BOLTON Badminton League champions Markland Hill are enjoying a purple patch at both tournament and league level.

Team member Julie Wright with fellow club member Jacqui Dawes won the ladies' doubles in the Lancashire Restricted Tournament, then Julie teamed up with Hawkshaw's Allan Clarkson to take the mixed doubles title.

Julian Critchley narrowly missed out on the double when he and Markland Hill team-mate Gary Fox lost in the men's semi-final, and Julian and Debbie Rigby lost in the mixed semis.

Tom Monk, also from the Heaton club, lost in the final of the men's singles to England star Harry Wright in a creditable performance.

As a result of the Restricted tournament, Gary and Julian have both been picked for the Lancashire second team in their next match on October 28 at Ribby Hall.

In the league, the current champions kept up their winning form, this week fighting off a strong challenge from Bury A away.

Albert Mahoney and Wright split their games before Critchley with Carol Cronshaw took both theirs, and Fox and Ruth Flatman added two more.

Mark Tuttle and Liz Holt for Bury took one back before Albert and Julie took their final mixed 25-23, 21-10, for a useful lead going into the men's and ladies'.

Holt and Nicky Burridge hit back to take both top ladies, before one of Markland Hill's top men's earned points. When Julie and Ruth took both second ladies, the visitors ran out winners by a useful 12-6 scoreline.

Markland Hill C, meanwhile, were entertaining Bury B, and their top couple, Ian Waters and Tracey Walker, took all four of their mixed before Bury fought back to level the scores.

Top ladies went to Markland Hill and, when all the men's games followed, the match also went their way, 11-7.

Smithills A came down from C Section this season and must have hoped for easier matches to enable them to make a swift return. But, their visit to Moorside A may not have turned out as planned.

Moorside finished last season in mid-table, and Smithills started well in the mixed to take a 6-4 lead.

The home team, however, has its strength in its ladies' and men's doubles and Jo Taylor and Rob Halliwell partnered Christine Smith, Jane Bowden, Mike Bird and Russ Beswick to take all the remaining games for a 12-6 win for Moorside.

Results Section A: Markland Hill B 18 Bury B 0; Markland Hill A 16 Forrest A 2.

Section B: Markland Hill D 14 Westhoughton B 4; Forrest B 14 Sharples B 4; Sharples A 13 Markland Hill E 5.