Oakley’s Alice Lovett, fresh off helping Hampshire clinch victory over Kent in the Johns Trophy, made a remarkable debut in the Walker Cup, becoming the youngest player to skip for the County at this level.

Playing, at Didcot, against Berkshire, she found herself up against Morgan Merryweather, the National Indoor Two Wood champion and Alice’s rink came out winning 20-14 as Hampshire progressed 42-31 to the next round against the 2023 semi-finalists.

There were good results for local clubs in national team events. In the Men’s Top Club Basingstoke Town beat Fleet Social 3.5 to 1.5 and Oakley recorded the same score against Cove. In the Women’s event Town beat Cove 3-1 but Oakley lost 1-3 to Alton Social. There was also success for Town against Cove, and Oakley against Whitchurch in the County Mixed Top Club with Hook also beating Yateley.

The Basingstoke Leagues saw Basingstoke Town in the Fours Division 1, beat reigning Champions Alton Social and with Kingsclere beating Whitchurch, Social’s lead at the top is now just one point with Kingsclere having a game in hand. In Division 2 Town B and Whitchurch B both won and only one point separates them at the top of the table. In the Basingstoke Triples League, Town despite a bye remain top of Division 1 but a defeat for their B team to Oakley B saw St Mary Bourne go top.

In the Whitchurch Triples League, there were few surprises with Basingstoke Spades staying top of Division 1 after a big win over Oakley Woodpeckers.  In Division 2 a defeat for Howard Park Kestrels against St Mary Bourne Hawks saw them knocked off their perch at the top of Division 2.