CHRISTIE Miller player Tom Newman has qualified for the last 16 and final stages for the first time in the 2016/17 men’s national U25 competition at City of Ely at the end of January.

He won the Area 16 section by beating Jamie Shadwell (Clarrie Dunbar) in straight sets 2-0 in the semi-finals and followed it up with another 2-0 success in the area final against Reece White (Bristol City & County).

Newman was then due to play in the inter-area final against the Area 17 winner, England U25 international Martin Puckett (Moonfleet 2000, Weymouth, Dorset).

Unfortunately due to a clash of dates, Puckett is unable to compete as he is already playing in the World U25s at Potters Leisure Result, Norfolk, on the weekend of the final stages.

Therefore, Miller’s Newman has received an early Christmas present, a walkover and passage into the final stages.

Graham Shadwell (Clarrie Dunbar) also has an important date this week in the men’s Champion of Champions competition.

Area 16 champion Shadwell, winner of this competition in 2005 and 2013, has to play Area 17 winner Robert Paxton (Taunton Deane) in the delayed inter-area final, with the winner moving forward to the last 16 at Warner Lakeside, Hayling Island, Hampshire, at the beginning of February.

  • THE MEN’S sections at Christie Miller and Clarrie Dunbar produced a mixed set of results in the latest block of games in the Central region in the Wessex League.

Miller went down by two shots in the local derby with Chippenham-based North Wilts, while Clarrie thrashed Thornbury by 59 shots to enhance their chances of winning the Central region and overall success in the end-of-season play-offs.

Clarrie made a flying start across the board and led 29-7 on the four rinks after five ends and moved way ahead 56-24 at 10. They continued to rack up the shots, leading 78-37 at 15 and finally winning 99-40.

Miller led their clash with local rivals North Wilts for most of the match as they were 20-16 in front at five ends, 34-27 at halfway, 43-39 at 12 and 48-44 at 14. They fell 54-51 behind at 15 but levelled 56-56 on the 16th, only to finally lose 63-61 despite winning on two of the four rinks.

  • WILTSHIRE sides suffered three second round defeats over the weekend in inter-county championship matches in the men’s Liberty Trophy, ladies Atherley Trophy and men’s U25 double rinks.

The senior men’s team were edged out at Cotswold (Stroud) 100-98 despite sharing the rink honours 3-3.

The all-Christie Miller rink of Tom Newman, Darren Anteney, Paul Macdonald and Andy Moore recorded the biggest Wiltshire winning margin of 19-5.

The county ladies drew 3-3 on rinks with Dorset but were beaten 111-91 by Dorset.

The rink skipped by Sheila Garlick, and including fellow Christie players Eileen Hawker and Bev Lilley, recorded the biggest win of 20-11.

At Dolphin IBC (Poole), the junior county men’s side went out of the U25 double rinks, losing to Dorset 33-29.