NEIL Hope is aiming for a fifth Worthing national championships spot this weekend after re-writing the Wiltshire bowls record books on county finals day at Westlecot Bowling Club on Sunday 28 July.

Highworth ace Hope, 23, will turn out for Westlecot in the final county rounds of the Lincoln Unit Trust-sponsored national club championships at Wootton Bassett on Sunday looking to improve on his record-breaking four national finals entries this year.

Hope broke the previous county record of three Worthing appearances, set by Westlecot club mate Mark Dyer in 2000 and 2001, with a 21-7 victory over fellow England junior international Russell Francis in the Wiltshire U25 singles final on Sunday.

He had already booked his finals places in the senior singles, pairs and fours by reaching the county final of each competition.

Although he and partner Ian Jefferies were beaten 20-17 by Mel Biggs and Steve Warren, also of Westlecot, in the pairs, Hope sealed a memorable day by defeating Malmesbury's Malcolm Curtis 22-9 to lift the senior men's title for the first time.

The county fours final will take place on August 14, just three days before the fortnight-long national finals at Worthing begin.

Hope is in confident mood ahead of the trip to Sussex on August 17.

He said: "I've won the county U25 title five times, but never the national title. Qualifying for Worthing gives me a chance and I only have two years left to do it.

"I got to the final of the same event indoors, so hopefully this will be the year. The way I'm playing at the moment, I've obviously got a chance.

"I'd like to think I have a good chance in the senior singles as well. Everyone says we'll win the fours, but you never know. The pairs would be a nice bonus as well."

Hope was beaten by eventual Worthing finalist Francis in last year's Wiltshire U25 final and, with only the winner of the competition going through to the national event, he needed victory on Sunday to clinch his record-breaking fourth championship spot.

He was delighted to have banished the painful memory of defeat at the hands of Francis in 2001, but took the most pleasure from winning the senior singles title for the first time.

He said: "Russell beat me fair and square last year, but I was in a bad mood after losing a singles semi beforehand and didn't play well.

"It was nice to win the senior singles as that is the blue riband event and the one I wanted to win the most. I reached the final in 1996, when I was 17, and have come close a few times since then. It is nice to break the record, although I don't think it really counts because not everyone can enter the U25s."

Hope, who works as a driver for Parcelforce, took up the sport at the age of nine when dad Martin joined Highworth Bowls Club.

The youngster gained England honours while playing for his hometown club, but moved to the county's top club Westlecot at the beginning of this season as his ambition grew for national championship success.

He is pleased with the effect the move has had on his game.

He said: "I put it all down to moving clubs from Highworth to Westlecot. It is a much stronger club.

"I've always had a chance in the singles events, but there is more strength in depth at Westlecot and that helps in the other events. So far, the plan has come good.

"Playing with the calibre of players there every week also helps keep your game to a certain level and it is going well."