Oakley's women bowlers have emerged triumphant in a hard-fought contest for the prestigious Gazette Cup, a remarkable achievement marking their first win since 2009, writes Colin Statham.
Fate seemed against them when the original final was washed out and the club was required to play on a date when many members had other commitments.
Travelling to Old Basing to play Fleet United the reshuffled team rose to the occasion storming to a comprehensive 57-34 victory.
Unable to play in this match were 
They beat teams from Bournemouth and Portsmouth to lift the County Golden Girls title.
In bringing this trophy to Oakley for the first time, they created history as the club is believed to be the only one to have won all the women’s championships played for under the auspices of Bowls Hampshire.
Dixon and Vickers, along with Mary Varndell also reached the County Northern Area Final of the Two Bowl Triples but lost by two shots to a Cove team that a few days earlier had reached the national quarter-final of the three bowl triples.
Other competitions are now nearing completion.
In the Whitchurch and District finals, held at Old Basing, local players lifted six of the eight titles.
Old Basing’s Dean Perry won the Novice Singles while Roger Banister made it a double for the club by taking the Over 60s singles.
Aldermaston’s Elaine and Dave Bowman were the Mixed Pairs winners.
Oakley’s Janie Vickers, Sue Dixon and Jim Dixon won the Triples and their clubmates Gerald Norris and Graham Tompkins the Open pairs.
Oakley’s hopes of a treble were, however, dashed by Howard Park as the Oakley duo went down to Kevin McKenzie and James Durrant in the Aussie Pairs.
In the Basingstoke and District Triples League Division 1, Kingsclere are Champions for the second successive year with Oakley again finishing runners up.
Old Basing “B” and Andover are relegated with their places being taken by an unbeaten Basingstoke Town and Howard Park.
Division 1 of the Fours League has been won by Alton Social but the runners up place was in doubt until the last end of the last match as Oakley sneaked through against Kingsclere.
Whitchurch have been relegated with their place being taken by Basingstoke Town. The Hants and Berks Cup semi-finals saw Old Basing defeat Basingstoke Town. In the final they will play Alton Social.
There is still much to play for in the Whitchurch Mixed League where local teams continue to do well. Basingstoke Town Spades lead Division 1 while Kingsclere Partridges are the champions of Division 2 with Basingstoke Jesters close to clinching the second promotion place.
Old Basing Roundheads have won Division 3 and Aldermaston Elms are challenging for the top spot in Division 4.
The Stan Hardman Thursday afternoon league matches are now completed.
The quarter-finals saw Basingstoke Town go down to Pyestock and Aldermaston to Fleet United. Local pride and interest in the semi-finals have been maintained by Howard Park Saints who convincingly beat Farnborough.
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