It was a dream come true for Oakley bowlers Mary Varndell, Sue Dixon, Angie Rowe and Janie Vickers at the Banister Park in Southampton as they qualified to represent Hampshire in the National Championships in September.

They beat Waterside 18-16 in the Hampshire quarter final and Boscombe Cliff 19-12 in the semi-final. There was, however, disappointment for the Basingstoke Town four of Zac Millar, Trevor Morgan, Matt Carr and Richard Burgin as they lost out to a very experienced Boscombe Cliff team in the men’s quarter final.

It was not all bad news for Carr as he continued to make progress with a good 21-14 win at Cove against Chris Cranham in the National Champion of Champions event. Old Basing’s Anita Christian was not so fortunate in the women’s event losing 9-21 to Janet Williamson of Andover.

Oakley’s run, in team events, came to a shuddering halt as a team, depleted by County call ups went out of the National two rink competition to a Cove side, similarly missing key players. Oakley Ladies also went out of the National Top Club, losing to Alton Social in a match that went down to the last bowl.

In local leagues, despite three of the league leaders not playing, there has been no change at the top of any of the four divisions of the Whitchurch Mixed League.

Division One leaders are Littleton Leopards, Division Two – Howard Park Merlins, Division Three - Howard Park Kestrels, and Division Four - Old Basing Royalists.

There were no Basingstoke and District men’s league games this week as clubs were all participating in the Hants and Berks Cup. Basingstoke Town comprehensively out-played Oakley and the other teams to reach the semi-finals were Old Basing, Andover and Alton Social.