CHAWTON Park Indoor Bowling Club, near Alton, have continued their busy winter schedule, competing in both league and national events.

The men’s team entertained Bramley Bowl League leaders Atherley IBC, from Southampton, last Saturday. And to make their task even tougher, Chawton’s four skips from the victory over Riverside the previous week were all away with the Hampshire Liberty Trophy team.

John Kellow returned to skip and Dave Atwell, Gary Johnson and Dick Holden stepped up to lead the other three rinks.

The Chawton home rinks, led by Atwell (6-4) and Holden (2-4), were all square at five ends, while at Atherley the away rinks skipped by Kellow (5-5) and Johnson (3-9) were having to adjust to a quicker bowling surface.

After ten ends, Chawton had turned a six-shot deficit overall into a three-shot lead, thanks mainly to Atwell’s rink opening up a nine-shot advantage.

At 15 ends, however, Chawton had fallen behind by seven shots, with Johnson’s men losing nine shots without reply against a strong Atherley rink. Atwell’s rink still held an eight-shot advantage and Kellow’s rink had eased into a one-shot lead, with Holden just one behind.

At 18 ends, with the deficit still six shots, but the match in the balance, Atwell led by seven and Holden’s rink was now ahead by one. Johnson’s rink had cut their deficit, but Kellow had slipped behind by one.

Despite a two-shot gain by the home team and four shots gained by Johnson’s team over the last three ends, Atherley held on to their six-shot lead to win 80-74.

With one point per winning rink and four points for an overall shots win, Chawton lost by two points to six.

Match scores (Chawton names first): Home – D Atwell 25; G Carter 17. R Holden 17; D Fulker 15. Away – J Kellow 14; R Boyce 21. J Johnson 18; P Ward 27.

Hampshire’s Liberty Trophy team travelled to Westlecot IBC in Swindon to play Wiltshire. The Hampshire side included Chawton members Adam White, John Blair and Mark Fyfield, while David Sims was a travelling reserve.

Hampshire lost a very close match by two shots

On Sunday, Chawton Park were away to Atherley in the second round of the National Mixed Top Club. Chawton had beaten Atherley B by 12 points to 4 in the previous round.

The playing format is ladies’ and men’s singles, mixed pairs, triples and a four.

Chawton recorded a fine victory by 12 points to 4 and will now travel to Moonfleet (Weymouth).

Match details (Chawton names first):

Ladies 2-wood singles – Linda Habberfield 14; Janet Williamson 18.

Men’s 2-wood singles – John Blair 12; Leigh Allen 15.

Mixed pairs – Peter Slingo & Brenda Plumpton 20; Ann Pearce & Gary Carter 12.

Mixed triples – Sue Murray, Davis Sims, Mark Fyfield 22; Gill Hayes, Stuart Rowney, Michael Barrett 19.

Mixed fours – Barry Smith, Margaret McPherson, Margaret Holden, Adam White 19; Jackie Farmer, Wendy Line, D Fulker, Martin Wise 16.

Beryl Collier and Margaret Leppard travelled to Dolphin IBC in the National Over-60s Ladies Pairs and recorded an excellent 22-17 victory over Lyn Howard and Val Baxter. The Chawton duo will now play Kathy Desmond’s pair from Moonfleet IBC. The winners will go forward to the National Championships at Nottingham IBC in March.

Adam White has won through to the area final of the National Men’s Singles and will now meet either Ben Paulley (Bournemouth) or James Garner (Dolphin). The winner qualifies for the National Championships at Melton Mowbray in April.

This weekend, Chawton ladies resume their Riversmeet Hampshire League programme with a match against Loddon Vale (Basingstoke).

Chawton men will again take on Atherley, this time in the Leonard Denny Memorial Trophy.

On Sunday, Chawton will host a friendly match between Hampshire IBA and Kent IBA.

On Wednesday, January 27, the Hampshire Liberty team, including Chawton Park members Robert Hutchinson, Charles Spear, Barry Smith, John Kellow and Dick Holden, will play Dorset in the quarter-finals. Hampshire have won this national over-60s inter-counties competition two years running.