THE Hants and Berks Cup, donated to Basingstoke and District by the Gazette, reached its climax in this year's final showdown between Old Basing and Alton Social, hosted at Oakley BC, writes Spencer Kerley.

In the highly anticipated match, Basing found themselves as the underdogs, facing off against Alton Social, a club that has, over recent years, attracted a multitude of skilled players to its ranks.

The game unfolded with Basing taking an early lead, leading by six shots at the 14th end. However, by the 18th end, only a narrow two-shot margin separated the teams.

In the end, experience played a significant role, and Alton Social emerged victorious with a final score of 69 shots to 58.

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The Basingstoke Leagues also witnessed closely contested finishes. Alton Social clinched Division 1 of the Fours league, but the final evening saw Oakley and Kingsclere battling for second place and the coveted £300 prize money. In this nail-biting competition, it was Oakley who managed to secure the runner-up spot.

In Division 1 of the Triples League, Oakley and Kingsclere once again vied for the top spot, but this time it was Kingsclere who retained the title they had won in 2022. Meanwhile, Basingstoke Town celebrated their promotion to Division 1 in both the Fours and Triples Leagues.

Over in the Whitchurch League, Basingstoke Town Spades secured a convincing victory in Division 1. Kingsclere Partridges claimed the Division 2 title, with the second promotion spot still up for grabs, contested between Howard Park Kestrels and Oakley Woodpeckers. Division 3 saw Old Basing Roundheads emerge as the champions, although Marnell Blues and Oakley Kites faced relegation.

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The Whitchurch competitions saw success for both Old Basing and Oakley, with Basing's Roger Banister securing the title of Over 60s Champion, while team-mate Dean Perry triumphed in the Novice Singles.

Oakley's Janie Vickers, together with Sue and Jim Dixon, clinched the triples title, and Oakley's Gerald Norris and Graham Tompkins celebrated victory in the Open Pairs competition. However, despite these victories, the Oakley players could not replicate their success in the County Mixed Top Club, crashing out at the quarter-final stage against Alton Social, marking the end of their journey.

Unfortunately, it was a tough season for Oakley's Vickers. As the sole local player to qualify for Hampshire representation at the National Championships, she faced England international Katherine Hawes Watt in the Two Bowl singles, ultimately falling short. In the County Final, Vickers secured the runner-up spot, concluding her campaign.