LAST weekend saw the start of the qualifying matches for the annual Evesham Festival.

Clive Wyn and George Tho-mas, travelling companions from Wrexham, drew the two end pegs and the former won the match to secure his place at the Wychavon Championships on August 26 with 22-13-0 of bream off peg 65.

Thomas won the other qualifying section with 6-2-0 off peg one.

Other weights: 2 Dave Kirk 21.6.0 (64); 3 Leigh Gardner 15-8-0 (35); 4 Nick Nowicki 6-11-8 (43); 5 G Thomas 6.2.0 (1); 6 Dave Harpin 6-0-0 (58).

The next day saw the first of the Shakespeare Championship Qualifying matches.

With more than 55 in the field it proved a good match that was won by Steve Ashmore who had some nice chub off peg 35 and weighed in 13-11-0.

In second place with 6-11-0 was Studley butcher Sean Reidy who had a mixed bag including one nice tench off peg 55.

Young, Reidy and George Avery were the day's qualifiers.

Other weights: 3 Tom Pargeter (Glouc-ester) 6.4.0; 4 Dave Harrell (Evesham) 6.3.0 (36); 5 Nick Young 4.10.0 (24); 6 John Curtis (Diawa GL) 4.7.0 (30).