A brace of fantastic wins were gained by York Ladies in the zone finals at Hartlepool IBC.

Pat Napier and Dot Kennelly headed the Cumbrian team of Clark and Ring 15-12 in the pairs with three ends to play when the Cumbrians scored a four.

A single from the York pair drew the match level going into the last end which was clinched with another single for a 17-16 success.

Carol Instone and Joan Jackson had an equally tough game in the unbadged pairs against Chorley's pairing of Foulds and Bristow.

The closeness of the duel tied them at 16-16 to force an extra end during which Instone and Jackson scored the single.

Both teams now go to the national finals at Nottingham in March.

Fortune didn't favour the New Earswick Ladies in the fours. Margaret Moss, Gill Clark, Carol Beavers and Pat Walker fell away from a 13-11 lead to lose 15-14 to Cumbrian opposition.

But there was further success for Fred Clayden and Alan Storey playing in the Over 60s pairs area final at Ryedale against North Cave's duo Buchan and Petersen.

They had a great start being 12-2 in front after ten ends and then 16-9 with three ends to go, eventually winning 16-15.

They now play the winners of area 3 for a place in the national finals at Wellingborough.

Eric Hodgson, Malcolm Thompson and Ray Calpin continued their magnificent run in the Over 50s Triples Area Final with a 19-12 win against a Featherstone team at Selby.

A top-notch tussle graced the mixed pairs semi-final between York teams Iain Boyle and Shirley Stacey against Melanie Brooke and Charlie Bateman.

Bateman and Brooke breezed to a 24-10 win to next play David Stroughair and Ena Neal in the final leaving Stroughair and Bateman facing a dilemma.

Bateman is York team manager and Stroughair one of York's key players, so whoever wins will play in the national mixed pairs finals at Easter when the club are hoping to win the Famous Grouse Top Ten Tournament at the same time.

Updated: 12:49 Thursday, February 15, 2001