THE Champion of Champions National Finals were played out at Warner Lakeside on Hayling Island last weekend, with the men’s and ladies’ competitions running concurrently over three days.

Chawton Park’s own Margaret Holden had won through to the last 16 of the ladies’ singles, where she was up against Di Double from King George Field IBC in Surrey.

Both players took time to settle on a very slow carpet and the early stages were fairly even. By midway, Double had a five-shot advantage, but Holden gradually fought back to 15-16 and then secured a four on what was probably her best end of the match and one on the next to lead 20-16.

Two singles from Double, one slightly fortunate, kept the match alive, but cheered on by 20-plus supporters from Chawton, Holden secured the required shot for a 21-18 win.

In the quarter-finals, Holden met current international Susan Kearsley from Newton Hall, Blackpool and again it was a tight affair early on, with Holden earning a slender lead at halfway and holding a good three. However, a fluke shot by Kearsley seemed to change the momentum and Kearsley took the last few ends to win 21-13.

In the weekend league fixtures, Chawton ladies recorded a resounding 79-65 win over Riverside IBC. Beryl Collier’s rink won 27-16, Brenda Plumpton won 19-12 and Margaret Leppard won 17-15, giving Chawton an 11 points to 1 advantage.

Chawton men were up against defending champions Atherley IBC, but they began strongly and led by 11 shots at five ends, increasing to 28 by 15 ends, with Mark Fyfield’s rink in particularly good form.

The overall advantage was then cut to 16, but David Sims’ rink won 22-11, Mark Fyfield by 25-13 and Adam White 20-15 to secure a 84-70 win and keep the men just a point ahead in the league.

Graham Robinson’s National U60s four lost by just two shots to Steve Whitehead’s Banister Park rink. In the Family Pairs, Dick Holden and Adam White travelled to Atherley to play father-and-son Peter and Peter Ward. The Chawton pair began poorly and were unable to make any headway against the accuracy of Ward Jnr.

There was success for Margaret Leppard and Beryl Collier in the Hampshire pairs over Banister Park and they then linked up with Sue Murray and Margaret Holden for a comfortable win over Mandy Orchard’s Victory IBC rink.

Sue Murray paired with skip David Sims for a mixed pairs win over the Farringtons (Palmerston). Eleven-year-old Reece Graham travelled to Palmerston to play Daniel Palmer, some six years his senior, and gave a creditable performance on a very fast green, losing 7-21.

A Three Counties Fellowship team proved a bit too strong for Chawton Park in a friendly fixture, winning four rinks to two and by some 30 shots.