Scottish
Cup : West
Lothian IBC remain focused on achieving a record fifth title success in the
Scottish Cup after booking their place in the second round with a resounding
33-shot victory (96-63) over Paisley at Coatbridge last weekend. Expectations
of a battle royal between the two Premier League clubs soon faded as West
Lothian got off to a rip-roaring start that translated into an amazing 28 shot
lead (38-10) after completion of the first seven end phase. The foot came off
the accelerator on the middle phase and Paisley edged it 30-29 but the danger
signals never flashed for WL and a 29-23 score on the third and final phase
gave them safe passage. Wins for the rinks skipped by Mark Allison, Neil
Speirs, and George Sneddon emphasized the WL superiority but the clean-sweep
was denied by a late collapse on the rink skipped by Graeme Archer. Allison
was the main driving force behind the WL victory, the international trial
player skipping Bryan Cooper, Derek Mairs, and Jimmy Mallon to a 28-7 triumph
over Derek Moffat. Twin highlights saw the first of them coming in the shape
of a run of 1,1,2,2,3, that stretched the score line to 15-3 after 23 ends
then the second was a flying finish of 1,2,3,5, from 17-7. It was Neil Speirs
who provided the early inspiration however, the 26-year old cap skipping
Cameron Greer, Drew Paterson, and Thomas Mann into a 14-1 lead after eight
ends of punishment for John Gilmartin. Speirs and Co couldn’t sustain the
pace but held most of their ground to win 25-15. Sneddon made a dream start of
4,1,1,4, to lead 10-0 then at 16-6 lost a 6 and it was battle station
thereafter to skip Stewart Gibson, Stuart Johnston, and Ian Brown to a 22-18
win over Ian Cowan. Archer answered an 8-15 deficit after 12 ends with a
purple patch spell of 4,2,1,1,3,2, to skip David Wilson, Derek Wardrop, and
Joey Strickland into a 21-15 lead but a 3,4,1, wobble cost them a 23-21 defeat
from Willie Killens...... West
Lothian have been forced to tinker with their line up for the match against
Coatbridge at Lochwinnoch; but for the happiest of reasons due to wedding
bells ringing out for Drew Paterson. David Wilson is switched from lead in the
Archer rink to take over from Paterson at second for Neil Speirs and the chief
benefactor is Wilson’s teenage son Ewan who makes his Scottish Cup debut in
the position vacated by his father.
Balbardie
IBC zipped into the second round of the Scottish Cup with a spectacular 127-51
performance that saw them stitch up Garioch by the 76-shot margin at Dundee.
An explosive start to the match saw Balbardie blitz the opposition 53-11 on
the first seven end phase then showing little mercy the team from Bathgate
also dominated the next two phases by 39-24 and 35-16. Double figure wins for
the rinks skipped by Martin Stein, Grant Taylor and Stevie Fleming made it a
happy bus on the homeward bound journey although there was flack for Ewan
Shearer who failed to complete the clean sweep. It was a day to remember most
off all for Stein and his rink of David Lawrie, Jim Speirs, and Andy Forrest
who lifted off at 4-1 to rocket into a 36-1 lead then celebrated a fantastic
47-5 victory. Taylor made his mark brilliantly in place of absentee star
Graeme Byrne, skipping Diz Drysdale Sandy McDougall and Colin Stein into an
18-0 lead then converting the great start into a 33-14 triumph. Fleming
included a super 6 at the 12th end to lead 20-5 en route to
skipping Ian Drysdale, Davy Ross, and Andy Dunnett to a commanding 27-9 win.
Shearer and his rink of Jim McCallum, Andy Chapman and Walter McDougall lost
23-20......... Graeme
Byrne returns to the Balbardie line up for this Saturdays Scottish Cup action
at Prestwick where the Bathgate based clubface a second round mountain to
climb in the shape of Premier League opposition Lanarkshire. Byrne will skip
his regular rink which means Grant Taylor reverts to third in a move that that
has sentenced team captain Colin Stein to the reserve bench. A noble decision
considering the football legend is one of two selectors.
West
Lothian IBC : Table-toppers Kenny Hardie, Grant Taylor,
Billy Arnott and Mark Allison suffered their first defeat of the Division 1
campaign at West Lothian IBC when they had their wings clipped by Ewan
Shearer. Shearer skipped Burnet Rose, Jim McCallum and Jim Speirs into a 10-3
lead then held off a late challenge for a 12-8 win that eased them out of the
relegation zone. Allison and Co now share top spot with Thomas Mann who made
it five wins out of six when skipping Bryan Cooper, Dougie Mitchell and Drew
Paterson to a 16-9 win over Mick Duff, Rab Hilson, Tom Headspeath and Rab
McCulloch. The shock of the night came when third placed Ian Drysdale, David
McCormick, Grant Knox and Graeme Archer passed up a golden chance to hit the
top. Seldom in the hunt they crashed to an 11-18 defeat from relegation zoned
John Cruickshank Bryan Frater Andrew Reid and Peter Finnigan, leaving them one
point adrift of the joint leaders and with a game more played.
Monday’s
final of the women’s national fours qualifier at West Lothian IBC saw Helen
MacDonald skip Irene Taylor, Barbra Robertson and Great Scott to a 24-9 win
over Jessie Hagart, Jean Anderson, Liz Boyle and Marian Halliday.
OUTDOOR
2004
West
Lothian Classic Singles : Dark Horse challenger Claire
Hardie chose the prestige singles event to make her breakthrough to the circle
of major tournament champions on the County scene. The 23-year old NHS
employee at St Johns etched her name on the silverware with a 21-15 victory
over former Edinburgh Open champion Agnes Mackay of Blackburn in the final
played at Uphall Station. “Claire has shown great promise at Middleton Hall
in recent seasons and the general feeling was that it was only a matter of
time before she made a bigger impression on the sport”, said Scotland cap
Linda Brennan. “I wouldn’t have predicted the Classic Singles to become
her first major success so to come through an Open field and beat a class act
like Agnes in the final is an achievement to be proud of”, added the new
champions club-mate. Hardie found herself in the toughest of battles at 12-11
down to Mackay after 17-ends of an absorbing final and the destination of the
title remained in the melting pot when five ends late the underdog had stuck
her nose in front to lead 15-14. A magic run of 1,2,1, saw Hardie make telling
space to 19-14 then she answered the loss of a single with a 1,1, reply to
trigger the title salute on the 28th end. “I am thrilled to bits
by this as it was only a dream when I started off in the first round so I am
feeling 10 foot tall at the moment and my head is somewhere in the clouds”,
said an over the moon champion. The earlier semi final action saw Hardie
defeat former finalist Morven Shearer of Bo’ness 21-13 while Mackay defeated
the ever competitive Helen MacDonald of Pumpherston by the same score.
Champion
of Champions : Frank
Barker joined the elite band of club champions who have gone on to etch their
name on the Burnside Trophy when he survived an extremely tough passage to
capture the Matt Purdie & Sons sponsored WLBA ‘Champion of Champions’
crown at Broxburn. Barker became the toast of Oakbank when the
54-year old Contracts Manager clinched the prestige title with a 21-17 triumph
over County star Jimmy Mallon of Uphall Station in an entertaining final that
lasted 24-ends. The three-times champion of Oakbank made a dream start to
bring the title favourite under immediate pressure at 9-0 then remained ice
cool when Mallon launched a strong fight back to hit the front at 15-14.
