GERALDINE READE from Westlecot reigned supreme at Bradford on Avon in the county ladies national singles championship.

However, fellow local players Julia Hunt (Wanborough), Linda Kingston (Highworth) and Jean Renicks (North End) all missed out.

Reade and Rose Ellis (Amesbury) both emerged victorious from the quarter and semi-finals of the county ladies singles, held at Bradford, and will meet in the singles final at Westlecot today, as well as representing Wiltshire at Royal Leamington Spa in the National Championships next month.

In the top half of the quarter-final draw, Reade beat Jean Collier (Box) 21-13 after 21 ends.

Wanborough’s Julia Hunt was in devastating form as she sealed a 21-3 over Swindon North End’s Jean Renicks.

Reade always held the upper hand in the semi-final clash with Hunt, starting in fine style to lead 9-2 at nine ends and 13-5 at 14. However, Hunt pulled the gap back to only 13-11 at 18.

That seemed to spur on Reade, who then raced away to win four ends later 21-12 and clinch a place in a county ladies singles final for the first time.

The bottom half of the draw saw Highworth’s Linda Kingston come from behind in the quarters-finals to beat Amesbury’s Janice Bull 21-14.

However, a poor start cost Kingston dearly in the semi-finals against another Amesbury player, Rose Ellis, who had previously eliminated former champion Alex Jacobs (Box) 21-14.

The semi-finals in the junior ladies singles (under 25s) were also played at Spencer Melksham last Saturday.

They saw the holder, Wootton Bassett’s Lucy Smith always in control against her younger sister Katy to win 21-11 after 21 ends.

In the other semi-final, Joanna Richman blasted Rachel Martin away in 12 ends to win 22-4.

Smith and Richman meet in the junior singles final at Westlecot today and will represent Wiltshire at Leamington in this U25 event.