WESTLECOT'S foursome of skip Neil Smith, his two daughters Lucy and Katy and number three Ian Jefferies went agonisingly close last weekend in Lincoln to winning the national mixed fours crown.

They were pipped at the post on a replayed last end losing in the final 21-20 to the holders Emma Seed, Sue Kearsley, Jonathan Goodall and England international Mark Dawes, from Blackpool Newton Hall.

Smith and co led for most of the match but were hauled back and went into the 20th end trailing 20-17 but notched a three to draw level at 20-20 and set-up a nail-biting last end decider for the mixed fours title.

On the second attempt at playing the 21st and last end Westlecot stood holding game shot but with his last wood Blackpool’s Mark Dawes played a forehand runner which looked too wide.

But it clipped a wide wood into the head which knocked the counting wood out to give Blackpool a fortuitous winning bowl and retain the mixed fours title and leave the Westlecot four cursing their luck and with the runners-up trophy.

They had reached the final with a fine 19-16 victory in the semi-finals over the much fancied host club’s Lincoln and District side who used local knowledge well to comeback from 15-6 down at 12 ends to set-up a tense finish.

Earlier in the competition in the last 16 Westlecot had beaten Taunton Deane comfortably 25-13, who had eliminated Clarrie Dunbar in the inter-area final.

They followed that up with a 20-13 victory in the quarter-finals over Ipswich coming from 9-6 down at 11 ends to claim a seven-shot success.

This loss to Blackpool Newton Hall means Westlecot are still waiting to add to their two national indoor successes gained by the ladies section in 2003 and 2005 in the Mason Trophy and Ladies Over 50 two wood triples respectively.

MORE ON THIS STORY IN DAVE EATON'S SWINDON ADVERTISER BOWLS ROUND-UP LATER THIS WEEK