THE annual outdoor season county opener between mixed teams from Bowls Wiltshire and Swindon & District takes place at Highworth Bowls Club tomorrow (2.30pm).

Wiltshire have chosen a side that has 12 clubs represented, led by Bowls Wiltshire chairperson June Corbett (Wroughton).

Also included in the side are the BW competitions co-ordinator Gerald Webb (Devizes), Wiltshire ladies secretary Babs Salter (Wroughton) and Wiltshire men’s immediate past president Pete Sanders (Spencer Melksham).

Four local clubs are represented, Town Gardens (Laura Laytham and Jim Cremin), Westlecot (Brian & Linda Whittingham), Haydon Wick (Val Groves) and Wroughton who supply six - Martin and Babs Salter, Carol Woodward, June Corbett, Denis Holborow and Bob George.

The Swindon & District side is drawn from five clubs - Supermarine, Highworth, Garrards, Faringdon and Purton.

TEAMS

Bowls Wiltshire Mixed, Rink 1: Don French (Trowbridge Town), Peter Sanders (BWM IPP, Spencer Melksham), Laura Laytham (Town Gardens) & Martin Salter (Wroughton). Rink 2: Karen Guy, Don Butchers (both Mere), Carol Woodward (Wro) & Gerald Webb (Devizes). Rink 3: George Tappenden (Ramsbury & Aldbourne), June Corbett (BW chairperson, Wro), Denis Holborow & Babs Salter (both Wro). Rink 4: Bob George (Wro), Lyn Stanford (Amesbury), Linda Whittingham (Westlecot) & Dave Richards (Trowbridge Westbourne). Rink 5: Mary Butchers (Mere), Val Groves (Haydon Wick), Jim Cremin (Town Gardens) & Brian Whittingham (W’lecot). Rink 6: Dawn Toomer, AN Other, Lesley Trattles & Geoff Toomer (all Wilton).

Swindon & District Mixed, Rink 1: Nicky Kemple-Young, Steve Watson, Roy Major (men’s pres) and Jerry Kemple-Young (all Supermarine). Rink 2: Ian Webb, Bob Wilson, Graeme Vincent & Stuart Murray (all Highworth). Rink 3: Peter Richardson, Dave Templar, Chris Payne & Dave Williams (all Garrards). Rink 4: Robin Haines, Colin Peacock, Trevor Durrant & Maurice Simpson (men’s SVP, all Faringdon). Rink 5: Jenny Wilson, Gerald Vincent (both Highworth), Paul Turner Snr (S’Marine) & Paul Boyles (Purton). Rink 6: Rob Iles, Tony, Marilyn & Mick Kilburn (all S’marine).

THE second Johns Trophy trial for Wiltshire's inter-county championship side will be held today at Wroughton (1.30pm).

Among them are members of the following clubs Royal Wootton Bassett (six), Wroughton and Highworth (three each), Stratton Churchway, Wanborough and Purton (all two each), plus a single representative from Swindon Town Gardens and Supermarine.

Then next Tuesday (May 10) Wilts ladies open their county friendly matches when they entertain West Glamorgan at Box (1.30pm), while the opening South-West Counties League match is due to be played against Cornwall on the neutral green at Tiverton West End the following week on Tuesday (May 16).

Yesterday evening saw the start of the ladies national championships with the staging of the first round in the county ladies fours, with ties being played around the county in both the northern and southern sections. Round two will be held next Monday.

TEAMS

Wilts ladies v West Glamorgan (friendly) Wed May 10 at Box, Rink 1: Dawn Edwards (Avon), Marie Greenwood (Devizes), Carole Coombs (Westlecot) & Mo Woolley (pres. Alderbury). Rink 2: Mary Pratt (Bradford-on-Avon), Patricia Reeves (Dev), Margaret Webber (Alder) & Janet Willis (Stratton Churchway). Rink 3: Ann Hindley (Wilton), Lynne Stanford (Amesbury), Marilyn Jay (Spencer Melksham) & Babs Salter (Wroughton). Rink 4: Eileen Holdway (BoA), M Jenkins (S Melk), Janice Bull (Ames) & Delia Godwin (S Melk). Rink 5: Dawn Toomer (Wilton), June Corbett (Wro), Sheila Garlick (Dev) & Fizz Mace (North Wilts). Rink 6: June Coyle (NW), Jean Buckland (Avon), Linda Perfitt (West) & Joan Coleman ( Ames). Res: Bev Lilley (Dev) and Yvonne Savin (Chippenham Town) - to attend; Viv Baskerville and Jan Boden (both Chip T) - on standby.

Wilts ladies v Cornwall (SWCL) Tues May 16, Rink 1: June Corbett (Wro), Yvonne Savin (Chip T), Janice Bull (Ames) & Margaret Annetts (Salisbury). Rink 2: Ann Hindley (Wilton), Sheila Garlick (Dev), Deanne Davis (Wanborough) & J Willis (Stratton C). Rink 3: Christobel Francis (S Melk), Eileen Oliver (Haydon Wick), Jean Collier & Carol Grenfell (Box). Rink 4: Chris Mitchell (Purton), Sue Gravell (Swindon Town Gardens), Fizz Mace (NW) & Alison Fail (Purton). Rink 5: Ann Roberts-Phare (NW), Viv Baskerville (Chip T), Karen Kirby (Blue Circle, Westbury) & Babs Salter (Wro). Rink 6: Julia Hunt (Wanboro), Bev Lilley (Dev), Mo Woolley (pres. Alder) & Rose Fitzpatrick (Chip T).

Res: June Coyle (NW) and Joan Coleman (Ames) – to attend; Glenda Hibberd (Wilton) and Pat Jones (Supermarine) - on standby.

THE DRAW has been made for the preliminary round in the Walker Cup, the ladies national county top two fours competition.

Wiltshire will face Warwickshire at Welford-on-Avon on Sunday, May 28.

If successful they would meet neighbours Gloucestershire at home on Sunday, June 25.

The draw has also been made for the first round in the Amey Rose Bowl.

Wiltshire Junior Ladies (31yrs & Under) will play Cumbria in the inter-county double rinks competition at Royal Leamington Spa on Saturday, September 2 (11.30am) and if successful would face either Cambridgeshire or Leicestershire in the afternoon at 2.30pm.