THE TRIO of Kevin Embling, Ian Jefferies and Neil Smith, who won the Area 10 triples title recently, have qualified for the last 16 of the national triples championship.

They booked their place at next month’s Melton & District with a 16-9 victory over Area 15 champions Simon Jones, Alan Price and John McGuinness (Desborough, Maidenhead) in the inter-area final that was played at Oxford City and County IBC.

The Westlecot trio led the Oxford inter-area final 4-1 at five ends and 8-5 after 10 but then dropped a two.

They quickly compensated picking-up a three to go 11-7 up and at 15 ends were 13-8 ahead and finally won 16-9.

Embling, Jefferies and Smith had qualified for the inter-area final after beating Mark Atkins, Luke Harwood and Ryan Atkins 16-7 in the Area 10 triples final at Mid Glos.

Meanwhile, Embling today is also hoping to book a place in the last 16 in the men’s Over 60s pairs competition in Northampton at the end of this month.

Together with Westlecot indoor colleague Dave Snell they won the Area 10 Over 60s pairs title with a comprehensive 26-7 victory over Roger Preece and his partner from Mid Glos.

And today Embling and Snell return to the Oxford City and County green to play a duo from Desborough (Maidenhead) led by Len Essex in the inter-area final.

John Anderson and his son Kyle are still running in the new family pairs competition launched this season - Generation Pairs.

They are due to face Malvern Hills father and son pairing Mark and Ryan Atkins in the Area 10 final this weekend.