AREA 14 championship events that lead to last 16 places at the national championships for both men and women are nearing conclusion.

This vast area covers the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, parts of Northamptonshire and the Swindon area of Wiltshire only.

Westlecot men and women feature in many of the numerous events.

In the ladies championship events, Lucy and Katy Smith have reached the area final in the pairs and are due to play Helen Jones and her partner from Desborough (Maidenhead) at Loddon Vale (Basingstoke) on March 6.

In the triples, Lucy and Katy are joined by Jayne Croston and will face Caroline Mabley and her team from Whiteknights, Reading in the area triples final at Loddon Vale on March 1.

Katy is also through to the final in the new two bowl singles event and is due to play Donna Knight (West Berks) at Loddon Vale on February 27.

In the men’s events, Westlecot have several representations in finals.

Mike Titcombe, who recently reached the semi-finals in the U25 singles, has qualified for the main singles championship area final and will play former England international Robert Newman from the Whiteknights club in Reading at Oxford City & County on February 27.

In the men’s pairs, Chris Cheesley and Neil Smith are through to the final and will play Reading’s Newman and his partner at Loddon Vale on March 2.

Smith, together with Mel Biggs and Ian Jefferies, are due to face Barry Williams team from West Berks in the triples final at Loddon Vale on February 28.

In the Over 60s section, the Westlecot foursome of Denis Holborow, Dave Snell, Terry Walton and Mel Biggs booked their place in the final with a 23-5 win over Andy Hunt (Slade, Buckingham) on Tuesday.

They will now meet Barry Williams and his quartet from West Berks in the final which has to be arranged.

The winners of the area finals will progress to the last 16 at the national championships, due to be staged in Melton & District (Leics) from March 23-31, except for age group events which will be decided at Nottingham from April 7-14.

  • TWO ladies from Westlecot, Julia Hunt and Judy Hallard, were members of the Wiltshire Women’s side that won the annual match against the county men 120-92 at North Wilts last Sunday.

Martin Salter, Alan Penfold and Dennis May, plus Swindon Manor’s Dave Longhurst, were included in the losing men’s side.