APART from the success of the Morphets combination in the family pairs last weekend, it has so far been a disappointing opening to the 2016 national championships and competitions for Wiltshire bowlers.

Ann Greenland and Janet Hardie (North Wilts) went out in the first round of the ladies senior pairs, narrowly beaten 17-16 by a Derbyshire pairing from Silver Band Bowls Club.

Lucy Smith (Royal Wootton Bassett) lost in round one of the junior (U25 singles) on the last end 21-20 to Natalie Fox (Sandwich, Kent).

Wiltshire colleague Georgina Newman (Avon) won her opening U25 game with ease, beating Jodie Long (Preston Park Middx) 21-1, but lost in the second round to Freya Spokes (Waddesdon BC, Bucks) 21-16.

On Tuesday there was double disappointment in the opening round of the ladies fours championship.

County champions Box - Carol Grenfell, Karen Funnell, Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs - lost to Bideford 24-16, while the county losing finalists rink of Supermarine’s Carol Sandry, Marilyn Kilburn, Pat Jones and Bev Millen lost out to Egham 22-17.

Wednesday saw Box’s Jacobs win her opening match in the last 16 of the ladies champion of champions competition, beating Ann Halliday (Cambridge Park, Surrey) 21-15, but then in the quarter-finals despite coming from 17-11 down, she lost out on the last end 21-20 to former England international Caroline Campion (Banbury Central).

The four wood ladies singles championship featuring Katy Smith (Bassett) and Jean Collier (Box) were due to be played yesterday and conclude today.

The remainder of the ladies championship events and competitions will be played next week in triples, two wood singles and pairs, featuring Supermarine’s Wiltshire champions Kilburn and Jones, before finishing next weekend with the junior (u25) pairs with Lucy and Katy Smith (Bassett).

Next Saturday sees the men’s national championships start, with Kyle Anderson (Bassett) and Tom Warner (Amesbury) first up for Wiltshire in the junior (U25) singles.

They are followed by Steve Snell’s foursome on Sunday from Royal Wootton Basset, who also include Anderson, Tom Walkley and Dave Godwin, in the men’s four championship.