RIVERSIDE achieved another landmark with their first appearance in a national final - thanks to Christine and Simon Doig in the English Women's Indoor BA generation pairs championship.

Mum Christine and her 21-year-old son Simon won seven matches to qualify for the last-four play-offs at Desborough.

And, once on the carpet of the Northamptonshire club, they made it eight by beating Barbara Prew and son Alan (Chipping Norton) in the semi-finals.

A tight contest was opened up when the Hampshire pair scored a seven on the 13th end and they strode away to a 26-16 victory, helped by a fine performance from Christine at lead.

However, hopes of bringing a first national trophy to Winchester were dashed in the final against Yvonne McKee and her son, Neil, from nearby Kingsthorpe.

Neil has been an England under-25 international since 1996 - and it showed.

As Christine explained: "If I drew a wood to within an inch of the jack, Neil would put one to within half an inch. He and his mother were brilliant - we just couldn't compete with them in that form but nonetheless it was still avery enjoyable game."

Although the McKees triumphed 25-6, this was another event which put Riverside, founded only six years ago, on the map. The closest the club had been to national glory was last season when Eddie Bates reached the semi-final of the over-60s' singles and, for the ladies, Christine Doig herself had been a quarter-finalist in the EWIBA pairs championship with Joan Hopson, again last year.

That twosome, however, is unlikely to continue as Hopson is moving to Southbourne, Bournemouth, shortly.