FIRST and second seeds John Lister and Simon Pearson showed their class in the Bolton Tennis Championships men's singles on Wednesday night.

Lister beat veteran Ken Nixon 6-0, 6-0, and Simon saw off Ian Nutter 6-0, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals.

In the ladies' singles semi-final, Lisa Cartwright turned on the style in beating Wendy Birchall 6-2, 6-1.

In the handicap veterans, there were good wins for Mike Howarth and Christina Millington over husband and wife team, M. and K. Adams, 6-0, 6-4.

The handicap men's event produced a thriller between Morley and Booth from Walmer and Smith and Massey from Harwood. After two closely fought sets, the Walmer couple emerged victorious by 6-4, 6-4.

Results: Handicap Veterans Men's Doubles: K Nixon/S Barlow (-40) bt B Roscoe/A Prince (-30) 6-4, 6-2; R Coward/P Smith (scr) bt J Smith/R Tate (scr) 6-5, 5-6, 6-4.

Men's Singles Quarter Finals: J Lister bt K Nixon 6-0, 6-0; S Pearson bt I Nutter 6-0, 6-2; J Davies bt R Worth 7-5, 4-6, 6-2; S Darlington bt N Hinnighan 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

Ladies Singles Quarter Finals: D Hock bt S Cowell 6-0. 6-0.

Ladies Singles Semi Finals: L Cartwright bt W Birchall 6-2, 6-1.

Handicap Ladies Doubles First Round: S Cowell/ Beck (-15) bt B Arnold/C Shacklady (-15) 6-1, 6-0; N & J Sweet (-0.3) bt J Hermida/K Taylor (-15) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1; S Prendergast/B Millington (scr) bt P & H Teasdale (-15.3) 6-5, 6-5.

Handicap Veterans Mixed Doubles Preliminary Round: I Kilburn/D Gregory (-30) bt J Lloyd/D Thompson (-30) 6-1, 6-3.

Handicap Veterans Mixed Doubles First Round: C Millington/M Howarth (-15.3) bt M & K Adams (scr) 6-0, 6-4; E Perry/J Davy (-0.3) bt R Howell/K Harrison (-15) 6-3, 6-2; M Dodds/R Townsend (-0.3) bt M Poyner/D Bedford (-0.3) w/o.

Girl's Singles Second Round: A Warhurst bt S Small 6-1, 6-0; S Shacklady bt Z Nolan 6-0, 6-2.

Handicap Men's Doubles Second Round: R Lister/D Gregory (-15) bt A Riley/M Schofield (-30) 6-2, 6-5; M Booth/R Morley (-30) bt S Smith/R Massey (-15.3) 6-4, 6-4.

Boy's Singles U17 Quarter Finals: A Beswick bt J Nuttall 6-3, 6-1; A Lee bt P Christie 6-0, 6-3; A Rodgers bt R Nixon 6-2, 7-5.

Men's Plate First Round: P Evans bt A Maddock w/o; M Hermida bt J Tetik w/o; R Taylor bt D Kneafsey w/o; M Ali bt A Townsend 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Men's Plate Second Round: M Hermida bt R Taylor 7-5, 6-3.

Ladies Doubles Semi Finals: S Lawson/R Anders bt D Purtill/A Al-Saidi 6-0, 6-2.

Mixed Doubles First Round: H Wilson/A Westmoreland bt D Silvester/L Thorley w/o; S Howell/P Shacklady bt C Pyatt/A Nolan 6-7, 7-5, 7-5.

Men's Doubles Second Round: A Riley/S Holloway bt C & S Pearson 6-1, 7-5.