BOX foursome Carol Grenfell, Karen Funnell, Sue Cooke and skip Alex Jacobs and a quartet from Supermarine have become the first players in the county to book a place at the 2016 Ladies National Championships at Royal Leamington Spa at the beginning of August, writes DAVE EATON.

They were victorious in the quarter and semi-finals of the Wiltshire ladies national fours championship held at Amesbury on Saturday and will meet on county finals day at Supermarine on Saturday, July 30.

Alex Jacobs’ four edged out a fellow Box foursome, skipped by Michele Williams, 22-19 before defeating Purton 20-14 to claim a place at Leamington.

The bottom half of the draw saw Supermarine overcome home advantage to eliminate Amesbury 24-21, then beat Devizes 24-15.

WILTSHIRE Ladies led by county president Pat Jones (Supermarine) made a winning start in their first county women’s friendly of the season in Wales against West Glamorgan, 109-108.

However, the ladies lost their opening game of the South West Counties League campaign 117-11, despite winning on four rinks against Cornwall.

WILTSHIRE junior men’s side produced a superb late surge to grab a 39-31 victory over Warwickshire in their first round West Regional White Rose Trophy match at Royal Wootton Bassett last Sunday afternoon.

The biggest telling contribution came on the rink next door from Kyle Anderson’s four, who had picked-up 10 shots on the last four ends and only dropped one to add to the four shots they scored on ends 16 and 17 to go from 12-11 up at 15 ends and win easily 26-12.

COUNTY men’s championships in the national fours and triples events move into top gear in the next few days.

The men’s fours are down to the quarter-finals, which will be staged next Tuesday at Chippenham Town (6.15pm).