ONLY eight miles separate the two clubs but Westlecot and Shrivenham women are celebrating county championship victories in the same competition.

Both triumphed last week in the Wiltshire and Berkshire finals respectively and march on in the English Women's Bowling Association Top Team tournament.

Westlecot won the Wiltshire crown with a 3-1 success over Trowbridge Town at Spencer Melksham.

Westlecot took the fours and triples disciplines as Olive Henery and Rosemary Nichols skipped their teams to 18 and 12 shot victories respectively.

But in the pairs, the combination of Pauline Knox and Val Mortimer were 21-16 up with two ends to go. They then dropped a five on the 20th before rectifying the situation with a single on the last for victory.

The only loss came in the singles where Anne Hayward was beaten by six shots by Sue Simmonds.

Shrivenham's win was an excellent performance against the formbook .

Shot difference gave them victory over Great Holland (near Bracknell) in the Royal County of Berkshire final after they drew 2-2 at Wargrave.

Great Holland fielded four players who represented Berkshire in this year's Johns Trophy, the national inter-county women's championship.

In the singles Cathy Hope came from 14-6 and 19-11 down to only lose by six shots, while Marilyn Forty and Eve Millidge were always up against it in the pairs after dropping six shots early on and eventually lost by eight.

In the fours Brenda Winskill's rink were level at 8-8 after 10 ends but pulled away to a nine shot win.

Shrivenhan were always in charge in the triples with Helen Simpson's trio leading 14-3 at 10 ends and 20-5 at 15 to eventually win by 13 shots.

This tied the match at two disciplines each but Shrivenham went through by eight shots on aggregate, the 20th end being a crucial factor where the pairs, triples and fours all collected shots.

Westlecot will face the Cornwall winners, while Shrivenham play the winners from Kent. Both games on neutral greens must be completed by August 31.

Westlecot results

Singles: Anne Hayward lost to Sue Simmonds 15-21.

Pairs: Pauline Knox & Val Mortimer beat Audrey Gourlay & Delia Godwin 22-21.

Triples: Mary Dyer, Jennie Vowles and Rosemary Nichols beat Angela Mortimer, Babs Morgan and Mavis Nuttall 23-11.

Fours: June Jones, Pat Cornish, Joan Woodrough and Olive Henery beat Joyce Holland, Barbara Garrett, Sheila Overton and Pat Cleverley 31-13.

Westlecot beat Trowbridge Town 3-1.

Shrivenham results

Singles: Cathy Hope lost 15-21.

Pairs: Marilyn Forty & Eve Millidge lost 10-18.

Triples: Gladys Jefferys, Phyllis Merritt and Helen Simpson won 22-9.

Fours: Val Carter, Angela Downton, Esme Haste and Brenda Winskill won 21-12.

Shrivenham drew 2-2, (won on shots difference 68-60)