Barker regained the lead with a smashing double then pressed on to have Mallon
at his 20-16 mercy before putting the 1998 Scottish Triples champion (skip) to
the sword two ends later. “This is a first for Oakbank and dream come true
for me as I have nursed an ambition to win this title ever since committing
hari-kari in the quarterfinals back in 1987”, said Barker. His ‘87’
campaign was under the East Calder banner but partying the night before before
his Sunday schedule was a mistake that he learned from and he fought the last
day of his 2004 challenge with everything in sharp focus. Which was just as
well because the dark horse had to overcome the challenge of former champion
of champions Sandy Bryant ((1991) and Ewan Shearer (holder) in the
quarterfinals and semi finals respectively. Defeating Bryant 21-16 with a
strong run from 11-15 then conjuring up a magic 3,3, finish to beat Shearer
21-16.
George
Thomson of the Deans is the 2004 Seniors Champion of
Champions of West Lothian having captured the crown with a super
charged finish to the final at host club Winchburgh. Thomson looked well out
of the picture when trailing 2002 champion George Charleston of Linlithgow
14-20 but a grandstand finish saw the Deans challenger race to 21 with a run
of 2,1,3,1. The semi final action saw Thomson defeat Bobby McIvor of Glenmavis
21-10 while Charleston progressed at the 21-15 expense of Broxburn’s Bobby
Lyons. WLBA president Alex Aitchison of Bathgate presented the trophy and
prizes.
Broxburn
Colts football star Fraser McLellan switched sports at the weekend and the
15-year old school-kid from Ratho scored a gold medal success in the Champion
of Champions event staged by the West Lothian Young
Bowlers Association at East Calder. McLellan captured the title with a
tremendous 21-8 show against former national champion Calum Logan of Broxburn
in the final having defeated Luke Gilliland of Bankton Mains 21-9 in the
semis. Logan beat Liam Campbell of Middleton Hall 21-11 in their semi while
the 2-day event was supported by, Direct Windscreens, Move It Express Ltd,
Ness Construction Ltd, TUBZ (Disco) Promotions, and Racing Karts.
WL Ladies Champion of Champions : Whitburn ace
Marion Halliday turned up trumps in the final of the Foremost Bowls West
Lothian ladies ‘champion of champions’ event at Pumpherston.
An exciting climax to an epic 21-end battle in the final saw Halliday conjure
up a magic 3,1, finish to beat Lorraine Malloy of Springgrove 21-18. Halliday,
the champion 19 years previous, had the title firmly in her sights at 17-9 but
the vision became blurred when Malloy crossed 18-17 with a tremendous
2,1,2,1,3, fight back. Two semi final crackers saw Halliday produce a 3,2,1,2,
finish to beat Vicky Turner of Buchan Park 21-15 while Malloy came off a 10-16
pace and finished with a 3 to beat Sandra Steven of Uphall Station 21-18. The
quarterfinal results were; M Halliday 21 K Bathgate (East Calder ) 9; V Turner
21 S Leitch (Letham) 19; L Malloy 21 Eileen Colquhoun (Stoneyburn) 6; S Steven
21 M Scally (Glenmavis) 15.
WLBA
Seniors Open Singles : The amazing Peter Ball has added
another major title to his crowded CV with the 77-year old veteran from
Blackburn capturing the West Lothian Council assisted title series at
Bathgate BC last Friday. The field of 99 was whittled down through the
weeklong play to a last four line up that comprised John Gray (Armadale),
Cammy MacArthur (Philpstoun), Lenny Dowling (Ratho) and Ball. Ball went on to
become ‘Peter The Great’ by capturing the prestige crown with a 21-19
victory over Gray in a dramatic climax to a magnificent 27-end final. Peels
were called at 8 then 11 before Gray made a forward move to 14 but that was
the signal for Ball to find an extra gear and motor into a 17-14 lead with a
run of 1,2,3. Gray closed to 17-16 then held 2 shots at the next before Ball
retained the initiative with a cracking last bowl draw for a single to 18. But
the destination of the title was still in the melting pot with Gray carding
successive and excellent singles to peel at 18-18 after 24 ends that had the
banking riveted to the action. Ball brought the title into pin sharp focus
with a double to 20; but Gray answered with a single to 19 then hushed the
crowd to a tension filled silence as he carved out a 2 shot hold for the title
at the next. Ball, no stranger to such pressures, took to the mat for the last
bowl of the end and opting for a ‘yard on’ into the head he executed one
of his favourite stokes to perfection resulting in a ‘chap and lie’ for a
single---- and the title. The semi finals earlier in the day saw Ball produce
a strong 1,4,1, finish from 15 to beat MacArthur 21-13 while Gray made a
whirlwind start to lead Dowling 12-1 then contained a rally from his opponent
to win 21-15. Dowling had peen the pick of the quarterfinal winners with a
sensational performance to beat Bobby McIvor of Glenmavis while the other
results saw MacArthur account for Davy Brash, Gray exit Pat Kane and Ball
triumph over Alistair Hair of Bathgate.
Junior
Championships : The West Lothian banner continues to fly
the highest in youth bowling circles with the cream of the area's budding
stars retaining the Scottish Inter County Championship title at Fairfield in
Glasgow last weekend. The holders booked their place in the final with a 6-2
points victory over Wigtonshire then slammed Edinburgh West 7-1 to etch their
name once again on the coveted Andy Houston trophy. The chief architects of
victory in the final were Liam Campbell (Middleton Hall), Graeme Beagley (Kinneil),
Darren Pegg (Buchan Park) and Mark McCullagh (Buchan Park) who romped to a
30-8 win. “That was a pleasing contribution as the rink had suffered a 15-6
defeat in the semi final and by bouncing back they showed good concentration
and great spirit”, said President Campbell McLaren of the WLYBA. Further
wins for the rinks skipped by Mark Thorburn (East Calder), 23-13, and Calum
Logan (Broxburn), 17-9, put the opposition to the sword while Calvin Mark (Buchan
Park), battled to a 14-14 peel. The other semi final scorelines were; Calum
Logan, 23-10; Calvin Mark, 22-12; Mark Thorburn, 19-15.
McLean
Cup : Willie Wood of Broxburn doesn’t have an MBE
behind his name but the legendary ‘wizard from Gifford’ would have been
proud of the magic last bowl delivery his namesake conjured up to win the
McLean Cup last weekend. The stakes were high with a place in next season’s
national fours the reward for winning the trophy that dates back to 1898. Wood
skipped Jim Patterson, Jim Troup and Bobby Lyons into a 15-11 lead entering
the last against the more fancied Ewan Wilson, John Grant, Steven Laidlaw and
David Wilson Snr. Wilson raised the temperature with a sizzling trail that
converted the final head into a hold of 3 shots that meant an extra-end
decider was beckoning; however Wood killed the lot with a brilliant draw under
pressure. The consolation for the runners-up is a tilt at the County Fours in
2005.
WLBA
Top Ten : Broxburn’s ability to transport their
undoubted skills across the iron bridge has always been in question down the
span of their 112-year history (1893) at West Burnside; but the 2004
campaigners have made their mark in the WLBA record book by landing the White
Knights sponsored Top Ten title. The short trip to Uphall Station saw Broxburn
emulate their 1997 triumph with a 6-2 win over Pumphertson that went right
down to the wire in a thrilling confrontation. Wins in the Singles, Pairs and
Triples decided the issue with 29-year old spearhead Kenny Hardie the first
hero figure to capture the applause of the Broxburn contingent. Hardie was
against the collar at 14-17 then 17-19 down to Fraser Russell in the Singles
but made a massive contribution with a spectacular 2,2, finish to bag the
first brace of points. Hero figure number two was gold medal star George
Sneddon who hit top form as he skipped Mike Nelson to 16-9 triumph in the
Pairs having bounced back from 0-6 against Gary Russell and Paul Cumming. The
major moment came at 11-9 when Sneddon’s last bowl check converted 3 against
into 3 for and the space created did much to write the Broxburn name on the £1000
title. Pumpherston’s late defeat in the sngles and the blowing of a 6-0 lead
in the pairs tested their resolve but the heart was still beating strong in
the Fours under the skipmanship of former junior star Robert Hamilton.
