ACNationals beckoning

Riverain ladies are through to the EWIBA National Championships.

Two of their teams will be at the championships at Loddon Vale Bowls Club in Basingstoke from February 22-March 3.

The area zone finals took place over recent weekends at Luton Town Bowls Club and Watford IBC.

Their pairing of Heather Stapleford and skip Shirley Page beat the pairs team from Desborough Maidenhead, and the two-wood triples team of Linda O'flanagan, Shay Mumford and skip Gill Walker beat a triples team from Oxford and City.

Unfortunately the unbadged pairs team of Mumford and skip Walker lost to a pair from Desborough Maidenhead, and the fours team of Jean Lock, Joan Welch, June Mills and skip Yvonne Hull were also narrowly beaten by the fours team from Desborough Maidenhead.

Page lost her singles to Lyn Thelwell from Handy Cross, and Shirley Hughes lost her champion of champions game to Lyn Woodley from Desborough Maidenhead.

There was success for Tony Webb who is through to the last 16 of the champion of champions at Gunton Hall over the weekend of March 16-19.

His results were: Brian Hobbs (Clacton) 15 Webb 21, Roy Rogers (Herts) 4 Webb 21; James Rippey (Falcon) 17 Webb 21.

Riverain are also through to the last 16 of the Vivienne Trophy after beating Tye Green by five shots (73-68).

The home teams of Joyce Chapman, Mary Cole, Mina Reid and skip Anne Graves, together with Joyce Rolph, Kathy Maxwell, Jean Hayward and skip Shirley Houghton won by 20 shots (46-26).

The away teams of Enid Newman, Barbara Turner, Dorothy Whitlock and skip Diane Porter, together with Sharon Allen, Pat Smith, Marjorie Emery and skip Barbara Eddington lost by 15 shots (27-42).

And the same applies in the Yetton Trophy as they beat Havering by 11 shots (77-66).

The home teams of Jean Lock, Shay Mumford, Rose Castle and skip Gill Walker, together with Ann Fuller, Barbara Billingham, Yvonne Hull and skip Angie Fabris won by 18 shots (45-27).

The away teams of Linda O'flanagan, Pat Goodwin, Jenny Ralph and skip Gill Calver, together with Joan Welch, Noreen Gazely, Muriel Saunders and skip Shirley Page lost by seven shots (32-39).

But there was disappointment in the mixed Egham Trophy as Riverain lost by just four shots to Havering (77-73).

The home teams of Linda O'flanagan, Rose Castle, Mick O'flanagan and skip Darren Hickin, together with Jean Lock, Heather Stapleford, Gavin McLaren and skip Jim Allen won by nine shots (39-30).

The away teams of Mick Allen, Gill Walker, Shirley Page and skip Tony Webb, together with Muriel Saunders, Jenny Gentle, Ian Perton and skip Martin Brackley lost by 13 shots (34-47).

Riverain won by 72 shots (189-117) in a weekend friendly match held at the club.

Skips only: Ron Coxall won 29-9, Jim Baird won 23-13, Bill Harrison won 19-15, Raymond Smith won 24-12, Brian Mills won 28-14, Charlie Brown won 29-17, Bert Saich won 20-18, Roger Shinner lost 17-19.

But they were well beaten by Whitethorn by 60 shots (147-87).

Skips only: Barbara Clark 24 Mick Judd 22, Tom Power 14 Paul Andrews 22, Ron Clark 13 Angie Fabris 22, Pat Clark 9 Don Edwards 29, Derek Clark 7 Mick Gowlett 32, Dave Webb 20 Ted Fuller 20.

* Stevenage Leisure Centre IBC held its annual RAMS trophy on Sunday.

It was played in a gala format for teams of four and each team played three matches over seven ends.

Winners were the four of Muriel Cooper, Sue Cole, Colvin Cooper and skip Colin Cole.

Runners-up were Pam Stacey, Pat Makin, Bill Williamson and skip Ted Stacey.

* Stevenage Nomads were beaten by 43 shots (104-61) by Luton IBC on Sunday.

But they did have a winning rink of Avril Straw, John Goddard, Beryl D'Arcy and Peter Clark (22-18).

* John O'Dell from host club Riverain IBC received his colts badge as the county trounced neighbours Cambridgeshire.

Herts IBA won by 55 shots (152-97) and on four of the six rinks at Riverain last Thursday as O'Dell made his county bow.