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The first day of the ESMBA National Championships saw the Mixed Fours event played at Tamworth IBC where two Norfolk rinks were taking part. Both rinks made a great start winning all their games in their respective groups. Laura Hawksworth of Deaf Sports and Wymondham bowlers Debbie Sparham, Chris Mann & Jon Sparham were drawn in a tough group. They reeled off three wins though beating Steve Killington’s Essex rink 8-7, Emily Thomas’ Dorset rink 11-4 and Joe Newsome’s North Yorks rink 11-2. The draw was kinder to Norfolk’s other rink which comprised of Haddiscoe’s Mike & Kerry Greenacre, Lesley Crowe of First Bus and John Jarvis of Thorpe Marriott. They took full advantage producing three straight wins beating Santo Orlando’s Oxfordshire rink 10-6, Surrey’s Nigel Goss 10-9 and Robert Proctor’s Humberside rink 5-3. In the first knock-out round Jon Sparham’s rink faced Suffolk’s Margaret Hastings, Cheryl Grabham, Derek Adams & Michael Rice but suffered a shock 9-1 defeat. Norfolk’s other rink did not fare any better as they went down by a heavy 14-3 margin against Shirley Cox’s Herefordshire rink. Devon’s Eric Pavey, Malcolm Sheen, Kim Wright & Carol Osborne beat Hampshire’s Alister McCrea, Steve Buckett, Wendy Ford & Sophie McFiggins in the final by 8-7 after an extra end.