The Bill Simpson Pairs Finals proved one-sided affairs.

In the Gents competition, last year's runners-up David and John Stroughair were out to make this their fifth win in the history of the competition when they blitzed Brian Gray and Ian Farrar with 17 shots, which included two fives in the first eight ends when they led 17-2.

Although Gray and Farrar pulled four shots back over the next two ends, the Stroughairs put the game beyond doubt when they scored seven shots over the following five ends to leave the score at 24-8 with 15 ends gone. The final score was 26-14.

The Ladies Final was very close when the score stood at 7-6 after nine ends. But then a seven to Carol Instone and Joan Jackson, followed by a three and a four three ends later, knocked the stuffing out of Maureen Walker and Trish Harrison.

Walker and Harrison then scored a three but Instone and Jackson weren't going to let this game go and scored nine shots over the remaining ends to win 30-10.

Although Joan Jackson is one of York's top players, having appeared in all the club's first team games and the Egham Trophy for many years and also played for Yorkshire on numerous occasions, this was her first domestic competition win.

New Earswick chairman and Yorkshire vice-president Barry Johnson led a patched-up Yorkshire side to a massive 202-84 win against Hertfordshire in a friendly game at York and District IBC.

The home team were missing a number of their top players thanks to the Yorkshire League Final at Scarborough IBC and the National Finals at Melton Mowbray.

Johnson's rink included Goodfellow from Hornsea and Featherstone's Bellfield and Walker.

They took control from the start, winning the first nine ends to lead 18-0 before their opponents managed to score.

New Earswick's Bob Howland was playing at second to Featherstone's Whitelam. Tied at 3-3 after three ends they went on the rampage winning the next 13 ends to lead 28-3 en route to a 33-7 win.

York's Michael Allen and New Earswick's Dave Birch appeared in Selby's Mick Bellamy's rink who led 15-5, eventually winning 25-15.

York's Alan Garrett played at second to Selby's Frank Turner whose game against the Hertfordshire secretary's John Hornby's team was never in doubt as they won 19-14.

New Earswick's Harry Rhodes and Bill Waldie were playing in Alan Jones' rink and found themselves trailing 10-4 after eight ends. However, a six on the 15th end gave them a 17-15 lead which was extended to 25-18.

Selby's Hodgkinson, Howcroft and Burton along with Scarborough's Wood were in a massive win which saw them score a six on the 13th end to take a 26-4 lead. They kept the momentum going to come out 39-8 winners.

Scarborough's Alan Hodges included Wright and Mansell from Selby and Pierson from Thornaby. They ran out easy 33-7 winners.

York Ladies had an outstanding 52-25 victory against the Hertfordshire Ladies in a two-rink friendly at York and District IBC.

Carol Instone, Sue Tomlinson, Sue Kirkpatrick and Joan Jackson stormed into an 11-0 lead before winning 30-9.

In the other rink, Sue Chilton, Ann Redhead, June Clayton and Madge Zimnoch had a much tighter game. After they found themselves 8-1 down with only four ends gone, they managed to draw level at 10-10.

After ten ends the game remained close at 17-16, but a three on the penultimate end and a two on the last gave the York side a well earned 22-16 win.

Updated: 12:52 Thursday, April 12, 2001