MARTYN SEKJER'S decision to take a summer sabbatical from bowls is a blow to the plans of Hampshire Middleton Cup boss John Plomer.

Plomer, just back on these shores after migrating to Malta for the winter, has to face the reality of being without a leading skip this year for the cup campaign which opens against Middlesex at Atherley on Saturday, June 5.

With two other established skips in Graham Standley and Russell Morgan also continuing to sit out the county championship, as is junior international Matthew Marchant, it is clear to see why the loss of the Southampton Sports Centre celebrity is such a setback for Hampshire.

Plomer said: "I believe Martyn has made up his mind to take a break this summer, so I have ruled him out of my calculations, but his decision is bound to affect us quite badly as he is a forceful man on the green. Everyone knows him and his reputation as a top bowler and a top skip - it is a real blow for us."

However, the good news for the rest of the county squad is that one of them will be promoted to take Sekjer's place.

"That will be a real incentive when we hold the trials - as far as I am concerned the skip's vacancy is wide open and it is up to someone to grab the opportunity," said Plomer, who is approaching his third season at the helm.

Even if Sekjer had played this summer, he was most unlikely to have rejoined Sports Centre as a job move to Poole sent him out of the Southampton area.

After moving from Kent, he originally worked in Southampton and joined Sports Centre as it was convenient to play midweek at a green close to his place of employment.

Now, being in Poole and living in Verwood, he is likely to look for a club in that area should he one day resume outdoors, the favourite destination being Boscombe Cliff, home of most of his East Dorset indoor colleagues.

Invitations are shortly to be sent out to nearly 60 bowlers for the first Hampshire get-together which will be a six-rink match on Sunday, May 2, at Atherley (10am) with Plomer making changes after ten ends. Friendly fixtures follow against Wiltshire (Atherley, May 16) and Dorset (Dorchester, May 23) before Plomer selects his team for the Middlesex opener.

Last summer Hampshire were always fighting a losing battle in their qualifying group after being beaten in their first match by Oxfordshire.

Despite subsequently defeating Isle of Wight and Middlesex, the damage had been done but this time Plomer is hoping that, with the first two games at home to Middlesex and the Islanders, Hampshire will notch victories to put them in great heart for what should be the section decider and a revenge mission against Oxfordshire on July 3 at Banbury Central.

Another date on Plomer's calendar is May 9 when there is an under-31 match against their Oxfordshire counterparts with a view to choosing the under-25 team for the double rink championship first round against Berkshire (to be played by June 1).

In the Top Four competition Hampshire tackle Sussex.

Next year Hampshire will be in a five-strong Middleton Cup group - their 2004 section being augmented by Berkshire.