ALTON Social Bowling Club ladies have been in dominant form in both national and county competitions.

Lesley Johnson, Brenda Plumpton, Hazel Marke and Margaret Holden completed a 23-15 win over Kath Patrick’s four from Milton Park (Portsmouth) to take the Hampshire senior fours title and book their place at the national finals.

Alice Atwell, Brenda Plumpton, Hazel Marke and Margaret Holden dispatched Ringwood 25-7 and then Mayfield Park 28-7 to reach the County fours final and also qualify for the national finals. In the Hampshire pairs, Hazel Marke and Margaret Holden achieved two wins on the tricky Atherley green, beating Lee-on-Solent 22-12 and New Milton 23-7 to also make the final and go through to the nationals.

Lesley Johnson and Margaret Holden continued their defence of the National senior pairs by seeing off Janie Vickers and Ruth Bown (Oakley) 25-13 and then winning by four shots at Lyndhurst to secure their place at the nationals.

Margaret Holden overcame tough opponent Kim Francis (Lee-on-Solent) 21-16 in the national Champion of Champions, but Kate Fyfield and Dave Atwell bowed out of the national mixed pairs.

Most recently, Margaret Holden defeated Janet Williamson (Hyde Abbey) 21-17 and then Jill Taylor (Pembroke Gardens) 21-15 to reach the Hampshire singles final and also the national championships in a fifth discipline.

Alton Social men were represented in five area finals. Dick Holden lost 12-16 to Ian Taylor (Cove) in the two-wood singles, Adam White’s rink went down to Cove in the fours and Gordon Summerhill and Dave Atwell were defeated in the pairs. However, Barry Smith and Mark Fyfield reached the last eight of the pairs by beating local rivals Andy Payne and David Sims of Alton BC.

Reece Graham, Gordon Summerhill and Dave Atwell caused a bit of an upset in the triples, giving an excellent display to beat the Cove trio of Daniel Taylor, Carl Taylor and Glen Reed. Twelve-year-old Reece is probably the youngest player to qualify for a county quarter-final.

Alton Social have had mixed results in the leagues, but the men are through to the final of the Basingstoke & District Hants & Berks Cup after beating Howard Park and Andover. They will meet Basingstoke Town in the final at Alton BC on Sunday, August 5.