CLARRIE Dunbar Ladies are enjoying a magnificent run in this season’s Mason Trophy – ladies O60 double rinks – and have reached the semi-finals for the first time ever.

They beat Torquay United 46-28 in the quarter-finals to book their place in the semis at Nottingham on April 11 against Lincoln & District.

The final is scheduled for Friday April 12 in Nottingham at 9.30am.

Clarrie took the honours on both rinks against Torquay despite trailing 8-6 overall after the first five ends across the board had been completed.

They quickly turned the match around, scoring 23 shots and only conceding four in the next block of five ends to move 29-12 up at 10 ends.

Dunbar led 39-23 at 15 ends and increased that to 46-28 at the conclusion.

The home foursome of Ruth Jupp, Pam Trippick, Sue Bird and Jeanette Wheeler (skip) registered a 25-11 victory, while the away quartet of Maggie Morgan, Ailsa Midwinter, Jo Dunford and Teresa King claimed a 21-17 success.

To reach the semi-finals, Clarrie have accounted for MidGlos (conceded), Bristol (50-25), Thornbury (40-26), North Wilts (35-31) and Handy Cross (43-35) before their win over Torquay.

THE trio of Wayne Snook, Dale Taylor and skip Andy Colebroke produced the best performance of players from local clubs North Wilts and Clarrie Dunbar competing at the national championships in singles, pairs, triples, fours and two bowl singles at Nottingham.

The Clarrie trio reached the semi-finals in the men’s triples before losing to Bournemouth 19-14, who went on to then beat Exonia in the final.

Colbrooke’s triples team had beaten Huntingdon in the last 16 15-14 before seeing off Whiteknights (Reading) 17-15 in the quarter-finals.

However, they came unstuck against Bournemouth in the semis.

They were tied 4-4 after five ends and led 9-8 at 10, but Bournemouth raised their game to lead 18-14 at 15 ends and eventually won 19-14.

Meanwhile, in the ladies’ fours championship, the North Wilts foursome of Irene Button, Jean Collier, Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs lost in the last 16 to South Forest (Mansfield, Notts) 13-12.

North Wilts trailed 4-2 after five ends, but led 8-7 at 10 and were tied 11-11 at 15 before being edged out 13-12 at the finish.

Jacobs also went out in a tight game in the first round of the two bowl singles, losing 21-18 to Shirley Beavis (Falcon, Chelmsford).

Clarrie’s Andy Colebrooke carries this section’s hopes of a national championships success when he contests the men’s singles.

Colebrooke opens with a last 16 match against Jonathan West (Boston).

The second block of finals for the age groups competitions commence in Nottingham on April 5.