DONNA Knight and Katherine Hawes clinched the Bowls England Women's National Pairs Championship by nine shots at Leamington Spa.

The Oxfordshire duo beat Cambridge's Linda Churchman and Cheryl Salisbury 20-11 in the final.

In the last four, Knight and Hawes had edged Sarah Newson and Catherine Popple, from Huntingdonshire, 18-17.

Their triumph finished off a good year for Oxon's ladies at Leamington, with two semi-finalists and a quarter-finalist in the singles and fours.

Hawes was beaten by just four shots in the last eight of the singles, while Caroline Campion narrowly lost out in the semi-final to Surrey’s Gemma Barnett by two shots.

In the fours, Ann Norton’s rink of Mo Cox, Gill Hunt and Sue Waring reached the semi finals, where they lost out to the eventual winners from Northamptonshire.

Oxon face Leicestershire in the under 31s Amy Rose competition on August 29.

OXON RESULTS

2 Wood Singles – First round: B Hill (Lancs) bt J Berry 16-12; C Gaskins bt S Almond (Durham) 17-4. Second round: J Eley (Herts) bt C Gaskins 16-5.

Singles – First round: K Hawes bt S Alexander (Cambs) 21-18; C Campion bt C Baxter (Cumb) 21-10. Second round: K Hawes bt V Molton (Glos) 21-8; C Campion bt P Proud (IoW) 21-15. Last 16: C Campion bt C Watson (Sussex) 21-12; K Hawes bt R Wigfield (N’thants) 21-16. Quarter-final: M Hayes (Kent) bt K Hawes 21-17; C Campion bt J Skelton (Derbyshire) 21-15. Semi-final: G Barnett (Surrey) bt C Campion 21-19.

Pairs – First round: S Utteridge (Suffolk) bt C Campion 20-13; K Hawes bt L Trattles (Wilts) 23-7. Second round: K Hawes bt M Gozna (Somerset) 17-16. Last 16: K Hawes bt A Gowshall (Lincolnshire) 22-21. Quarter-final: K Hawes bt A Banes (Kent) 21-17. Semi-final: K Hawes bt C Popple (Hunts) 18-17. Final: K Hawes bt C Salisbury (Cambs) 20-11.

Triples – First round: J Fordham (Sussex) bt J Gray 18-14; K Hawes bt A Gowshall (Lincolnshire) 13-12. Second round: K Hawes bt M Crawford (Dorset) 24-8. Last 16: K Fudger (Leics) bt K Hawes 20-16.

Fours – First round: C Campion bt P Jew (Worcs) 24-10. A Norton bt J Lormor (N'land) 30-8. Second round: C Campion bt A Kenny (Hunts) 24-19; A Norton bt H Garner (Norfolk) 25-8. Last 16: A Norton bt M Tims (Warks) 22-13; B Davies (Sussex) bt C Campion 16-15. Quarter-final: A Norton bt A Bernard (Durham) 22-16. Semi-final: R Wigfield (N'hants) bt A Norton 19-11.

Senior Singles – First round: C Gaskins) bt S Lemon (Leics) 21-11. Second round: E Benvie (Lancs) bt C Gaskins 21-10.

Senior Pairs – First round: J Allen (N'land) bt P Shepherd 24-22.

U25 Singles – First round: L Blankley (Leics) bt J Alder w/o; K Hipkiss (Derbys) bt K Glenn 21-20.

U25 Pairs – First round: E Felce (Cambs) bt J Alder 18-6.