Hamilton keeping Pumphy in the race by skipping Mark Crosbie, George Marshall
and David Anderson Jnr to a 17-10 win over Tommy Turnbull, Ian McMahon,
Stewart McMaster and Stewart Grant. The climax to the final produced hero
number three in the shape of former Scottish Fours champion Ian Laverie (Glenluce
1998) who had skipped Mark Allan and Colin Smith into a narrow 7-6 lead over
Steven Cavanagh Derek Wardrop and Ally Greer. Laverie added a single to 8 then
the skip produced two jack toppers at the next to card a double that was worth
its weight in gold. Greer ditched the jack at the last but Broxburn had the
position covered and collected a single to triumph 11-6. Derek Mairs of Uphall
Station presented the trophy on behalf of the 10 White Knights.
Bellsburn celebrated
a title first when they defeated Whitburn 6-2 in the final of the WLBA
Seniors Top Ten at Linlithgow. Jim Boyle gave Whitburn a flying start
with a 21-7 win in the Singles but Bellsburn produced a 1,3 finish take the
Pairs 14-13 then added a 19-9 success in the Triples and a 15-11 victory in
the Fours. Broxburn and Bridgeness lost in the semi finals.
WLBA
Top Five Singles : The
final of the WLBA Top Five Singles sponsored for the first time by the
‘BARBQ’ group of clubs produced a sizzling climax despite the rain swept
conditions making the outcome between Kirkliston and Uphall Station a lottery
at Bankton Mains. Last bowl drama in the shape of a strike conversion from
28-year old Scotland star Grant Logan clinched a 3-2 victory that saw
Kirkliston etch their name on the silverware for a record extending seventh
time. Leaving Uphall Station to agonise over what might have been as Logan
sportingly offered the opinion that he would have lost to Derek Mairs but for
the dramatic change in the conditions caused by the persistent rain. “Derek
had me against the collar and playing exceptionally well but the coming of the
cold and wet put a real dampener on his form and I was able to force myself
back into contention”. Logan played the hero role in true captain courageous
style with the former WLBA Champion of Champion’ and Junior Open winner
fighting back from 5-13 to clinch the title at the 21-17 expense of the
distraught Mairs. The Cheesetown Boy closed to 14-17 then given that the match
score stood all square at 2-2 thrilled the Kirkliston support with a run of
1,1,3, that swept him into the lead (19-17) for the first time. The
temperature of the final soared with Mairs holding 2 shots at the next end (24th)
but Logan had retained the right to the last bowl and he smashed the jack
through the head for a double to 21. “That was a double nightmare for me as
under normal conditions Grants’ striking bowl would have run out of play and
he would only have counted a single but it stuck in a puddle and the title was
won and lost”, said a hurting Mairs later. Logan said, “I suppose it was a
thrilling grandstand finish and as team selector and captain I am over the
moon that we have won but to be honest I think the weather ruined the final as
a true contest”. Kirkliston had struck the first blow with John Aitken, the
reigning West Lothian Master, converting a 15-5 lead into a 21-12 win over
Martin Black, the year 2000 Master. The second match off was the one most
pundits considered would be the key clash of the final and the battle between
past national champions Ray Logan (1998) and Frazer Muirhead (1981) went in
favour of the former. Logan raced into a 10-0 lead during the dry spell; but
came under growing pressure at 13-11 before responding with a run of 2,2,1, to
18 then going on to wrap up a 21-12 triumph in 20 ends. Jim Mallon got Uphall
Station off the mark with the current club champion stretching from 6-6 to
13-6 then battling on to score a 21-15 win over his County team colleague
Steven Forrest. The destination of the Trophy was then put into the melting
pot by David Smith who levelled the match at 2-2 after conjuring up a magic
1,2,1, finish to clinch a 21-14 win over David Masterton Jnr. All five BARBQ
clubs, namely Bankton Mains, Armadale, Ratho, Broxburn, and Queensferry, were
represented at the final and tournament convener Neil Grant paid tribute to
them as sponsors and again to Bankton Mains as magnificent hosts on a historic
occasion.
Bathgate
Invitation Fours : Edinburgh Open champion David Forrest
is back in the headlines having been a member of the rink that beat a class
field to capture the inaugural title in the £700 Invitation Fours event at
Bathgate BC. Sporting the banner of their sponsor Derek Mairs Roofing, Forrest
and his older brother Andy played third and second respectively to Kenny
Hardie and Mark Allison. Surviving a 6-5 thriller in the semis they went on to
land the £450 title with a 9-3 victory over Neil Gregg, David Main, John
Fleming and Ian Drysdale Snr of the host club. The local business community
supported the event with other sponsors including, Burnhead Contracts Ltd,
George Ritchie & Son; gk Solutions, James Ritchie Sculpture, JTB
Accountancy Services Ltd; Mechanical Plant Installations, RJB Scaffolding Ltd;
Thomas Stirling, and WJG Ritchie Building Contractors.
Open
Youth tournament : Glenmavis
are thrilled to bits at the success of their first ever-Open Youth tournament
sponsored by Harlequin Trophies and supported by local councillor John McGinty.
“The size of entry from clubs in the surrounding area was very encouraging
and our feedback suggests that next years event will be even bigger and
better”, said spokesman John Armstrong. The inaugural title was won by K.
McConnell of Armadale who beat R. Miller of Middleton Hall in the final. The
losing semi finalists were A. Semple of Oakbank and R. Higgins of Middleton
Hall.
WLBA
West Lothian Council Fours : The climax to the Fours
Trophy at Bellsburn was a real thriller with the host club etching
its name on the silverware ahead of Glenmavis, Oakbank and Newbridge. The
final outcome remained in the melting pot entering the third and last session
with all four contenders equal on 2 points each. Bellsburn enjoyed the best
shot margin bank and their rink of Dougie Muir, Calum Fraser, Eddie Caulfield
and Ronnie Martin made it count in their favour with a with a 9-7 win over
Oakbank that hovered tantalisingly in the balance going to the last. Leaving
Glenmavis to ponder what might have been as they filled the runners up spot
despite Mark Feeney, Peter Dunsmore, Matt Marshall and Billy Drysdale crushing
Newbridge 9-1. The final positions were; Bellsburn 4 (+4); Glenmavis 4 (+1);
Oakbank 2 (+6); Newbridge 2 (-11). The Oakbank rink was, Andrew Semple, Steven
McLaren, James Robertson and James Kamies Jamieson while Ross Taylor, James
Mackay, Dougie Waugh and James Greenock represented Newbridge. Local
councillor Tom Kerr, for the sponsor, presented the Trophy to Bellsburn.
National
Championships : West
Lothian was an area of silence in terms of champagne corks popping however
Kenny Miller in the junior Singles and Uphall Station in the Pairs did keep
the interest going into the final days play of the Scottish Championships at
Ayr Northfield. Miller reached the semi final stage of his
discipline and although making a disappointing exit the 21-year old former
Scottish Young Bowler Champion had carried the Middleton Hall banner with
great distinction. Uphall Station reached the same stage in their discipline
and an air of frustration after suffering a narrow defeat suggested they were
unlucky not to have made it through to the goldfish bowl environment of the
Saturday afternoon final. The feeling that’ the rub of the green’ hadn’t
been with them was also aired by the Kirkliston trio of Alan Jenkins, Eric
Logan and Gordon Logan who had been going great guns before piped at the post
in the quarterfinals. Ewean Shearer shaped up well in the Singles but the
31-year old Bo’nessian had no complaints when making a second round exit to
a more aggressive opponent. Armadale in the Fours and Springgrove in the
Seniors Fours both made first round exits in rain-swept lottery conditions
that made it difficult to show their real form.
