JUST 48 hours after landing the Champion of Champions title at Hayling Island, Dorchester’s adopted son Martin Puckett was back on the Dorset rinks seeking further honours.

In the area final of the National Mixed pairs played at Yeovil, Puckett and his playing partner Louise Woodrow secured a place at the National finals.

Their opponents were the Taunton Deane pair skipped by England Women’s international Kirsty Hembrow.

The Taunton Deane combination were no match for the Dorchester duo, who posted an impressive 21-9 win and now face a long trip to Hartlepool at the end of the month.

Two days later, Puckett and Woodrow returned to neutral Yeovil, where they were joined by fellow club bowlers George Spracklen and Sandra Hubbard for the area final of the Mixed Fours.

Again the opposition was from Taunton Deane – Trevor Keates, Sue Evans, Stan Hedge and skip Kirsty Hembrow.

Hembrow and company took the opening end with a brace, before the Dorchester quartet took five of the following six ends to lead 8-3.

Hembrow temporarily stopped the rot when gaining a single, but the Taunton side were rocked back on their heels as Dorchester cashed in a count of five shots to open up a 14-4 lead. The 10-point advantage sealed a game that finished three ends early when Hembrow conceded 18-6 behind.

The long haul to Hartlepool beckons where the Mixed Fours finals will precede the Mixed Pairs finals.

The Dorchester quartet will take on Swale, skipped by Sean Coyle in their last-16 encounter.

In his quest for further appearances at the National finals, Puckett now tackles Simon Barnard of Taunton Vivary Park in the area final of the singles.

Further opportunities for National qualification are on the cards for Puckett in both the Men’s Pairs and the Men’s Triples Area finals.

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