CLARRIE Dunbar's excellent run in this season’s Egham Trophy (mixed inter-club championship) was halted in the quarter-finals by Torquay United, winners of the national competition two years ago, writes DAVE EATON.

Dunbar missed out on all four rinks losing by 17 shots overall as they went down to the top Devon indoor side 71-54.

Clarrie made a fine start and led 18-15 across the board after five ends but had been pulled back by ten ends overall and trailed Torquay 37-31. The former champions maintained their advantage to lead 53-48 after 15 ends before pulling away to finally win 71-54.

Russell Francis’ rink at home led for more than half of their game while away in Torquay Graham Shadwell’s rink came from 8-3 down at five ends to lead 15-14 after 15 but then failed to score again.

It was disappointing to miss out in their sixth game in the competition (last eight) this season as Clarrie went out in the semi-finals last year to Kent side Swale, packed with a host of England men and women’s junior and senior internationals.

The senior ladies side carry Clarrie’s hopes of progression in a national team competition today (Friday) when they play Nailsea A in the third round of the Mason Trophy, over 60s double rinks.

While Dunbar men are in action this weekend when they face Devon side Exonia (Exeter) in the quarter-finals of the Denny Cup, two rinks home and two rinks away in Exeter.

RESULTS

Clarrie Dunbar v Torquay United - Egham Trophy Home - Rink 2: Debbie Shadwell, Nicola Radcliffe, Keith Bailey & Russell Francis lost to Sam Tolchard 13-18. Rink 3: Thelma Bailey, Sue Bird, Dale Taylor & Andy Colebrooke lost to Ryan Whitlock 14-15.

Away - Rink 2: Jeanette Wheeler, Teresa King, Terry Perkins & Graham Shadwell lost to Louis Ridout 15-22. Rink 4: Marcia Hartley, Kim Smith, Craig Hadfield-Doughty & Neil Collett lost to Danny Denison 12-16.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar lost to Torquay United 54-71.

THE NATIONAL championships and competitions in all three categories, men, women and mixed sections are coming to the boil in Area 16 which involves players from Christie Miller, Clarrie Dunbar and North Wilts.

Clarrie Dunbar foursome of Jeanette Wheeler, Kim Smith, Terry Perkins and Graham Shadwell have missed out in the mixed fours competition.

They were beaten 19-10 in the Area 16 mixed fours final played at Swindon Westlecot by a quartet from Gloucester led by Vince Wilks and skipped by Mike Prosser.

The Gloucester four move forward to the inter-area final against the Area 17 winners for a place in the last 16 at Loddon Vale (Basingstoke) at the end of February.

Dunbar duo Thelma and Keith Bailey were due to meet John Hick and his partner from Clevedon (Somerset) in the Area 16 final of the mixed pairs yesterday evening at Bristol City and County IBC.

If successful the Baileys would move forward to the inter-area final against Area 17 winners Taunton Deane, just one step away from a place in the last 16 at Loddon Vale in late February.

Elsewhere in the ladies section matches have reached the Area 16 quarter-final stages and the semi-final stages in the men’s competitions.

CHRISTIE Miller men lost their opening match of 2017 in the central section of the regional Wessex League.

They lost by 17 shots as they were beaten 83-66 by Bristol last Sunday morning and only managed to take the honours on one of the four rinks.

The successful foursome were the Moore family quartet of Jordan, Chris, Steve and Andy Moore who were always ahead at home in Melksham against Eric Seaville’s rink from Bristol and won by six shots 27-21 to secure Christie Miller’s only two points gained from the match.

The other home rink skipped by Wayne Snook went down by two shots while the two away rinks in Bristol skipped by Tom Newman (13 shots) and Nigel Price (eight shots) both lost.

Christie stay in fifth place in the central region table with just one win from their opening four matches.

There is a full set of games in the central section this coming Sunday but Christie have a bye as the league consists of seven sides.

Leaders Clarrie Dunbar face Purnell (Paulton), North Wilts meet Nailsea while second-placed Bristol play Thornbury.

RESULTS

Home – Rink 3: Jordan, Chris, Steve & Andy Moore beat Eric Seaville 27-21. Rink 4: Steve Snook, Dale Hayward, Paul Barnes & Wayne Snook lost to Richard Smith 13-15. Away (skips only): Tom Newman lost to Keith Little 10-23. Nigel Price lost to Pete Birmingham 16-24.

Score: Christie Miller lost to Bristol 66 (2pts) to 83 (14pts).