Kenny
Miller opened with a strong 21-14 performance against Graeme Strain of Yarrow
Recreation then booked his quarterfinal spot at the 21-13 expense of Tarbert-Argyll
challenger John Martin. The rich vein of form continued with Miller beating
John Miller of Dunfermline Northern to reach the semi final where his
challenge came in the shape of Andrew Barker from Elgin. Barker made early
headway to lead 8-4 then at 8-6 made brought Miller under pressure with a run
of 1,1,1,2, to lead the WL challenger 13-6. Miller raised hopes with a 1,1,2
run to 10 but the line and length wasn’t being mastered and his lack of
consistency caused him to tumble to a 21-11 defeat. “I didn’t produce my
best form and that leaves you frustrated and feeling flat”, he said later.
The final of the Junior Singles saw 21-year old Stuart Bebbington of Border
club Tweedmouth finish 2,1,3 to capture the title with a 21-18 win over
Barker.
Uphall
Station forced Fort William Railway onto the buffers with a 20-13 win in the
first round then the Cavanagh/Archer partnership performed like an express
train to leave Lesmahagow in their 21-5 slipstream. The station duo then beat
East Lothian challengers Macmerry 24-11 without a huff or a puff leaving
Helensburgh between them and a place in the final. Former cap George Sneddon
and Dumbartonshire skip Ken Tait proved a strong force for Helensburgh who
powered into a 10-3 lead but Cavanagh and Archer came into the picture with a
1,3,1,2, fight back to stand 10-10. The loss of 1,3, forced the Station pair
onto the back foot once again but the pulse rates were suddenly stimulated by
a run of 1,1,3 that put them 15-14 entering the final end. Helensburgh
dominated the build up but Archer came close to converting with his first
three bowls only to be denied a chance with his fourth after Tait had
fortuitously skiddled the jack into an impregnable situation. “I couldn’t
believe our bad luck during that game”, said Archer later as he agonized
over the double that cost them a 16-15 defeat. Helensburgh however proved
their worth by slamming Slateford 25-8 in the final.
Kirkliston
were rampant in the early rounds of the Triples with wins over Scotscraig
(20-9) and 2002 champions Polmaise (22-2) creating a feel good mood in the WL
camp. But they blew a 7-2 lead over Wigtown in the quarterfinals and despite
taking an 11-10 lead into the
last end they were pushed out the exit door by the loss of a double.
Craigentinny beat Wigtown 15-13 in the semis then went on to land the title at
the 17-5 expense of Annan.
Ewan
Shearer opened his bid for the Singles title with a 21-12 win over Ian Glen of
Polmaise but lost a 21-10 battle with Billy Hutchison of Denny in the second
round. Hutchison made a 21-14 exit to West Lothian Indoor bowler Alex Hurry of
Juniper Green who went to lose an epic 21-19 battle against World Indoor
number 3 Paul Foster of Troon Portland. Foster claimed the title with a 21-17
win over 66-year old Willie Wood MBE who was suffering a third defeat in the
final. It was a cruel result for Wood who was fluked out of a 4 then a 3 in
the early stages and played the more consistent bowls; but 31-year old Foster
produced several great individual moments- like drawing a jack high toucher
when his opponent had the jack trapped in a two-inch sandwich.
The
Armadale rink of Willie Crawford, John Nelson Jnr, Kenny Ferguson and John
Ellis battled all the way in their 14-11 defeat from Doune Castle in the first
round of the Fours. Macduff beat Chryston 19-14 in the final.
Springgrove
were still in the hunt at 10-14 and three ends to play in round one of Seniors
Fours; but Bob Mutter, Jim Weir, Harry Davis and David McCallum gave 17-14
best to Eddlewood. The title went to East Lothian with Aberlady defeating
Barnhill 13-12 on a replayed last end burnt by Garden County skip Jacky
Greenwood.
World
Bowls Championships : The 10th World Bowls
Championships are over and Broxburn star George Sneddon is the now the proud
owner of a Team gold medal to add to the Pairs gold he won with Alex Marshall
in the 9th series over in South Africa in the year 2000
championship. West Lothian’s number one ambassador joined forces with Willie
Wood MBE, Jim McIntyre, David Peacock, and Alex Marshall to capture the
Leonard Trophy for Scotland’s fifth time since World Bowls commenced in
1966. “The Scottish fans and officials had high expectations for us so it is
great that we emerged the top nation in the overall ratings and adding to my
own gold collection was a personal
highlight”, George said. “Missing out on the individual medals in the
Pairs and Fours was a great disappointment to me especially as we were only
one victory short on the second phase of each to get ourselves into the Gold
or Silver positions”, he added. The Sneddon/Marshall combination finished in
fifth place in the Pairs while the rink of Sneddon, McIntyre, Wood and Peacock
occupied the same finishing position in the Fours. Alex Marshall finished
runner up to Steve Glasson of Australia in the Singles while McIntyre, Wood
and Peacock gave Scotland their greatest moment by winning Gold in the
Triples. “The greens were very slow during the first week but speeded up in
the second and all told I think the event was a spectacle of which Scotland
can be proud”, summed up George.
Under
25's : West Lothian failed to shine in defence of the
Calder Cup at Colinton with last years champions suffering defeat
on two of their three games in the Inter County Under 25 event sponsored for
the first time by Roofline Scotland. An anti climax first session saw WL
crushed 20-2 by an Edinburgh & Leith team that went on to lift the Trophy
with further wins over Midlothian (20-2) and Border (18-4). WL were expected
to do much better against a young Border team playing in the event for the
first time; but a shock 16-6 defeat dashed any hopes they had of etching their
name first on the new Roofline Scotland trophy. Redemption of sorts came in
the third session with WL avoiding the wooden spoon by romping to a 22-0 win
over Midlothian. The penalty-kick shootout feature did produce a highlight for
WL with a 3-0 win over E&L followed by a thrilling 3-2 win over Midlothian
in the final. The converters for WL in the final were Blair Mackie, Gary
Culbert and Murray Bell. Matthew Gorrie of Bankton Mains was voted West
Lothian’s ‘man of the tournament while the best performing rink was
skipped by Scott Murphy of Philpstoun.
West
Lothian’s Young Bowlers are set to defend the Scottish Counties Championship
title following a tip-top display in the qualifying event held at Kinneil BC.
The four-rink team skipped by Calvin Mark (Buchan Park), Calum Logan (Broxburn),
Mark McCullagh (Buchan Park) and Mark Thorburn (East Calder) finished 10
points clear of second placed Central West. The young West Lothian stars now
head for the last four knockout stage at Fairfield BC in Glasgow on Saturday
September 11.
West
Lothian Women’s Championships : Springgrove notched up
a glorious double in the finals championships at Kinneil. Indoor cap Lorraine
Malloy captured the championships flagship singles title with a 21-7 win over
former Classic Champion Margaret Kain of Buchan Park. And the partnership of
Irene McKeating and Norma Walker added the Pairs title at the 21-12 expense of
Barbara Plevin and Vicky Turner of Buchan Park. Luckless Buchan Park suffered
a third setback when Cathie Shaw, Catherine Howie and Lily Sword lost the
final of the Triples to Margaret Borland, Etta Samuel and Sandra Banks of
Winchburgh. Watson Memorial celebrated a nail-biting success in the Fours with
Rose Beresford, Mary Brown, Jessie Bell and Christine Mounce beating Ann
Gamble, Isobel Imrie, Jose Bachini and Jessie Halliday of Whitburn by a single
shot.
Springgrove
also made headline news in the Scottish Mixed Triples event with David
McCallum and Lorraine Malloy beating Middleton Hall in the District final.
West
Lothian Masters :
John Aitken rolled back the years to produce a
vintage performance that thrilled the crowded banking and crushed fellow
legend Graeme Archer 21-6 in the final of the £4000 6th
West Lothian Masters at Queensferry.
