ENGLAND singles champion Donna Knight clinched the Oxfordshire crown, but only after a stern contest against her clubmate Katherine Hawes on their Oxford & City rink.

In a classic contest, Knight defeated England international Hawes 21-17.

Trailing 20-13, Hawes raised her game to bring the score to 20-17.

In the final end, the head turned over with every bowl, with Knight just managing to draw the shot to secure the title.

But Hawes immediately gained her revenge in the two-wood singles final.

Nailing the jack, Hawes took an 11-3 shot lead.

Knight pulled it back to 13-8, but Hawes finished strongly to win 15-10.

The fours final was a closely-fought battle between Carole Galletly, Pam Shepherd, Helen Young and Caroline Campion (Banbury Central) and Maggie Miller, Sue Wilson, Jazz Alder and Karen Alder (West Witney). Campion’s four led until the 15th end, when Alder’s team went one shot ahead.

The Banbury team scored on the next three ends on the way to a 20-15 success.

The unbadged pairs final was won by Barbara Singh and Sandra Grindrod (Witney Town), who beat Linda Coles and Adrienne Brown (Banbury Borough) 17-9.

The under 25 singles final between Jazz Alder (West Witney) and Katie Glenn (Watlington) was all square at 11-11.

Alder then scored a string of ends to run away with the crown 21-13.

In the triples final, Knight and Hawes teamed up with City & County clubmate Gail Gilkes to face Brigitta King, Sheila Oldham and Sheila Lovett (West Witney).

After 15 ends, Hawes’ team led only 12-10, but they stretched away to win 19-10.

The pairs final between Karen Galloway and Carol Gaskins (Oxford City & County) and Myra Lewis and Helen Young (Banbury Central) was a close affair.

The Central team led 9-7, before their opponents picked up eight shots in three ends to lead 15-9 and stretched it to 18-11.

Lewis and Young got to within a shot, before Galloway and Gaskins eased home 23-19.