DURHAM bowlers came out on top in the area final of the Warner Holidays Champion of Champions singles event after 16 of the North's top rinksmen competed for the two National Finals places at Hayling Island on March 24-25.

At the end of a highly competitive tournament England international John Leeman, of Stanley, and his Under-25 counterpart David Bolt (Sunderland) took the honours.

Leeman was a 21-15 winner over Ryedale's Mark Walton after the Durham maestro came from behind in a hard-fought game, and Bolt ended in a blaze of glory to overcome John Earnshaw, of Featherstone, to register a 21-10 success.

In the first round Brian Robson (Durham) went down 21-6 to Bolt, Mike Patrick (Selby) lost 21-8 to South Shields' Steve Northam, and Ken Davey, from the Swinton club, fought hard before losing 21-14 to Thornaby stalwart Tony Frosdick.

Steve Taylor (Scarborough) gave best to Earnshaw, losing 21-15, Leeman was too good for Ken Dunning (Great Aycliffe), winning 21-3, while Hartlepool hope John Wells was a 21-16 winner in a splended game game against John Dudding, of Huddersfield.

Brian Reed (Consett) had a tough battle before gaining a 21-18 victory over Dennis Boyle (North Cave), and Walton won 21-6 against John Foulds, of Blackpool.

In the semi-finals Leeman went on to score a comprehensive 21-4 victory over Wells, while Bolt made progress with a 21-13 over Northam. Earnshaw also had a tough fight before pipping Frosdick 21-17, while Walton dismissed Reed with 21-6 scorecard.

lDarlington competitors are making a strong bid in the Area Three individual events.

In the singles Andrew Kirtland beat clubmate Vince O'Neill 21-17, while Stan Burton was a 21-14 winner of the local derby with Alan Stephenson.

In the Triples, Stephenson was a 19-13 winner at Thornaby against Adrian Robins.

Thornaby's Tony Frosdick travelled to Darlington to score an 18-13 victory over Ken Tinkler, while Dave Barron (Great Aycliffe) pipped Paul Heath (Spennymoor) 20-19.

In the Area semi-final of the Over-50 Triples Tinkler beat Darlington colleague Brian Metcalfe 19-14 and Hartlepool's Brian Price returned from Aycliffe with a 17-7 triumph over Dave Roberts.

lYork reached the quarter finals of the Vivienne Trophy with a comfortable 86-67 victory over Hartlepool, despite a spirited rally by the Pool away rinks.

Scores (Hartlepool first) - Home: Barbara White 14, Doreen Fennell 22; Jean Storey 13, Pat Bracken 21. Away: Dorothy Todd 19, Cath Blease 20; Maisie West 21, Clarice Johnston 23.

lCumbria suffered a shock exit from the Inter-County Liberty Cup competition when Cambridgeshire, yet to reach a final, were quarter final winners. Other results were: Kent 121, Hampshire 113; Lincolnshire 146, Suffolk 101; Surrey 140, Buckinghamshire 107.