The
49-year old No11 seed from Kirkliston and the 37-year old No8 seed from Uphall
Station having battled their way through a testing field that started 264
strong. Both finalists were Scotland skips and Commonwelath Games
internationalists in their time. However it was the 1988 national singles
champion who made it look like a stroll in the park with his deft touches and
occasional strikes dwarfing the efforts of Archer to capture the £1000 title
in the short duration of 18-ends. The coveted ‘green jacket’ of the
Masters and Dinner For Two at the Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club
accompanied the cheque, as did a fine bottle of wine from the Champany Inn.
The 2004 Master can also look forward to a ‘visit for two’ to the
Musselburgh Races and a ‘night out for two’ at the VUE Cinema in
Livingston, Aitken’s triumph
couldn’t be described as an upturn for the books but he did come into the
final as the underdog because of the scintillating form Archer had shown in
the morning quarterfinals and the afternoon semi finals. Archer did give a
below par performance in the final and its difficult to understand why because
the former Scotland captain and 1995 national singles champion is tough enough
and skilled enough to have coped with changed conditions. The final being
switched to a virgin rink and opposite direction, which led to a change in
pace and hands that were perhaps less clever albeit acceptable. Archer
launched the final on a long jack but Aitken opened the scoring with a single
having halved in off a bowl with his third delivery. Aitken gifted the mat and
jack to Archer and continued to employ that tactic at every opportunity with
Archer responding by varying the settings off both in what proved to be a
fruitless albeit valid attempt at changing the course of the match. Archer
carded a promising single at the next end then went 2-1 up after delicately
folding an Aitken noser off the jack for a really brilliant single that
suggested all was well with him. It was singles all the way to 4-4 at which
stage text messages were being transmitted en masse from the banking that
tea-time at home would have to be pushed back to supper-time. Aitken had his
opponent under pressure on the 10th end but Archer ditched the jack
for a single to 5-6 however Aitken carded an easy four at the next and out of
the blue the final had changed complexion. Aitken turned the screw by ditching
the jack for a 3 to go 13-5 up and without dwelling in the graveyard he moved
to 14 with a single on the 13th end. Archer topped the jack with
his last bowl for a single to 6 at the 14th; but respite was brief
with Aitken moving to 18 with successive doubles. The crowded banking then
erupted in appreciation when Aitken clipped out two Archer bowls from behind
the jack to card a third double to 20. A
moment of magic. “I am as pleased as punch at adding the Masters title to my
CV as it sits well with my two WLBA ‘champion of champions’ crowns “,
said the six times champion of Kirkliston. “My game plan was to prevent
Graeme from making his third flying start of the day and I was happy to
achieve that; but I was surprised when his usual consistency deserted him”,
said the latest star to sport the Masters green jacket. The reflection of 37-
year old Archer was, “I hit a sticky patch where my line and length went
wayward and I paid the price with John setting up a good lead and he never let
me off the hook after that”.
The
final day of the Masters opened for Aitken with a battling 21-18 win over Alec
Allan of Newbridge in the quarterfinals. Allan had first sight of a place in
the semis at 17-13; but Aitken escaped to victory with a battling finish of
3,1,2, (1), 1,1. Aitken’s semi final clash with Richard Mark of the Deans
was another cracker with Mark leading 10-9 before Aitken turned the tide with
a run of 1,3,1,2, that swept him into a 16-10 lead, and on to a 21-12 victory.
Archer became the name on everyone’s lips as he served up sizzling displays
to beat John Cooper of Whitburn 21-11 then Stuart Johnston of Bankton Mains
21-13. Johnston had reached the semis at the 21-9 expense of Stuart Affleck (Newbridge)
while Mark added 2,1, from 18-18 to edge out Ian Watson of Winchburgh in their
quarterfinal.
WL Masters results. Section
Semi Finals & final:-
Sect 1.
J Cooper (Whitburn) 21 M Byrne (Linlithgow) 4; G Palmer (Ratho) 21 J Mallon (Uphall
Station) 17. Final. Cooper 21
Palmer 16.
Sect. 2. G Archer (Uphall Station) 21 F Weir (Armadale) 10; S Murphy (Philpstoun)
21 K Hardie (Broxburn) 18. Final. Archer 21 Murphy 11.
Sect. 3. S Affleck (Newbridge) 21 K Martin Jnr (Armadale) 13; G Byrne (Linlithgow)
21 T Reeder (Kirkliston) 13. Final. Affleck 21 Byrne 14.
Sect 4. Gr Logan (Kirkliston) 21 A Grant (Queensferry) 12; S Johnston (Bankton
Mains) 21 J Speirs Snr (Ratho) 19. Final Johnston 21 Logan 15.
Sect 5. S Rayer (East Calder) 21 A Gray (Kirkliston) 19; A Allan (Newbridge)
21 C McConaghy (Middleton Hall) 12. Final. Allan 21 Rayer 13.
Section 6. G Duggan (Bathgate) 21 J Davidson (Kirkliston) 20; J Aitken (Kirkliston)
21 G Marshall (Pumpherston) 3. Final. Aitken 21 Duggan 20.
Section 7. S Lamb (Bellsburn) 21 L MacArthur (Philpstoun) 10; I Watson (Winchburgh)
21 S Gibson (Kinneil) 12. Final Watson 21 Lamb 15.
Section 8. R Mark (Deans) 21 N McGillivray (Mid Calder) 13; D Smith (Whitburn)
21 M Graham (Winchburgh) 19. Final Mark 21 Smith 11.
Edinburgh
Open Singles : David Forrest put West Lothian back on
the ‘Festival of Bowls’ map with the 33-year old Middleton Hall bowler
landing the £1000 Open Singles title at Balgreen. Forrest
clinched the coveted crown with a nail biting 21-20 victory over two times
champion Kevin Rice in a thrilling 26-end final and his triumph bridged a
28-year gap since Ronnie Russell of Broxburn celebrated in 1975. The scene had
looked set for a ‘flowers of the forest’ lament when Rice dominated the
opening scoring to lead 13-5; but the title favourite from Edinburgh Northern
was to spend the next five ends in the dreaded bowlers graveyard. Forrest
lifting his spirits with a remarkable fight back of 4,3,1,1, and 1 to cross
15-13 and raise the notion that a ‘tunes of glory’ climax was now within
his grasp. The development of the next end (19th) also convinced
the spectators who marveled at a jack-hugging cluster of 3 bowls that would
take the underdog in clear sight of the title. But there was still plenty of
sizzle in Rice and a single to 14 was his reward from a brilliant strike
conversion that must have shaken Forrest to the core as he conceded a soft 4
at the next. So Rice was back in the driving seat at 18-15; but Forrest caught
fire once again and was back on level terms at 19-19 before a single on the 25th
end tipped the scales in favour of the 1994 and 1996 champion. End 26 saw
wayward deliveries from Rice heavily punished by Forrest who smothered the
jack twice to capture the £1000 title and become the 58th champion
of the event. “I am thrilled to bits by this and wouldn’t it be grand if I
could land another £1000 title in the West Lothian Masters.” The morning
semi finals saw Forrest defeat Bill Herd of Slateford 21-9 and Rice give a
21-15 exit to Scott Kennedy of Tranent.
Juniors
: Neil Layt felt on top
of the world after capturing the Edinburgh Open Youth Singles title in the
climax to the Festival of Bowls progamme at Balgreen. The 15-year old from
Buchan Park (Broxburn) celebrated his biggest ever moment in bowls when he
turned on the style to dazzle David Beeson of Bainfield 12-3 in the final.
