CHRISTIE Miller senior players endured mixed fortunes in ladies and men’s national team competitions over the past eight days, writes DAVE EATON.

The ladies made a fine start to their Mason Trophy campaign with a 44-26 victory over Nailsea B.

However the men, after two tough games and one-shot wins over North Wilts and Nailsea in the Over 60s double rinks, missed out on a third victory going down comprehensively 46-18 to Gloucestershire side Cotswold A (Stroud).

Miller ladies won on both of the rinks, one at home in Melksham and the other away in Nailsea.

At halfway, the home rink of Sheila Noyce, Yvonne Fitch, Lesley Russell and Sheila Garlick (skip) were six shots down but the away foursome of Marie Greenwood, Wendy Gaisford, Marguerite Alexander and skip Bev Lilley were drawing.

In the second part of the match Garlick’s rink chipped away at the deficit to draw level and seal a 15-14 home win with a single on the last end.

After scoring two counts of six, the away rink led by Bev Lilley pulled away to a comfortable 29-12 victory.

This gave Christie Miller an overall 44- 26 victory and a second round tie against Nailsea A team on December 8, who beat Clarrie Dunbar ladies 35-28 in round one.

Christie men will be seeking better fortunes this weekend in the Wessex League when they face local rivals North Wilts.

To date, Miller have only played one match in the central section of the league losing heavily 96-67 to returnees Clevedon.

There is a full set of central fixtures on Sunday morning with Purnell facing Thornbury, Christie meeting North Wilts, Bristol paired against Nailsea and holders Clarrie Dunbar facing early central region pace setters St Andrews (Weston-Super-Mare) who are unbeaten in three games to date this season.

GRAHAM Shadwell, twice a former winner of the Champion of Champions national singles title when representing Clarrie Dunbar, is one match away from reaching the last 16 again at this season's event at Warners Leisure Hotels, Hayling Island.

The Area 16 winner after beating Matthew Elly (Purnell) 21-12, Andy Moore (Christie Miller) 21-18, John Hick (Clevedon) and Ryan Atkins (Malvern Hills), Shadwell has to meet Area 17 winner Taunton Deane’s England international Robert Paxton in an inter-area play-off for a last 16 spot at Hayling Island.

The Shadwell and Paxton shoot-out is set for the neutral venue of Victoria (Street) on Thursday, December 7 (6.30pm).