OXFORDSHIRE’S Katherine Hawes and Carole Galletly helped England complete a hat-trick of British Isles Women’s International Series titles.
The pair featured in wins over Scotland, Jersey and Ireland at Royal Leamington Spa, and a narrow defeat by Wales couldn’t stop the hosts retaining the crown.
A thumping 149-101 victory over Ireland sealed England’s title treble after they had moved into pole position by defeating Scotland 124-103 and Jersey 157-74.
A 103-101 defeat to Wales gave Scotland a glimmer of hope going into the final session, but England roared home to be champions by crushing the Irish.
Galletly (Banbury Central) and Hawes (Oxford City & County) played lead and No 2 respectively in a four skipped by Herefordshire’s Tracey Powell, which also featured Worcestershire’s Amy Stanton.
They posted just one rink success – a 30-12 victory over Jersey skip Jackie Knight.
But Hawes felt they had played their part in the team’s success by pushing top opponents to the wire as they went down 16-14 to Wales’s Jess Sims and 20-18 against Ireland’s Sandra Bailie.
She said: “I think we had some tough games and keeping them close felt like we had done our jobs.
“Overall it was a good performance.”
The only real disappointment for Hawes and Galletly came as their rink went down 28-18 to Scotland skip Lorna Smith.
Hawes also skipped City & County’s side of Myra Lewis, Donna Knight and Gail Gilkes in the British Isles Women’s Fours Championship at Victoria Park.
Representing England following their national triumph last August, they went out 21-12 to Wales’s Kayleigh Morris, Sims, Wendy Price and Betty Morgan in the preliminary round.
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