A HIGHLY successful weekend was enjoyed by Westlecot men’s indoor bowls section.

They recorded victories in two national championship area finals at Cotswold and a thumping Wessex League play-offs win, all against opponents from the City and County of Bristol club.

The trio of Kevin Embling, Graham Hatherall and Ian Jefferies (skip, pictured) beat Pete Birmingham, Terry Barnes and Ryan Collier 26-18 to win the Area 16 Triples final.

Then 24 hours later, on Sunday evening, the Westlecot duo of Tom Walkley and Dave Snell won the Area 16 Pairs title with a 19-10 success over Eric Seaville and Steve Wiltshire, who was subbing for the absent Jason Sparkes.

The Jefferies’ trio and the Walkley and Snell pairing now advance to the latter stages and last 32 of the national championships, to be staged in Nottingham in the middle of next month.

Jefferies’ trio in the triples final had to come from behind in order to take victory.

They made a poor start and were 9-3 down after four ends but had fought back to lead 12-9 at nine and 18-13 at 12 ends.

A four was conceded on the next but then counts of one, three, and four propelled them 26-17 clear and despite a one on the next (17th end) their Bristol opponents conceded.

The Walkley and Snell partnership were in control of their match throughout except for one end.

They were 11-2 up at 10 ends but dropped a six on the 15th to only lead 16-9. They quickly put that blip behind them to move 19-10 up at 20 ends when their Bristol opponents conceded.

And to complete a miserable weekend for the Bristol club, Pete Birmingham was beaten 21-16 by North Wilts’ fine young prospect, 20-year-old Wayne Snook, in the Area Singles final.

IAN Jefferies’ rink have also reached the final stages of the national championships in Nottingham.

They will not have to go back to Thornbury, play two trial ends and the outstanding 21st end of the Area 16 Fours final.

The score of 18-15 in favour of Westlecot’s Kevin Embling, Hedley Bowen, John Williamson and Jefferies after 20 ends will stand.

Apparently skip Jason Sparkes’ protest was not supported by his three teammates and diplomacy and common sense has prevailed.

JOHN Thomas will quickly want to forget his trip to Bedford for the final stages in the National Championships.

He suffered two defeats in the space of 48 hours in the Over 60s Singles and Pairs competitions.

Thomas lost 21-15 in the first round of the singles to Folkstone’s Roger Herridge, a winner earlier in the Over 50s Triples event.

Two days later he teamed up with Jeff Nichols in the last 32 of the Over 60s Pairs event but they were beaten 28-15.

They never really recovered from a disastrous start to the match when they trailed Avon Valley’s Mario Rosso and Bill Ward 19-0 after only seven ends.