THE REGION'S top bowlers will be in action at Hartlepool today when the area finals of the EIBA Warner Holidays Champion of Champions singles event is staged.

With 16 contestants doing battle, including internationals Tony Frosdick, John Leeman and David Bolt, an intriguing and exciting day's bowling is eagerly anticipated.

Durham's Leeman, in particular, has fond memories of the tournament. After his first National success in winning the national under-31 singles in 1985 at Hartlepool he was also the inaugural winner of the Champion of Champions title.

The first round starts at 10am and the draw is - B Robson (Durham) v D Bolt (Sunderland); M Patrick (Selby) v S Northam (South Shields); K Davey (Swinton) v A Frossdick (Thornaby); S Taylor (Scarborough) v J Earnshaw (Featherstone); J Leeman (Stanley) v K Dunning (Great Aycliffe); J Wells (Hartlepool) v J Dudding (Huddersfield); E Reed (Consett) v D Boyle (North Cave); K Foulds (Blackpool) v M Walton (Ryedale).

The North lost interest last week in the National Inter-Club Knock Out Championship for the Denny Cup when Concordia lost 82-69 to Lincoln and Thornaby were beaten 90-71 by Leicester.

But the shock of the round was the one-shot defeat of the mighty Cyphers club, eight times finalists and winners five times. They were shown the door by Kentish neighbours Oyster in a dramatic tussle, with an extra end needed to decide the match.

The women's Vivienne Trophy is, in effect, a second-string event, played on the same lines as the Yetton Trophy and there is a disappointing lack of interest in the North-East.

The Zone Final, played last week, was actually the fourth round of the competition and some entrants were playing their first game. York were seven-shot winners over Cumbria and Hartlepool were easy victors over North Cave.

The two clubs will meet in the last 16 next Thursday.

Results of EIBA National events from Area Three were - Mixed pairs: Anderson/Moore (Darlington) 22, Playfor/Jackson (Hartlepool) 15.; Stephenson/Stephenson (Darl) 20, Gibson/Higgins (Durham) 17.

Mixed Fours: S Packham (Hart) 4, A Moore (Darl) 26; B Armstrong (Darl) 16, D Kilner (Hart) 19.

Over-50 Triples: B Metcalfe (Darl) 24, B Robson (Durham) 11; K Illingworth (Hart) 14, K Tinkler (Darl) 20.

Over-60 Pairs: Kirk/Robson (Dur) 30, Lamb/Ramsdale (Darl) 14; Freeman/Harrison (Hart) 22, Heath/Clare (Ferryhill) 12