CHAWTON Park’s Top Club Mixed Championship dream came to a disappointing end on Saturday when they visited Sittingbourne in Kent to take on reigning champions Swale, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Swale won by 16 points to nil, but the score in no way reflected the overall match.

In the men’s two-wood singles, David Sims, after a slow start on the quicker swinger surface, battled back from an eight-shot deficit to hold game on the final end, only to lose out to the last wood.

Linda Habberfield, competing in the ladies’ two-wood singles, came up against senior international Amy Banes, but the Chawton player was unfazed and more than held her own for long periods before Banes pulled clear over the closing ends.

Sue Murray and Graham Robinson at first dominated their mixed pairs match, despite coming up against veteran ladies international Sandy Hazel. The Chawton duo led 16-6 through halfway, only for one poor end to change the shape of the game.

Barry Smith, Brenda Plumpton and Mark Fyfield were drawn against a formidable Swale triple. Led by an inspired Wendy King, an indoor and outdoor international, Swale kept Chawton on the back foot for long periods.

The Chawton rink of Dick Holden, Margaret Leppard, Margaret Holden and Adam White built a 10-shot lead, with White in particular good form. However, Swale reduced the deficit in the pairs and fours, and their unassailable overall shot difference caused Chawton to concede the pairs and fours.

There was better news for Chawton as Beryl Collier, Margaret Holden and Margaret Leppard travelled to Atherley and recorded a good win over Margaret Darkin’s trio in the National O50s two-wood triples.

In the Hampshire County Championships, Margaret Holden, Margaret Leppard, John Kellow and Adam White won through against Gary Carter’s rink, again at Atherley, while Margaret Holden and Brenda Plumpton secured a six-shot victory in the County pairs at Palmerston.

Club president David Fox captained Chawton in a men’s six-rink friendly against Hampshire Indoor president John Kellow (also of Chawton). The teams both won on three rinks and the County eased home by three shots in a competitive match.

The previous week, Adam White and Margaret Holden lost narrowly to Julie Hudson and Chris Daniels (Bournemouth) in the National mixed pairs area final.

However, Gary Johnson reached the O60s singles area final with a resounding 21-10 victory over Banister Park’s Steve Whitehead.