“It’s the best I have ever seen him play”, said proud mum Doreen who
also bowls at Buchan Park. The young starlet came into the final brimful of
confidence having produced a 2,1, finish in his semi final to snatch an
extra-end win (11-10) over his more celebrated club-mate Calvin Mark. The
‘teen scene’ also produced headlines for West Lothian further afield with
Broxburn school-kid Calum Logan beating the field to win the Junior Singles
title at the Aberdeen Open tournaments. Then in a ‘sons of famous fathers’
act he teamed up with Scott McMaster to capture the Junior Pairs title as
well. The senior tournament also produced a West Lothian headline with Gordon
Johnston and Cameron Greer (skip) of Whitburn annexing the men’s pair’s
title.
WLBA
Junior Open :
James Speirs etched his name on
the Fred Meikle Trophy for the first time when he captured the West Lothian
Council sponsored Junior Open title with a 21-20 victory over Simon Lamb in
the final at East Calder. Speirs (26) set the pace up to 15-13 but
came under immense pressure at 19-16 down before climaxing an epic 28-end 3
hour long battle with a dramatic 2,1,1, (1) 1 finish. The semi finals saw
Speirs beat his younger brother Neil, the number one seed, 21-13 while Lamb
finished 2,2,1, to pip number two seed Grant Logan 21-20.
WLBA
Livingstone Trophy : Armadale have been declared the
winners of the 2004 WLBA Livingstone Trophy with their 8 points and plus of 59
shots superior to Whitburn (+46), Queensferry (+40), and Ratho (+37), who also
won on all four rinks. The winning skips for the Dale were, Kenny Ferguson
(40-9 against Bankton Mains); Derek Kerr (25-11 against Harthill); Bob MacKay
(19-13 at Broxburn); Willie Gardner (15-7 at Bridgeness). Bathgate only
finished in 5th place but their 7 points and plus of 58 shots
suggests a hard luck story.
WLBA
Championships : John
Kerr of Armadale is the 2004 WLBA singles champion having captured the
Belhaven Best sponsored title with a thrilling escape from jail, and the
clutches of PC David Smith, in finals night at the Deans. A
dramatic climax to the centre-stage showpiece saw Kerr trigger the victory
salute with a single on the 23rd end to clinch a 21-19 win over his
Uphall Station challenger. The outcome had been balanced on a knife-edge with
Kerr leading 20-19 but facing game against as he took to the mat to play his
final do or die bowl that resulted in a snicked jack to switch celebrations
from one camp to the other. Kerr was modest in victory; but the player who had
defeated celebrated titleholder Neil Speirs in the semi finals said he was
“pleased to have won a game that he might easily have lost”. The 33-year
old Armadale star was referring to the state of play after 16-ends; Smith
having enjoyed a purple patch spell that saw him transform his scoreline from
3-9 to 17-12 in the space of 7-ends. But Smith (38) stood still for the next
four ends and Kerr raced past him with a run of 1,3,2,2 that shot him into a
20-17 lead. “I made a mess of casting the jack and the accidental short
length sparked my downfall”, was Smith’s explanation of his barren spell;
but he did keep the final alive with couple of good singles to 19. Kerr’s
run to the final also included a win over 2001 champion Andy Dunnett of
Queensferry who was the 1st West Lothian Master in 1999.
The
formbook suggested that the outcome of the ‘Motorway Cars’ Pairs final
would be a triumph for super stars Raymond Logan and Grant Logan who carried
the Kirkliston banner against Stephen King and Alan Atkinson of Queensferry.
But the underdogs wrote their own script and the opening scene forced the
banking to sit up and take notice as Queensferry sailed into a 9-3 lead that
brought the uncle and nephew partnership under pressure. The response came at
the 7th end and it was heaven for the internationalists with Grant
Logan checking the jack with a delicate contact that produced a 6 shot reward
to draw level. “We counted a 3 at the next to hit the front for the first
time and that seemed to dampen their morale so we kept a tight grip on things
to go and win from there”, said the 28 year old skip as he reflected on an
18-16 victory. Suggestions that it was Ray Logan’s first ever-County title
in the traditional championships surprised many but the 49-year old former
national singles champion confirmed it as true – and was glad to put that
matter to rights.
Bathgate
landed the Wessex Products sponsored Triples title and a history making
occasion saw Lawson Trotter, Hugh Marshall and Alan McCormick bring the title
back to Balbardie Road for the first time ever. McCormick and Co still had it
to do at 8-6 up after nine ends but a space-making run of 3,2,1, set up a 15-7
win over Joe Atkinson, Neil Leask and Ian McLean of Queensferry.
Philpstoun
fielded a rink if club champions in the final of the Foremost Bowls Fours and
the combined skills of Jim Smith, Archie Robertson, Scott Murphy and Scott
Mushet made it a winning occasion. They were expected to play second fiddle to
the finely tuned Middleton Hall rink of Andy Devany, Kenny Miller, Derek
Hagart and Davy Forrest; but it was the underdogs who were on song to triumph
23-8. “We enjoyed an early run of 2,3,3,3, to lead 14-3 and we were always
calling the tune after that”, summed up Mushet. The unsung heroes of the
night were the Deans green-keepers David Anderson and George Clark who
overcame all that the weather through at them to have the surface in tip-top
condition.
Kelso
Cup : Broxburn’s astonishing 40-10 victory over
Bathgate in the 2004 final of the Kelso Cup (est.1908) saw the host club
capture the coveted 2-rink title for a record making 13th time. The
history makers were, rink1, Stewart McMaster, Ian McMahon, John Gibson,
Stewart Grant (skip); rink 2, Stuart Dean, Brian Edwards, Ian Laverie, George
Sneddon (skip). The result was a complete devastation of a strong Bathgate
eight who were rocked back on their heels and never looked capable of
recovering from the barnstorming start made by Broxburn
“It was as if we never turned up”, said a Bathgate spokesman after
his team had capitulated on both rinks with only 15 of the 17 ends completed.
Grant lost a single on the opening end but punished David Drysdale, Bryan
Cooper, Alan McCormick and Brian Saunders with a 1,5,5,2,2; reply to skip his
rink into a 15-1 lead after six ends. The one-way traffic more or less
continued with Grant and Co registering a commanding 20-5 victory. Sneddon
fired the first warning signal to the opposition in the shape of a mighty 5 at
the opening end then he followed up with a run of 1,1,1,2,1, (1), 5; to skip
his rink into a 16-1 lead over Ian Drysdale, David McCormick, Grant Taylor and
Billy Arnott. There was no respite for Bathgate as Sneddon and Co powered
their way to a 20-5 triumph. “We expected to get it much tougher than this but our guys
were brilliant and did themselves and the club proud”, said Broxburn
president Tom Temperley. Alex Atchison the President of the West Lothian
Bowling Association who was an invited guest made the presentation of the
Trophy On a historical note Deans are the only club to have notched up four
Kelso wins in a row (1920 to 1923) and the early pacesetters have celebrated
on 12 occasions; but the last time dates back to 1979.
WLBA
Rosebery Cup : Bathgate
BC sparked glorious hat trick celebrations in last Sunday’s final of the
Isle of Skye 8 Year Old Whisky WLBA Rosebery Cup and also laid a bogey with
their 81-63 victory over Linlithgow. The tradition of playing the final on the
green of the County president gave Bathgate home advantage but in similar
circumstances they had lost the 1890 final to Linlithgow and the 1977 final to
Newbridge. “These setbacks were lost in the mist of time as far as we were
concerned and having won the Rosebery Cup in 2002 and 2003 we were one hundred
percent focused on making it three in a row”, said team captain Matt
Thomson. And wins on three of the fours rinks saw that dream come true
although after 17 of the 21-ends had been completed the outcome was still in
the melting pot with Bathgate leading 56-55. “The extended 4 ends in the
final –from 17 to 21- is new territory for many club players and can be a
long haul so our recent experience of course and distance stood us in good
stead as we finished much stronger than Linlithgow”, reflected Thomson. Sure
enough Bathagate’s finishing sprint started at the 18th end and
was sparked by club champion Brian Saunders who faced with 3 shots against
killed the lot with an expert draw for a single against Steven Fleming. Billy
Arnott chose the same end to spin some of his magic with the year 2000
national fours title-winning skip conjuring up a double-bowl take out that
produced a 3 shot reward against Graeme Byrne. Alan McCormick dropped a 3 to
Colin Stein but his brother David reduced the damage by carding a double
against Gary Orr; giving Bathgate a 4 shot edge going into the 19th.
