AS the national bowling events heat up, only three Basingstoke clubs have managed to keep their hopes alive for a shot at glory, writes Colin Statham.

Old Basing in the men’s double rink, Oakley in the men’s top club and Basingstoke Town in the mixed over-60s event will be carrying the torch for the region in their respective competitions.

Old Basing and Oakley find themselves away against the north of Hampshire’s most successful team Cove, while Town will travel to Fareham.  

In national individual competitions Hook’s Andrew Lowe lost narrowly in the champion of champions to recently crowned Home Counties champion Leo May who will now play the winner of Town’s Bill Lawer and Kingsclere’s Uwe Brown.  

It is the same three clubs that have reached the northern area finals of the County Fours.  

In the women’s event Stella Hayden’s Old Basing four will take on the reigning Hampshire champions Alton Social and Oakley’s four, skipped by Janie Vickers will play another Social rink.  

Only one local team has qualified in the men’s event where Trevor Morgan’s Basingstoke Town four will be flying the local flag.

In the Basingstoke and District Fours League, Oakley after two successive 5-0 victories lead the way but close behind are this year’s favourites Alton Social who remain unbeaten and have two matches in hand.  Alton lead Division 2.  

In the Triples League Division 1, the 2022 champions Kingsclere overcame Oakley, the only other unbeaten team 5-0 and now top the league by 5 points whilst in Division 2 it is Basingstoke Town that are making the running.

Unbeaten Town have 16 points but could be overtaken by Howard Park who are also unbeaten with 13 points and a game in hand.

In the Whitchurch Mixed League, Andover Lions consolidated their position at the top of Division 1 and in Division 2 Kingsclere Partridges have a big 7.5 points lead over second place Alton Social.  

In Division 3 Old Basing Roundheads are now the only unbeaten team in all 4 divisions and lead by 5.5 points from Littleton Lions and have a match in hand. Aldermaston Elms lost their first match of the season but remain comfortable leaders of Division 4.