CLARRIE Dunbar's two combinations bidding for glory in the mixed championship finals at Lincoln and District last weekend both missed out on landing a national title.

The mixed pairs husband and wife partnership of Thelma and Keith Bailey as well as the mixed four of Debbie Shadwell, Kim Smith, Russell Francis and Andy Colebrooke iboth saw their hopes disappear in their last 16 matches.

The Baileys qualified for Lincoln by winning the Area 30 mixed pairs title and then the inter-area against Taunton Deane.

In the last 16, they faced England internationals Amy Stanton and Andrew Walters (Welford-on-Avon) and were always playing catch-up. They trailed 7-1 at five ends, 15-4 after ten, 18-9 at 18 and finally lost 22-12.

Clarrie’s mixed fours, led by Colebrooke, had enjoyed a comfortable passage to Lincoln & District with a 22-18 win over Clevedon in the Area 30 final and followed that up with a thumping 26-10 victory over Watchet in the inter-area final.

The Dunbar rink made a slow start in their last 16 match against City of Ely’s team of Matt Marsden, Catherine Popple, Sarah Seymour and Stuart Popple (City of Ely) and were 7-0 down at five ends and 10-6 down at ten but fought back to tie the scores at 13-13 after 15 ends.

But then saw their hopes disappear as they only scored one shot and conceded eight on the next three ends to trail 21-14 at 18.

Colebrooke’s rink however staged a stirring rally pulling six shots back but missed-out by one shot finally losing 21-20.

In other national championship events and competitions the Dunbar trio of Craig Doughty, Russell Francis and Graham Shadwell are the next members of the men’s section at Clarrie bidding to reach the men’s national finals at Melton & District in early April.

Winners of the Area 30 triples title they have to face Taunton Deane’s (Matthew Hamilton, James Amery and Robert Paxton) in the inter-area final at Street on March 8 with a last 16 place at Melton Mowbray the prize for the winners.

CHRISTIE Miller men ended their 2014/15 Wessex League central region campaign on a high with a resounding 32-shot victory over Paulton side Purnell.

The Melksham-based club were always in control of their sixth and final central group match against basement club Purnell.

They made a fine start and led 26-14 across the board after five ends and 52-19 at ten. They increased that advantage to 77-36 at 15 ends and finally won 92-60.

Christie Miller took the honours against Purnell on three of the four rinks scooping 15 of the 16 points available.

The dropped point came on Paul Macdonald’s away rink who drew but were 20-4 up at 11 ends and never scored on the next ten ends and finished-up drawing 20-20.

As a result of the win and 15-point haul, Christie move above Thornbury finishing in fourth spot in the central region table but miss out on a wildcard into the end-of-season play-offs for the overall Wessex League title.

Clarrie Dunbar, who did not play last weekend, had already sealed top spot in the central region table again and, as central group champions, together with runners-up Bristol claimed the two automatic places allocated to their region in the play-offs.

RESULTS

Home - Rink 2: Malcolm Hole, Adi Bolwell, Steve Snook & Wayne Snook beat H Lorimer 26-11. Rink 3: Rod Summers, Paul Barnes, Graham Archard & Brian Routledge beat B Gay 19-18.

Away - Rink 1: John Bailey, Tom Newman, Nigel Price & Andy Moore beat J Matthews 27-11. Rink 2: Chris Easton, Mike Savin, Wayne Simmonds & Paul Macdonald drew with M Talbot 20-20.

Score: Christie Miller beat Purnell 92 (15pts) – 60 (1pt).

OTHER SCORES: Nailsea 86 (14) North Wilts 59 (2); Thornbury 53 (0) Bristol 94 (16); Christie Miller 92 (15pts) Purnell 60 (1pt).

IN TEAM competitions Clarrie Dunbar men, the holders, surprisingly slumped to an 87-69 loss to basement club Watchet in their fifth and penultimate match of the season in the Somerset County League.

The match was tight at home but it was away where the damage was done with Graham Jones’ rink suffering a 32-8 reverse.

Clarrie had previously held top spot in the league but the defeat means they need to take all 16 points in their final match against Donyatt on March 22 to retain the title.

RESULTS

Home - Rink 2: Dick Discombe, Cliff Gumm, Graham Cox & Glyn Jones lost to L Townsend 20-24. Rink 3: Peter Hooley,John Arnold, Kevin Brixey & Mick Maslen beat S Steel 23-18.

Away - Rink 1: Keith Haines, Greg Wride, David Pitcher & Colin Easton beat J Trincs 18-13. Rink 2: John Jones, Mike Samuels, Alan Brown & Graham Jones lost to Steve Hooper 8-32.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar lost to Watchet 69 (4pts) – 87 (12pts).

MEANWHILE Clarrie Dunbar Ladies A team, beaten semi-finalists last year are through to this year’s final.

In the semis this time around they won the pairs and triples to defeat Nailsea 2-1 and book their spot in the last two.

RESULTS

Pairs: Sadie Farrell & Nesta Parfitt beat J Brown & J White 27-12. Triples: Shirley Samuels, Jan Alden & Sue Bird beat R Hellens 16-15. Fours: Ruth Haines, Emma Maslen, Marjorie Gatfield & Wendy Ivory lost to C Burgess 8-22.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat Nailsea 2-1.