ENTRIES for the ladies singles in the York Open Bowls Tournament were down because of a clash with county competitions but the opening matches at Clarence Gardens produced some excellent matches.

In the first round, last year's champion Betty Richardson was pitted against former winner Maureen Walker.

Richardson hit top form from the start romping into a 4-1 lead. Though Walker countered to 16-14 down, she eventually lost 21-15.

Joan Parker had an excellent 21-20 win against Doreen Rodgers and Gill Clark, last year's beaten finalist, had a 21-19 success against Sandra Grantham.

Pauline Veitch trailed 16-8 to Lynne Tattersall but won the next seven ends and went on to secure a 21-19 win.

Audrey Swann (South Shields) the winner in 1993, 1994 and 1996 had a difficult first round tie against York's Melanie Brooke. At 16 ends the score was level at 10-10 but the last quarter of the game was dominated by Swann, who won 21-14.

Dot Turpin had an impressive third round victory over past winner Judy Abel 21-16.

Clark lost 21-12 to Maureen Cook (South Shields), while Margaret Moss, the 2001 champion, lost 21-17 to Swann.

Doreen McCowan had two good wins over Jean Bartlett and Pauline Cooper before succumbing to Parker 21-12. Veitch continued on her victory march by beating Gill Godden 21-19.

The quarter-final saw the end of Turpin's hopes losing 21-6 to Williams, who meets Parker in tomorrow's semi-final.

In the other quarter-finals Swann hit a marvellous line and length going into a 18-4 lead against holder Richardson, who lost 21-18.

Cook ended Veitch's championship hopes by winning 21-12 and the South Shields pair now meet each other in the semi-final.

Updated: 09:56 Thursday, July 31, 2003