OXFORDSHIRE’S Mark Sykes was knocked out in the quarter-finals of the National Champion of Champions competition at Leamington.

The Banbury Borough player reached the last eight with a 21-11 victory over David Scott (Notts) before losing 21-15 to Wiltshire’s Russell Francis.

Oxfordshire recorded a

130-99 victory over Bucks in their friendly at Marlow.

Although the visitors won only half the rinks, large victories for skips Brian Bloomfield, Ken Williams and Mike Andrew saw them home.

Bucks 99, Oxon 130

(Oxon rink scores)

Rink 1: R Slater, A Fleming, D Wedge & A Wase lost 20-16.

Rink 2: C Lewis, C Haley, B Clarke & B Bloomfield won 32-9.

Rink 3: B Willoughby, R Radband, J McGeough & M Morris lost 18-17.

Rink 4: P Demczak, A French, J Hurren & K Williams won 24-11.

Rink 5: M Jones, J Timms, P Warner & A Ley lost 26-14.

Rink 6: S Tolhurst, T Backer-Holst, M Oliver & M Andrew won 27-15.