THE COUNTY ladies two-wood singles took centre stage last Saturday as players battled for a last-eight spot to keep their hopes alive of playing at the national championships in August.

An initial entry of 68 players was scheduled to contest the opening rounds at four venues around the county – Pewsey, Swindon BC, Avon and Holt - with only three of last season’s quarter-finallists qualifying for the last eight again this time around including defending champion Jean Collier (Box).

At Pewsey, Irene Button (Chippenham Town) and Ginny Nash (Royal Wootton Bassett) qualified for the quarter-finals at Box on June 17.

Button was taken to the wire before beating Chris Mitchell (Purton) 14-13 on an extra end but Nash had an easier 16-13 win over Margaret Douthwaite (Wroughton).

At Swindon, Joanna Richman (Highworth) defeated Pewsey’s Christine Heath 19-4, while Laura Latham edged past Charlie Godwin (Royal Wootton Bassett) 15-14.

Reigning champion Jean Collier beat Glenys Hibberd 17-11 at Holt to reach the quarter-finals again, while the other spot was taken by Wilton’s Ann Hindley (Wilton), who beat Karen Funnell (Box) 16-5.

Meanwhile, at Avon, the duo of Alex Jacobs Jacobs enjoyed a comfortable 17-7 win over Sue Ochyra (Devizes), and Sue Cooke edged out team-mate Jane Taylor 14-12.

  • HEAVY RAIN on Tuesday resulted in many matches being abandoned but seven of the eight ladies last 16 ties in the triples championship did go ahead.

In the southern area, Devizes recorded two victories as the trios of Rose Merritt, Patricia Reeves and Sue Ochyra, and Ellen Stiles, Bev Lilley and Sheila Garlick both accounted for Alderbury teams.

Also successful in the south of the county were Box, led by Michele Williams, who bested Winsley and Janice Rowe’s triple from Amesbury, who beat a trio from Box.

These four triples qualify for the quarter-finals at Wilton on June 11, with the two finalists qualifying for the national championships.

In the northern section, two trios from Purton, led by Alison Fail and J Fish, qualified for the Wilton showdown, as did Janet Willis’ triple from Stratton Churchway.