Banbury Central A clinched their first Division 1 title in the Oxford & District League, sponsored by Yarnton Nurseries, for four years with a 5-1 home win over Witney Mills.
Despite a scare on two rinks at 19 ends, Central emerged 89-72 winners with John Tee’s rink fittingly leading the way with a 28-12 victory to complete a clean sweep of 12 wins this season.
Ian Whelpton’s four were also on target for the victors with a 24-21 victory. Oxford City & County A finish as runners-up following a 5-1 win at already-relegated Banbury Chestnuts.
Alan Ley’s four starred with a 30-11 victory in the 89-561/4 scoreline.
Headington A, champions for the last three years, had to settle for third place this time following a 4-2 home win over Carterton.
The rinks were shared, but 12-shot victories by skips Jason King and Ian Snowdon saw Headington home 86-68. Shiplake pipped South Oxford A for the Division 2 title in a dramatic final round of matches.
South Oxford A knew that if they matched Shiplake and Thame’s results they would be champions.
However, their 4-2 win at Witney Mills was not enough as Shiplake triumphed 5-1 at Bicester to snatch the title.
South Oxford then had to wait on the outcome of Thame’s home game against Charlbury as a 6-0 victory for the hosts would have given them promotion.
But Thame could muster only a 5-1 success, which meant South Oxford pipped them by half a point for second spot.
Keith Mobley’s side shone in South Oxford’s win with a 27-8 victory.
The finish to Division 3 was even more exciting.
At the start of the evening, Watlington and Headington B were in first and second place, but they were playing each other.
A draw would promote both, as long as Chipping Norton failed to beat local rivals Bloxham 6-0.
The match at Watlington went to a measure on the last end of the rink, with the hosts’ skip Steve Gilkes edging out Martin Kershaw by millimetres to seal a 4-2 win.
That meant Watlington were champions, while Chipping Norton’s 5-1 win gave them promotion, condemend Bloxham to relegation.
Headington missed out on going up and were even overtaken for third by Oxford, who won 5-1 at Blackbird Leys.
Banbury Central B clinched the runners-up spot and promotion from Division 4 with a 5-1 win at Hanborough.
South Oxford B ended their long losing run with a 5-1 home win over Florence Park, while newly-crowned champions Adderbury ended lost 5-1 at Chadlington.
West Oxford drew 3-3 at home to Oxford University Press.
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