Chipping Norton's hopes of reaching the national finals of the EBA mixed fours ended after a thrilling battle with Handy Cross in the area final.

The Chippy quartet of Les Gillett, Alan Prew, Barbara Sleeman and Maureen McVicker were pipped 20-18 by their High Wycombe opponents at the Foxhill club, Aylesbury.

World pairs champion Gillett is still in the men's singles, pairs and fours finals.

He faces Slade's Ted Hanger in the singles at Foxhill tomorrow night. The fours final, with Chippy facing Banbury, is at Carterton on Saturday (2pm), with the pairs at Foxhill on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the national over 50s triples final was held at Oxford IBC, with the Moonfleet club from Weymouth defeating Prince Arthur (Gillingham) 19-9.

OTHER AREA FINAL RESULTS

Triples: S Mead, D Harding & D Fox (Foxhill) bt P Seymour, D Savage & L Richardson (Slade) 18-11.

Mixed pairs: L Thelwell & M Hyde (Handy Cross) bt D Deldefield & D Harding (Foxhill) 20-6.

Father & Son pairs: M & R Newman (Whiteknights) bt J & D Fox (Foxhill) 19-17.