WILTSHIRE Ladies face a busy fortnight at the beginning of the 2017 outdoor season.

The second Johns Trophy trial for the inter-county championship side will be held this Saturday at Wroughton (1.30pm).

Eleven of the players selected to trial are from clubs in this part of the county. They are Charlotte and Maisie Daniell, Lucy and Katy Smith, Ginny Nash and Patricia Murray (all Royal Wootton Bassett), Ann Roberts-Phare and Fizz Mace, (both North Wilts), Devizes duo Sheila Garlick and Bev Lilley and Chippenham Town’s Rose Fitzpatrick.

Then next Tuesday (May 10), the ladies open their county friendly matches when they entertain West Glamorgan at Box (1.30pm).

The opening South-West Counties League match is due to be played against Cornwall on the neutral green at Tiverton West End the following week on Tuesday, May 16.

Friday evening sees the start of the ladies national championship with the staging of the first round in the county ladies fours championship with ties being played around the county in both the northern and southern sections. Round two will be held next Monday (May 8).

TEAMS

Wilts Ladies v West Glamorgan (friendly) Wed May 10 at Box

Rink 1: Dawn Edwards (Avon), Marie Greenwood (Devizes), Carole Coombs (Westlecot) & Mo Woolley (pres. Alderbury). Rink 2: Mary Pratt (Bradford-on-Avon), Patricia Reeves (Dev), Margaret Webber (Alder) & Janet Willis (Stratton Churchway). Rink 3: Ann Hindley (Wilton), Lynne Stanford (Amesbury), Marilyn Jay (Spencer Melksham) & Babs Salter (Wroughton). Rink 4: Eileen Holdway (BoA), M Jenkins (S Melk), Janice Bull (Ames) & Delia Godwin (S Melk). Rink 5: Dawn Toomer (Wilton), June Corbett (Wro), Sheila Garlick (Dev) & Fizz Mace (North Wilts). Rink 6: June Coyle (NW), Jean Buckland (Avon), Linda Perfitt (West) & Joan Coleman ( Ames). Res: Bev Lilley (Dev) and Yvonne Savin (Chippenham Town) - to attend; Viv Baskerville and Jan Boden (both Chip T) - on standby.

Wilts Ladies v Cornwall (SWCL) Tues May 16

Rink 1: June Corbett (Wro), Yvonne Savin (Chip T), Janice Bull (Ames) & Margaret Annetts (Salisbury). Rink 2: Ann Hindley (Wilton), Sheila Garlick (Dev), Deanne Davis (Wanborough) & Janet Willis (Stratton C). Rink 3: Christobel Francis (S Melk), Eileen Oliver (Haydon Wick), Jean Collier & Carol Grenfell (both Box). Rink 4: Chris Mitchell (Purton), Sue Gravell (Swindon Town Gardens), Fizz Mace (NW) & Alison Fail (Purton). Rink 5: Ann Roberts-Phare (NW), Viv Baskerville (Chip T), Karen Kirby (Blue Circle, Westbury) & Babs Salter (Wro). Rink 6: Julia Hunt (Wanboro), Bev Lilley (Dev), Mo Woolley (pres. Alder) & Rose Fitzpatrick (Chip T). Res: June Coyle (NW) and Joan Coleman (Ames) – to attend; Glenda Hibberd (Wilton) and Pat Jones (Supermarine) - on standby.

THE draw has been made for the preliminary round in the Walker Cup, ladies national county top two fours competition.

Wiltshire will face Warwickshire at Welford-on-Avon on Sunday, May 28. If successful, they would then meet Gloucestershire at home on Sunday, June 25.

The draw has also been made for the first round in the Amey Rose Bowl.

Wiltshire Junior Ladies (31yrs & Under) will play Cumbria in the inter-county double rinks competition at Royal Leamington Spa on Saturday, September 2 (11.30am) and if successful would face either Cambridgeshire or Leicestershire in the afternoon at 2.30pm.

TWO Chippenham clubs, North Wilts and Town are holding Open Days within the next nine days.

North Wilts’ Open Day will be held at their outdoor green at Westcroft, Litherland Close, SN4 0LZ on Saturday, May 6 (11am-4pm).

There are plenty of bowls and shoes available at the club so if you have ever thought that you would like to try the game of bowls then come along and have a go. Club members will be there to help and also show people around the premises.

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available too during the day.

Further information on the club, and its facilities can be viewed on its website nwbowlsclub.co.uk Chippenham Town’s Open Day will be held at their green at Hardenhuish Park, Bristol Road, SN14 6LG on Saturday, May 13 (10-4).

It will be both for adults and juniors who would like to try out the game of bowls with assistance from the club coaches and experienced bowlers.

Junior and adult size bowls will be available for use on the day. Coaching sessions can be arranged for new bowlers, given free of charge.