A NEW indoor bowls season started at the beginning of October but the 2012/13 campaign only really swings into top gear this weekend as the national team competitions commence, writes DAVE EATON.

The first round of the Denny Cup and Egham Trophy, men’s and mixed national inter-club championship events, will be staged on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

All of the men’s local clubs take to the green on Saturday in the first round of the Denny Cup – two rinks home and two rinks away.

North Wilts (Chippenham) have drawn a very tough tie against Cotswold (Stroud), Christie Miller (Melksham) meet Gloucester while Clarrie Dunbar face fellow Somerset side Clevedon.

Only North Wilts and Clarrie Dunbar, who both enjoyed a good run last season, have entered this year’s mixed Egham Trophy.

In Area D of the competition North Wilts meet Bristol in a first round tie on Sunday but Clarrie Dunbar are straight through to round two on November 4 where they meet Purnell (Paulton).

The ladies equivalent national inter-club championship competition for the Yetton Trophy does not begin until November 1.

And in regional competitions the men’s Wessex League central section featuring eight clubs - Christie Miller, Clarrie Dunbar, North Wilts, Bristol, Nailsea, Purnell (Paulton), Weston St Andrews and Yate does not commence until Sunday, October 28.

Preliminary round matches in national team competitions such as Men’s and Ladies O60s inter-club double rinks have already been played.

Christie Miller made a swift exit in the men’s O60s double rinks losing 54-21 to Purnell who will now face North Wilts in round one by October 26.

In the Mason’s Trophy, ladies O60s, Christie Miller also made a swift exit losing 57-28 to North Wilts A. This set-up a North Wilts A and B clash by October 26 as the B side eliminated Clarrie Dunbar in the preliminary round 47-35.

It is early days in the main national competitions for both ladies and men but North Wilts Alex Jacobs has already produced a brilliant performance in the ladies national singles championship.

In her first round Area 30 singles match Jacobs beat England junior international and senior triallist Stefanie Branfield (Clevedon) 21-20. Branfield won the Area 30 singles title last season and went on to reach the singles semi-finals at Nottingham.

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