WESTLECOT’S hopes of lifting a national title in the Over 50s section at the National Indoor Championships in Nottingham ended on the first day on Easter Monday.

The ladies trio of Josie Lloyd, Wendy Anderson and Janet Willis were beaten in the last 16 of the two-wood triples, while the men’s team of Terry Walton, Dave Snell and Mel Biggs lost out in a dramatic quarter-final.

In an all-Wiltshire clash against the Chippenham-based North Wilts team of Jean Collier, Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs, Willis’ combination made a slow start and were 7-1 down at five ends, and from that point, always had to play catch-up.

Despite their efforts, Lloyd, Anderson and Willis trailed 11-5 at 10 ends, 18-6 at 15 and were 19-8 down at 17 ends when a halt was called.

Remarkably, the North Wilts trio went on to win another three matches, beating Boston 23-9, York 20-14 and Huntingdon 19-14 after an extra end in the final to lift the national crown.

Westlecot's men were always in control of their last 16 match against Blackpool Newton Hall. Despite being 4-2 down at five ends, they won 16-9 after 18 ends.

Biggs and co then looked on course to book a semi-final spot when they faced a tight match against Folkstone but there was a twist in the tale.

The Folkstone triple of Arthur McCaughan, Colin Elson and skip Roger Herridge led 6-3 at five ends but Westlecot hit back to lead on the eighth and were 9-7 up at 10 and 15-11 at 16, but then disaster struck on the next.

Biggs’ team dropped a sensational score of six on the penultimate end as Folkstone leapt into a 17-15 lead.

On the 18th end, Biggs grabbed a two with his last wood to tie the game at 17-17 and send the match into a dramatic extra end, where Folkstone skip Herridge fortuitously knocked the jack to three of his team’s back bowls to set up a 20-17 victory.

The fifth and final block of the national championships are set to commence next Friday and run for 10 days at Melton & District.

Westlecot’s final hopes of a title this season rest firmly on the shoulders of Lloyd, Anderson and Willis, who compete in another triples event, but this time it is the ladies’ national triples championship on April 13-14.