The 70th season of the Sussex County Women's Association was launched with a 120-113 win against Hampshire at Lee-on-Solent.

The three winning rinks were led by Bridget Parr (Hurstpierpoint), Elizabeth Gooding (St Francis), who received her county badge, Lorraine Kemp (Bexhill) and Jean Bracey (Henfield) who led 14-5 at ten ends, got threes on the 18th and 19th ends and, despite dropping four shots on the 21st, beat Sheila Plomer 24-14.

Jean Meneely (Field Place), Sylvia Rummery (Newhaven), Beryl Cordwell (St Francis) and Wendy Aylward (Bexhill) won 27-20 against Joan Hennessey. With 3,1,1 starting on the sixth end, the Sussex rink led 11-4, dropped a five on the 11th to be only 13-12 ahead, but, boosted with 2,3,4 starting on the 17th to lead 24-19, were back in command.

Three up playing the last end, Lorraine Hume (Saffrons), Beryl Hobbs-Pullen (Bexhill), Denise Hodd (Polegrove) and Janet Birch (Newick) defeated Helen Phillips 20-19. They had dropped five shots on the first end and were 10-4 down after only four ends but led 12-10 at nine and 16-11 at 13.

Freda Linberry (Field Place), Sheila Simmons (Crouch), who received her county badge, Aileen McNair (Bexhill) and Wendy Davies (Field Place) were 6-6 after ends, trailed 15-6 after 12 but winning seven of the last nine ends with 13 shots against dropping a brace of threes, only lost 21-19 to Ellie Mundy.

Debutante Betty Spicer (Chichester), June Trower (Lewes), Doreen Hough (Burgess Hill) and Wendy Adams (Chichester) led 9-4 at seven ends, but dropped four shots on the eighth end, trailed 12-11 at 13, 16-12 at 16 and, when they dropped two on the last end, went down 20-16 to Rosemary Corney.

Pam Rampton (Petworth), debutante Vera Bailey (Hollingbury Park), Betty Potten (Beach Park) and Nancy Barnett (Hurstpierpoint) fought back from 15-8 down at 15 ends. But their recovery was spoilt by dropping four shots on the 20th end and they lost 27-20 to England player Wendy Line.

Sussex women face the county men at Horsham tomorrow (2.30pm).