PAM Lambshead is the new Hampshire indoor singles champion. In the final at Atherley the Palmerston bowler ended the reign of 2004 title-holder Anne Pearce 21-12.

Although Pearce, who was playing on her home carpet, took a 4-0 lead Lambshead edged 5-4 in front and then stayed in control during a match lasting 22 ends between two Hampshire Atherley Trophy bowlers.

Lambshead had been involved in an even longer semi-final played less than 24 hours before the final as she had been ill when the other championship semi-finals had been staged the previous weekend.

She was taken to 29 ends before outgunning Hannah Burden of Longmeadow 21-19.

The tables, however, were turned in the triples where Pearce, at lead alongside Margaret Darkin and skip Wendy Line, polished off Lambshead and her Palmerston partners Linda Abraham-Keyford (lead) and skip Viv Bramble.

Trailing 19-9 at 11 ends Atherley seemed to be heading for defeat until a tremendous recovery brought them a 26-21 triumph after they rattled up 12 shots without reply on the last four ends.

That same Atherley threesome combined with Jean Arnaud to land the fours 25-16 against clubmates Jenny Loftus, Ann Littlewood, Jean Terrell and Jackie Mainwaring.

Level 3-3 at three ends Line powered into a decisive 15-5 lead by the tenth end.

Tightest final of the day was the internal Victory tussle for the pairs. All square at 8-8 on nine ends Liz Compton and Carole Lloyd seemed to have one hand on the trophy when 18-12 in front after 17 ends but then they dropped a six to Rosemary Bailey and Sandy Pullin.

Bailey and Pullin - both fresh from competing in the national championships at Nottingham - continued their revival with a single and two on the following ends to go 21-18 ahead and were quite happy to concede just a single on the final.