The ladies triples then start on May 19 with the men's competition underway two days later.

Last year's men's triples champions Wellingborough, skipped by Neil Corbyn, begin their title defence against a Rushden rink skipped by Roy Cave.

In the ladies triples, meanwhile, last year's runners-up Desborough, skipped by Sharon Hall, begin their bid to go one better against the Rothwell Cons rink of Sandra Rogers.

Another eye-catching tie in the triples is the one between defending champions Brackley, skipped by Marlene Court, and the Kingsthorpe rink of Sharon Tansley.

The interest is created by the fact that both skips will also meet each other in the first round of the ladies fours where Kingsthorpe are the reigning champions.

Also in the ladies fours, past winners Rushden, skipped by Audrey Height, start their campaign against the Desborough rink skipped by Margaret McGillivray.

Kingsthorpe are also the defending champions in the men's fours. But Colin Fowkes' rink have a tough start against fellow Kingsthorpe skip Mick Donohoe.

Last year's beaten finalists from Abington, skipped by Jonathan Brown, are away to Whyte Melville and their skip Neville Brody in round one.