STRATTON CHURCHWAY have failed to retain their county Top Club title, writes DAVE EATON.

Last year they enjoyed great success winning the Wiltshire title by whitewashing Warminster in the final, and then beating Herefordshire and Somerset representatives to reach the national finals and last eight in the country at Torquay.

However, this year they were second best to Box in the county final stage on their own green.

Stratton lost the singles by two shots, the pairs by eight shots but easily took the triples by 15 to set up a tense finale in the fours.

Victory in the last event would have drawn the match but put Stratton through on shot difference.

And, it could not have been closer as going into the last end of the fours the respective rinks skipped by Jean Dixon and Carol Grenfell tied 18-18 after Box picked-up a single on the 20th end. But it was not to be Stratton's day as they dropped a shot on the last to give Box a one shot victory 3-1.

In the earlier rounds Stratton Churchway had accounted for Westlecot, Highworth and Chippenham Park.

RESULTS NORTH FINAL - Singles: Wendy Anderson beat Janet Sage 21-17; Pairs: Ellen Bolland & Janet Willis beat Viv Stubbs & Alva Pagington 29-19; Triples: Daphne Collier, Mavis Wakefield and Mary Moss beat V Corbett, M Talbot and S Burgoyne 19-9; Fours: Lil Dalrymple, Sylvia Packer, Mavis Morris and Jan Prothero beat Pam West, M Ragbourne, I Dargie and A Williams 33-13.

COUNTY FINAL - Singles: Anderson lost to Janet Hardies 19-21; Pairs Bolland & Willis lost to Karen Funnell & Alex Jacobs 15-23; Triples: Collier, Wakefield and Moss beat Molly Manning, Judy Selbie and Sue Cooke 25-10; Fours: Dalrymple, Packer, Morris and Jean Dixon lost to Lolly Braddon, Sylvia Lucas, Jean Collier and Carol Grenfell 18-19.

  • SHRIVENHAM ladies, who play out of the Royal County of Berkshire, also lost at the county final stage.

Winners of the Berkshire section of the women's Top Club competition in 2003 they failed to repeat that success this time around, beaten 3-1 by Great Hollands (Wokingham).

Shrivenham had accounted for Hagbourne, Didcot, Wantage and Three Mile Cross (Reading) in the earlier rounds.

TEAM - Singles: Marilyn Forty; Pairs: Mandy Forty and Eve Millidge. Triples: Cathy Hope, Pauline Bland and Helen Simpson; Fours: Val Carter, Brenda Winskill, Yvonne Randall and Esme Haste. Res: Maureen Rice.

  • WESTLECOT men are still on course to reach this year's final in Worthing after beating Cooper Avon Tyres 4-1.

Last year's finallists now face Wessex Bowls Club tonight at home in the Dorset and Wilts Area Final at 6pm.

The winner will progress to the last 16 and regional finals later this month.

RESULTS Two Wood Singles: Ian Jefferies beat Chris Easton 16-11; Four Wood Singles: Neil Smith lost to Colin Easton 10-21; Pairs: Graham Hatherall & Mark Dyer beat Mark Ashcroft (skip) 26-15; Triples: Michael Richards, Des Rideout and Mike Jackson beat John Crowder (skip) 16-15; Fours: Kevin Embling, John Thomas, Jay Titcombe and Mel Biggs beat Vince Williams (skip) 24-10.