Last week saw the final game of our ladies’ Foxlands (Interclub) League campaign, writes Carol Smith.

This was cancelled a couple of weeks ago when the ‘Beast from the East’ hit us for the first time!

The match was against Exeter-based Isca, who always provide tough opposition – as indeed do all the sides that play in Division One of this competition.

Nevertheless, we went into the game with positive thoughts. However, they did us no good as we went down on three of the four rinks!

There was a superb success for the home rink of Karen Hollingdale, Susie Bonnell, Ann Capon and skip Jill Bishop, who won 25-10, but that, sadly, was not sufficient to carry the rest of us and we succumbed to a defeat that probably seals our relegation.

Sidmouth men played their semi-final in the over-60s competition. This came about after their terrific quarter-final win over Torquay.

However, the semi-final proved to be a very different affair with opponents Exonia winning all four of the rinks played. So that’s it for another year in terms of this competition, but the men can be mighty proud of their season-long efforts to reach the last four.

On a brighter note, Ken Wheeler and Mark Stephens beat a pair from Madeira Club in the County Unbadged Pairs competition, winning the contest 24 shots to six and that takes them into the semi-finals which are being played on Saturday, April 7 and we wish them good luck in that particular challenge.

The weekend action involved a couple of friendly encounters. The first was a Saturday meeting with Chardstock. This proved to be a most enjoyable – and friendly – encounter, with success for Sidmouth on two of the three rinks and a narrow defeat – the margin being a couple of shots – on the other rink. The final score was one of Sidmouth 59, Chardstock 39 and the best rink (but only just) was the one of Janice Quinn, Rita Daw, Ken Tolley and skip Ed Backhouse, 22 - 10.

Sunday’s game was against Bovey Tracey and again this was played in the usual friendly manner – but with a subtle competitive edge.

It was neck-and-neck at the halfway mark, but post tea it was Bovey (not Sidmouth this time!) that slowly pulled away and, at the end of the match, had recorded wins on two of the three rinks. The top Sidmouth team was the one of Pam Manning, Derek Mountford, Jill Mison and skip Peter Mison, who shared rink honours at 17-all. Bovey won the overall match 60 shots to 43.

After the game, a drink and chat at the bar, our visitors went on their way in the lovely sunshine on the first day of British Summertime!

Let’s hope that’s a good omen for our summer.