoor Bowls Club, to be played by January 22.

The club are trying to end their indoor team trophy drought, having not won a national title of any description since the indoor facility opened in 1983.

Swindon Manor ladies lost in the first round of the Yetton Trophy when going down in the derby match 92-78 to Westlecot. However, as a first-round loser they were automatically entered into the consolation Yetton Plate competition and are through to the last 32 and a meeting with Midlands side Avon Valley (Lighthorne, Warks), on Saturday, January 16.

WESTLECOT players are involved in all three national championship Area 10 finals, with the opposition in each case being supplied by Worcestershire side Malvern Hills IBC.

The Smith trio of Lucy, Katy and Neil, plus Ian Jefferies, are due to meet Pam Harris, Jean Meek, Mark and Ryan Atkins at home at Westlecot in the mixed fours area final on Sunday.

Neil Smith and youngest daughter Katy are scheduled to face Harris and junior England international Atkins at Westlecot on Sunday, January 17 in the mixed pairs area final.

The other Area 10 final already arranged is in the men’s Over 50 triples, where Terry Walton, Dave Snell and Mel Biggs face Malvern Hills’ trio of Brian Macnamara (ex-Westlecot), Jim Knowles and Neil Smith at home at Westlecot on Wednesday, January 13.

THIRTEEN members of the Westlecot club’s indoor section competed over the festive period on the south coast in the annual Boxing Day Bournemouth Open Singles Tournament.

Neil Smith, who won the previous week’s Barwell Open Singles (Leics), was the best placed of the Westlecot players, reaching the quarter-finals in the latest tournament on the national Open Singles Circuit.

The duo of John Anderson and Chris Cheesley made swift exits in the preliminary round and were joined by the sextet of first-round fallers Craig Morphet, Steve Remington, Gary Jackson, Denis Holborow, Craig and Graham Hatherall.

In round two, the trio of Katy Smith, Ian Jefferies and Mike Titcombe all lost as did Lucy Smith in round three to her father.

WESTLECOT men go into 2016 leading the east region table in the Wessex League after five group games.

Swindon Manor, who finished bottom of the pile last term, recorded their first-ever Wessex League victory by beating Banbury Cross 81-75 before losing the next three but face a tough battle with third-placed West Berks tomorrow.