WIMBORNE'S Craig Shepherd helped England become British Isles junior outdoor champions for the first time in four years at Royal Leamington Spa.

Bolstered by an opening 121-105 (17-5) victory over reigning champions Scotland, Shepherd and his teammates went on to complete a clean sweep by whitewashing Wales 139-81 and hammering the Irish 152-87 (20-2).

Shepherd, playing at two in a rink skipped by Hampshire's Paul May, led 15-12 at 15 ends before losing 21-18 to Scotland's David Kelly but the Dorset bowler's rink made no mistake in the remaining games, squeezing in 19-18 against David Axon in the 22-pointer against Wales and then outgunning Ireland's Adam Barr 22-16.

Dorset begin the build-up towards their English Indoor BA under-25 double rink championship match against Gloucestershire with a trial at Dorchester on Friday, October 8 (6.30).

Eleven youngsters have been called up by county junior team manager Frank Gwatkin in preparation for the game on Sunday, October 24, when one rink will be at Dolphin, Poole, and one at the Cotswold club, Stroud.

Gwatkin will be assisted this season by Andrew Paulley, father of the county's under-18 indoor and outdoor champion Ben. Players invited are Craig Shepherd, Ben Paulley, Phil Lawrence (all Dolphin), Jamie Lockwood, Nick Voss, Andrew Voss, Steven Huttley, Dean Curtis (all Dorchester), Craig Johnson and Clive Johnson (both Moonfleet 2000) and Wellworthy's Ryan Stone.

Michael Hutley - formerly a Dorset regular from Dolphin - has switched his allegiance this winter to Hampshire association club East Dorset.

The teenager makes his first appearance in a Hampshire indoor event when he plays in the county under-25 trial at Atherley on Sunday, October 3.