Arnott repeated his 18th end heroics on the 19th by
neatly nipping out a couple of bowls for a 3 that found the equivalent
numerical support from David McCormick; Saunders carded a double and Alan
McCormick a single. The 9-0 cleansweep pushed Bathgate into a 13 shot lead
71-58 making the 20th end a do or die situation for a Linlithgow
side that had put up a bold show. But Alan McCormick killed the visitors stone
dead with a mighty 4 against Stein and Saunders ‘made siccar’ with a 3,
then David McCormick added a single. The clash between the respective club
champions saw Brian Saunders finish the stronger from 11-10 to skip Ian
Fleming, Hugh Marshall and David Lawrie to a 23-15 win over Steven Fleming.
Arnott became a major influence on the final when he wiped out a 9-1 deficit
to skip Ian Drysdale, John Fleming and Grant Taylor to a 21-15 success over
Graeme Byrne. McCormick (David) produced a finishing run of 2,3,1,1, to skip
Matt Thomson, John Gillogley and Gerry Duggan to a 19-14 victory over Gary
Orr. Linlithgow drew blood with Stein skipping Walter Millar, Peter Purves and
George Charleston to a 19-18 success over David Drysdale, Alan Horrower, Bryan
Cooper and Alan McCormick. But
the football legend had led 14-3 at one stage. “We won the inaugural
Rosebery Cup in 1882 and this is now our ninth success but wining
three-in-a-row makes it an extra special achievement in the 142-year history
of the club”, concluded Thomson.
INDOOR
Balbardie
IBC : An electric climax to the final of the women’s
Singles championship almost fused the lights as Sharon Leitch captured the
coveted crown at the 21-19 expense of defending champion Lorraine Malloy. An
epic battle that raged for a pulsating 25-ends had the watching banking on the
edge of their seats as umpire Margo Duff measured a jack smothering head and
declared a single that triggered the victory salute from a beaming Leitch.
“It’s one of the closest situations I have had to handle”, said Duff who
is a past champion herself and a member of the umpire team officiating at the
World Bowls Championships in Ayr come July. “The margin in the measure was
paper thin but the final deserved a dramatic ending as both players had put on
a brilliant show from start to finish and gave the banking fantastic
entertainment” she added. Leith created the opening buzz with a 1,2,1, start
to lead 4-0 and she advanced to 7-2 before Malloy made per presence felt with
a two 3’s on the trot to cross 8-7. A ding-dong battled kept the crowd
buzzing with peels called at 10 then 14 and 15 before Leitch conjured up a
magic 3 at the 19th end to go 18-15 up and be the first to bring
the title into vision. But the holder didn’t want to let go of her title and
a sizzling 1,2,1, reply to cross 19-18 kept the outcome in the melting pot.
The gleaming silver trophy was destined for the hands of Leitch however with
the former champion soaring above the match pressures to reel off a hat trick
of singles and claim her second title. “I had to play out of my skin to
wrest the title from Lorraine and I admit to feeling chuffed because it was a
brilliant match that was knife-edged all the way”, said Leitch later. The
newly crowned singles champion was icing the cake of a brilliant weekend as
the former junior Scotland outdoor cap had earlier skipped Catherine Lochran,
Kim Ross, and Marian Coats to the national Fours qualifying title. It was a
cracking final that climaxed on an extra end thriller with Leitch and her rink
edging a 17-16 win over Mae Forrest, Pat Kean, Dorothy Smith and Margaret
Scally. Scally and Co wiped out a 6-1 deficit to hit
the front at 10-7 but Leitch rocked their boat with a 2,2,1,2, that put them
back in the swim for the title at 14-10 up; but Scally bailed herself out of
trouble with a 1,3, fight back. The
ding-dong battle continued with a double being traded to 16-16 on the 17th
end that meant the final was destined for an extra end decider.
The
McDougall brothers Walter and Sandy teamed up with Peter Lynch (skip) in the
final of the Triples at Balbardie and the Fauldhouse trio pulled of an amazing
victory after escaping from the jaws of defeat at 18-9 down. The trio who
looked to be firmly in the driving seat were holders David Wall, Tom Whitfield
and Diz Drysdale but they lost control on the run in and crashed to defeat
with the sensational loss of 4,7,2. Drysdale made a quick return to the scene
of the crime and proved his nerve hadn’t been shattered when partnering the
already crowned club singles champion Graeme Byrne to the 4-bowl pairs title.
Byrne skipped Drysdale from 6-9 to 15-10 with a purple patch spell of 2,2,
(1), 2,1 then survived a few anxious moments on the remaining two ends as
Martin Stein and Jim (Whitburn) Fraser closed to 15-14 with 1, 3, rally.
Graeme Byrne stepped up on last seasons defeat in
the final to land a championship title first when he defeated Davie Brash
21-12in the climax to the Singles event. Brash has enjoyed a great season and
the senior citizen gave his younger opponent a good run for his money in the
opening exchanges but Byrne made telling space from 8-6 to 14-6 then answered
a growing menace at 15-10 with a 1,3, reply to19. The
earlier semi final action saw Brash cause a major upset when he stormed back
from 4-14 to pip Ewan Shearer in a 21-20 thriller while Byrne cruised to a
21-7 win over another senior citizen challenger in the shape of Willie Black.
WLIBC
: The women’s section has raised the admirable sum of
£12500 for CHAS, the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland, over the past
four years. The good ladies from the Inveralmond stadium in Livingston broke
though the £10000 barrier in April when their latest Charity Day, sponsored
by George Ross of Premier Bowls Equipment, generated a figure of £2500. Lady
President Crina Docherty presented the handsome cheque to CHAS representative
Mr McDonald whose remarks included the news that nine of the Ten million
pounds to build their West of Scotland project, Robin House, had been
achieved. “The support we receive from our members, guests, and sponsors is
fantastic and the success of our special fund raising tournament is a tribute
to the drive and organising skills of our match secretary May Newton”,
summed up the President. They arrived at the West Lothian IBC clutching
handbags but left proudly displaying a brand new bowls carrier so it was a
happy quartet of Falkirk bowlers who journeyed home after enjoying a full days
play at the Inveralmond stadium in Livingston. The event was the Charity Day
in support of CHAS and Jane Struthers, Jan Andrews, Janet Smith and Pat
Johnston emerged the winners from a field of 32 rinks that played round robin
style down to the semi final stage.
