FIVE foursomes from clubs in the local area – Chippenham Town, North Wilts (Chippenham), Winsley and two from Box – will be bidding to reach this year’s ladies national championships at Royal Leamington Spa when they compete Saturday at Amesbury on Saturday.

The Wiltshire women’s county championships started in earnest a fortnight ago as two rounds in the county fours event were played, with the third round and last 16 held around the county last Friday.

In the southern section, the only local rink to miss out in the sectional last eight for a second year running were Avon, skipped by Marcia Hartley, who went down to the Winsley quartet of Gill Chandler, Gill Viles, Ninna Beaven and Sandra Bartlett (skip).

Joining southern representatives Winsley and two Box quartets in the last eight from the south of the county are Salisbury.

The four teams in the northern section, which includes Chippenham, to qualify for Saturday’s fours quarter-finals and semi-finals at Amesbury are North Wilts (skip Fizz Mace), Chippenham Town (skip Irene Button), holders Supermarine (skip Susan Griffiths) and Westlecot (skip Linda Whittingham).

One of the Box rinks, led by Alex Jacobs, were beaten in last year’s final 20-15 by Supermarine, skipped by Susan Griffiths.

Jacobs’ rink have stayed clear of their Box colleagues, led by Michele Williams, in the Amesbury draw.

The quarter-finals will be played this Saturday morning, with the semi-finals held in the afternoon.

The two winning semi-finalists will qualify for the county fours final at Bradford-on-Avon on July 28 on Wiltshire ladies’ county finals day.

But more importantly, the two winning semi-finalists will have the distinction of being the first two teams to book a place at the 2019 national championships at Royal Leamington Spa and representing Wiltshire in the fours championship.