MIKE Titcombe failed to finally lay the Westlecot men’s 35-year old jinx to rest and win a national indoor title for the club after he was beaten in the men’s U25 singles semi-finals last weekend at City of Ely IBC.

The ladies have captured three titles since the indoor section opened at the club in 1983.

They are the Mason Trophy (O60s double rink) in the 2002/03 season, the ladies O50s two-wood triples, courtesy of Jean Bird, Joyce Laming and Wendy Anderson in 2004/05, while Katy Smith beat elder sister Lucy last season to win ladies U25 singles.

Four men have gone close to ending the hoodoo only to lose in a national final.

Neil Smith has twice been beaten, firstly in the men’s champion of champions in 2006/07 and then the men’s singles in 2012/13. Neil Hope featured in the other two losses, in the men’s U25 final in 2001/02 and with his father Martin in the final of the father and son competition the same year.

Titcombe won the Area 14 U25 title to reach the last 16 of the competition but went out in the semi-finals, losing on a three-end tie breaker after drawing 1-1 in sets against Lee Calver (Ipswich).

In the last 16, Titcombe had to come from behind to beat Paul Oke (Sleaford, Lincs) 2-0 in a tie-breaker after losing the first set 9-6 but winning the second narrowly 9-8.

In the quarter-finals, he beat Jack Bird (Scarborough) 2-0 (9-7, 7-6) before going out to Calver in the last four.

Titcombe, however, is still running in the Area 14 men’s singles championship and has reached the semi-final stage where he will play away against Martin Shepherd (Chipping Norton).

  • WESTLECOT foursome Lucy, Katy and Neil Smith (skip) plus Ian Jefferies have qualified for the latter stages of the national mixed fours for the second time in the last three seasons.

They booked their place at Loddon Vale (Basingstoke) in the last 16 with a comfortable 23-8 victory over the Whiteknights Reading quartet of Cheryl Colby, Caroline, Francis and Chris Hitt in the Area 14 mixed fours final staged on Thursday at Loddon Vale.

Back in the 2015/16 season at Lincoln & District, the same Westlecot side finished as runners-up after they lost 21-20 on the last end of the final to holders Blackpool Newton Hall.

Westlecot are also be hoping to have a representative in the mixed pairs final stages at Loddon Vale as Jayne Croston and Chris Cheesley were due to play their mixed pairs Area 14 final against Morgan Merryweather and Michael Knight (Whiteknights) on Friday night at Oxford City and County.

  • THE senior men at Westlecot have reached the last 16 in the O60 men’s double rinks competition after wins over Brackley, Banbury, Handy Cross (High Wycombe) and Herts IBC (Watford).

They will play West Berks (Newbury) on Tuesday, one rink home at Westlecot and one away, bidding to reach the quarter-finals.