DEFENDING mixed pairs champions Helen Walker and Mike Bruce battled through to the quarter-finals in the York Open Bowls Tournament.

The duo, who started the event in the second round, rattled up a brace of emphatic victories to take their place in the quarters.

But there was woe for last summer’s runners-up Pauline and John Cooper, 18-12 first round losers to Laura Clarke and Scott Burrell.

The quarter-finals: J Abel/S Daly v C Clark/D Newsome; C Patrick/G Patrick v P Veitch/T Winter; M Hill/G C Hill v M C Thompson/M Thompson; H Walker/M Bruce v H May/D May.