Dan Winmill will represent Weston Bowling club St Andrews in the National Champion of Champions finals at Poole this weekend, writes Jim Keay.

Winmill booked his place in the elite field by beating Andy Moore (North Wilts) 21-10 in the area final. At Poole on Saturday, he could hardly have a tougher first-round task – against City of Ely’s Greg Harlow, a former world indoor champion.

“In a game of singles, I’ll always back myself and it’s all on the day,” said Winmill, who has represented England at short-mat bowls.

Saints’ members have had a mixed week in the national and county championships. A once-in-a-lifetime shot by Ilminster’s Matt Hamilton on the extra end knocked Lee and Sam Stocker out of the county pairs.

Next, Ant Page, Si Angove and the Stockers beat a team from Taunton Deane by three shots in the Somerset County fours.

However, the Stockers, with Dave Fairhurst and Rich Withers, missed out by just two against a very strong Clarrie Dunbar team in the area semi-final of the National men’s fours at Bristol when opposing skip Andrew Colebrook played a brilliant shot with his final wood.

Then, the Stockers and Si Angove threw away a 10-2 lead against an Ilminster trio in the County triples, losing on the extra end.

National championships: Men’s Over-60 Singles fourth round – A Moore (North Wilts) 21, B Forse (St Andrews) 11. Men’s Fours area semi-final – W Snook, R Francis, D Taylor, A Colebrook 16, D Fairhurst, R Withers, L Stocker, S Stocker (St Andrews) 14.

County championships: Men’s Fours first round – A Page, S Angove, L Stocker, S Stocker (St Andrews) 21, M Reeve, D Aintee, B Southward, J Solle (Taunton Deane) 18. Men’s Triples second round – S Angove, L Stocker, S Stocker (St Andrews) lost to G Miles, AN Other, J Miles (Ilminster) on extra end. Men’s Pairs first round – L & S Stocker (St Andrews) 17, W Short/M Hamilton (Ilminster) 18 (after extra end). Mixed friendly: St Andrews 56, Victoria (Weston) 44. Home – S Perren, Barbara Mangan, Marie McMillan, M Ford 17-19; Sue Churchill, M Dew, Barbara Huggett, A McMillan 19-14. Away – J Bullock, Jane Smith, Jill Bishop, J Wright 20-11.