Banbury Central A’s bid for a seventh successive Division 1 title in the Oxford & District League, sponsored by Yarnton Nurseries, got off to a flying start with a 6-0 win over promoted South Oxford.

Headington A, seen by many as favourites this year after an influx of new players, beat Bicester 4.5-1.5, while Oxford City & County A saw off Banbury Chestnuts by the same score.

In Division 2, promoted Witney Mills secured the bragging rights over their relegated greenmates West Witney with a 5-1 victory.

Oxford City & County B fell to a 5-1 defeat at Cotswold, whose 17-year-old skip Shane Cooper enjoyed a 15-shot win.

Birthday boy George Brown had the edge taken off his day as he was the only losing skip for Blackbird Leys in their 5-1 home win over Charlbury in Division 3.

In Division 4, veteran Henry Franklin’s 14-shot win made the difference for Watlington in their 5-1 victory over Chipping Norton.

Newly-formed South Oxford B have suffered defeats against West Oxford and Oxford University Press.

RESULTS

Division 1

Banbury Central A 90 (6pts), South Oxford A 52 (0) (Banbury Central skips first): L Campion 24, J Hall12; M Sykes 23, K Clarke 11; J Tee 21, M Keen 17; P Norton 22, R Claridge 12.

Bicester 66 (1.5), Headington A 78(4.5)(Bicester skips first): K Taylor 21, P Mabbutt 17; A Hall 12, H Watts 25; J King 16, M Charlett 16; P Hooley 17, C Nicoll 20.

Oxford City & County A 75 (4.5), Banbury Chestnuts 66 (1.5) (City & County skips first): M Petersen 14, B Neal 24; C Earl 18, D Bryant 14; R Gaskins 16, D Munslow 16; A Ley 27, A Northcote 12.

Division 2

Cotswold 88 (5), Oxford City & County B 64 (1) (Cotswold skips first): T Cox 21, N Satchell 12; D Cooper 19, O Sharif 21; S Cooper 30, M Charlett 15; M Brain 18, G Swann 16.

Shiplake 69 (4), Thame 57 (2) (Shiplake skips first): B Lambourne 23, R Slater 10; B Evans 18, R Duncan 14; J Bland 16, J Lester 17; T Beaumont 12, J Timms 16.

West Witney 75 (1), Witney Mills 81 (5) (West Witney skips first): T Prew 18, R Barnett 21; M Hitchcox25, J Mott 23; H Williams 18, L Days 22; K Alder 14, A Auger 15

Division 3

Blackbird Leys 97 (5), Charlbury 68 (1) (Blackbird Leys skips first): G Brown 19, J Stevens 23; R Brain 26, D Dix 18; G Roper 26, C R Skidmore 12; S O’Keefe 26, M Smith 15.

Bloxham 83 (5), Banbury Central B 69 (1) (Bloxham skips first): J Crawley 20, T Mold 17; J Hay 21, R Havard 9; J Lucas 17, B Collins 24; J Stephens 25, R Cox 19.

Headington B 75 (3.5) Woodstock 74 (2.5) (Headington skips first): T Murphy 15, R Collett 16; R Edwards 18, K Comley 25; C Jones 24, W Major 15; M Kershaw 18, B Clarke 18.

Witney Town 84 (5), Rover 71 (1) (Witney Town skips first): B Buckingham 25, A Peters 16; B Bloomfield 11, M Bracewell 22; F Dawson 24, K Hall 14; V Comley 24, J Warland 19.

Division 4

Hanborough 68 (3), Florence Park 69 (3) (Hanborough skips first): G Thompson 17, P Booth 16; G Haynes 11, J Simmons 25; J Edwards 22, S Green 16; M Oliver 18, I Gray 12.

South Oxford B 67 (2), Oxford University Press 83 (4) (South Oxford skips first): M Lyne 23, P Cornish 21; D Walker 17, R Vaulter 12; D Portman 15, P Tweddle 27; M Freeman 12, J Taylor 23.

Watlington 77 (5), Chipping Norton 69 (1) (Watlington skips first): R Gilkes 17, P Rathbone 15; H Franklin 29, D Barnes 15; G Hooker 10, J Benfield 25; S Gilkes 21, J Quinn 14.

West Oxford 73 (2.5) Chadlington 75 (3.5) (West Oxford skips first): B Stone 21, P Radbone 19; P Moffat 18, R Arthur 14; B Murphy 15, P Madeley 23; M Bostock 19, P Heath 19.

Late result – West Oxford 88 (6) South Oxford B 42 (0) (West Oxford skips first): M Alderson 28, D Portman 11; F Buck 21, M Freeman 9; P Moffat 15, D Walker 11; M Bostock 24, V DePaaw 11.