The
Finest Fours : West
Lothian IBC sparked hat trick celebrations when they beat Perth in the final
of the Finest Fours tournament at Falkirk. The final produced an
epic battle that went right down to the wire before West Lothian clinched the
title with a 6-2 points victory that etched their name on the trophy for a
seventh time and completed three in a row. The pulsating climax produced a
fantastic atmosphere and a memorable occasion for a 16 strong team that
included teenagers Cameron Greer, John McDermott, Blair Mackie, and Ewan
Wilson. It was wins for the rinks skipped by Neil Speirs, Joey Strickland, and
Thomas Mann that tipped the scales in favour of a WL team that was kept under
intense pressure by an opposition that inflicted defeat on George Sneddon. The
aggregate scoreline in favour of WL was 83-81 and given that going into the
final end the opposition held a single shot lead on one losing rink and stood
peels on another the Finest Fours trophy and its £1000 bounty might well have
gone to Perth. But the nail biting West Lothian camp was rescued by twin
heroes in the shape of Mann and Strickland who grabbed the straw offered to
them by the win that was always on the cards for Speirs. Mann looked to be
coasting when he skipped Ewan Wilson, Stuart Dean, and Des Hagart into a 19-13
lead over former Scotland star Jim Bright having made the break from 13-13
with a run of 1,1,4. But Bright dulled the picture with a sizzling 6 at the
next and it was last end drama that saw Mann cheer up his boys with a glorious
double to snatch the 2 points with a 21-19 victory. The spotlight was also
focusing on Strickland who looked dead and buried at 23-13 down to Mike Thomas
after twelve ends however a 1,3,3, fight back to 20 helped perk up his front
three of John McDermott, Blair Mackie, and Bryan Cooper. Strickland was still
being asked questions at 20-25 and three ends to play but the Scotland lead
gave a 2,2, response that heightened the match tensions then conjured up a
magic 3 to pull a 27-25 win out of the hat. Meanwhile Speirs had laid the
foundation for victory when skipping Cameron Greer, David Wilson Snr and Derek
Wardrop to a 16-13 win over Doug Lambert having made telling space from 6-6 to
12-7 in the middle phase. Perth had always been in the picture led by the
challenge from Ian Miller who broke from 11-11 to 17-12 and skipped his rink
to a 24-19 win over Stewart Gibson, Stuart Johnston, Simon Lamb, and George
Sneddon.
2004
World Bowls : The news of Scotland’s five strong team
for the 2004 World Bowls Championships at Ayr this Summer has been a long time
in coming but the announcement confirmed that George Sneddon (53) will
defend the Pairs title. The Broxburn and West Lothian icon is named along with
Alex Marshall (East Lothian), David Peacock (Midlothian), Jim McIntyre
(Lanarkshire), and 65-year old legend Willie Wood MBE of East Lothian.
Marshall is given the plum role in the Singles and continues his ‘golden’
partnership with Sneddon in the Pairs, while Peacock skips Sneddon, McIntyre
and Wood in the Fours, and McIntyre and Wood, in the Triples. The major
surprise is the omission of two times national singles champion Darren Burnett
who filled the Singles role in last years Commonwealth Games; but failed to
get into the medal positions.
OUTDOOR 2003
WLBA
Champion of Champions : Ewan Shearer clipped the
wings of this seasons high flyers to capture the Matt Purdie & Sons
sponsored West Lothian’ Champion of Champions’ title at Broxburn.......
The
30-year old champion of Bo’ness captured the prestige WLBA crown and etched
his name on the coveted Burnside Trophy, with a 21-10 triumph over his
Harthill counterpart John McLeod in an 18-end final. It was a triumph that
iced the cake of a memorable 2003 season for the 2001 West Lothian Master who
had scored a major success back in June when adding the WLBA Junior Open title
to his already impressive CV. “This has been an exciting weekend for me and
my club and to have won the Champion of Champions title from a high quality
field is an extra special thrill”, said the 5 times champion of Bo’ness.
Shearer’s reference to the quality of his opposition was bang on as the 35
strong field of current club champions embraced several high profile
challengers that included the likes of Neil Speirs, Grant Logan, and Frazer
Muirhead. John McLeod gave the Harthill banner an exciting ride and was
disappointed not to have had it flying from the Champions rostrum at the end;
but was thrilled to have made it to the final after staging a sensational
escape from the jaws of defeat in the semis. It was Shearer who created the
first buzz when the final got underway, the Bo’ness champion carding 2,4, to
lead 6-0; but McLeod came off the back foot to level the score with a run of
3,1,2. The final was then nip and tuck for the next few ends, with Shearer
holding a 10-9 edge after twelve ends; but a magic 3 at the thirteenth to lead
13-9 put Shearer more firmly in the driving seat. McLeod was far from being a
spent force however and the Harthill champion moved into double figures with a
single to 10 then dominated the build up of the next head to hold 2 shots that
showed he was still a menace. But both McLeod bowls were exposed and
presenting an inviting target when Shearer took to the mat to play his final
bowl of the end. Shearer’s style clash and skill springs from a calm and
collected composure and he demonstrated the rewards this can bring with a
tempered running bowl that split McLeod out of the head for a magic 4 shot
reward. The 17-10 scoreline now gave Shearer a close sight of the title and he
brought it into even sharper focus when he nosed the jack at the next end for
a single to 18. The built up of the heads remained good and tight so McLeod
was still in there battling but the edge was with Shearer who counted a double
to 20 on the seventeenth end then crowned a memorable weekend with a single to
21 for the Matt Purdie & Sons Champion of Champions title. “Ewan
produced a great stroke when he split my two shots out of the head and it
became uphill for me after that as it lifted his confidence to a higher level
and he is a worthy winner of the title”, said McLeod later.
McLeod
had come into the final on a massive high after setting the Broxburn banking
alight with a dramatic 21-20 victory over Armadale champion Bob Mackay in
their semi final confrontation. Mackay was having a great Champion of
Champions and continued to go great guns in the semi where he looked a cert to
reach the final when having McLeod at his 20-14 mercy. Just three ends later
however it was a dazed and slightly bemused Mackay who was congratulating
McLeod, the Harthill tornado having stormed to 21 with a whirlwind finish of
2,1,4. “Bob blew it and I am gob-smacked at stealing a victory but bowls is
that kind of game and I took my chances when he offered them to me”,
reflected McLeod. Mackay had make his mark on the event with the vibrancy and
enthusiasm of the first time Armadale champion injecting a positive ingredient
to the showpice climax to the West Lothian outdoor season. “I am gutted, the
wife is in tears, and it could be cold tongue for my tea tonight, so I am off
to the bar”, quipped a distraught Mackay who sportingly added, “
I made my own mistakes and John made me pay the price but I have had a whale
of time and am glad to have been part of this great occasion”. Meanwhile
just off the shoulder in the other semi final it was Shearer who was setting
the pace lead Richard Mark 19-5 having raced to 9-0 with a flying 2,3,4, start
against the Deans champion. Mark had captured the scalp of Scotland cap Grant
Logan in the quarterfinals and showed flashes of his earlier quality with a
run of 1,1,4 to 11-19 but the rally came too late and Shearer hit 21 with
successive singles.
CHAMPION
OF CHAMPIONS RESULTS :
Prelim Round
- Seafield (B Cooper) 21 Middleton Hall (D Forrest) 12; Broxburn (I
McMahon ) 21 Linlithgow (C Stein) 11.
1st Round
- Seafield 21 Broxburn 13; Armadale (R Mackay) 21 Bridgeness (D Hamilton) 10;
Philpstoun (C Manson) 21 Buchan Park (A Docherty) 12; Harrysmuir (W Smith) 21
Springgrove (A Deacon) 14; Harthill (J McLeod) 21 East Calder (T Miller) 20;
Oakbank (G McLaren) 21 Agilent Technologies (A Punton) 11; Kinneil (I
McCallum) 21 Stoneyburn ( H Cameron) 19; Bankton Mains (J Clements) 21 Watson
Memorial (R Jones) 19; Blackburn (M Duff) 21 Whitburn (S Halliday) 19; Deans
(Richard Mark) 21 Pumpherston (F Russell) 10; Kirkliston (G Logan) 21
Winchburgh (J Cruickshanks) 15; Bathgate (B Saunders) 21 Queensferry (N McLean
) 13; Ratho (N Speirs) 21 Newbridge (T Mann) 15; Polbeth (W Curran) 21 West
Calder (F Elliot) 19; Uphall Station ( F Muirhead) 21 Glenmavis (J Purdie ) 3;
Bo’ness (E Shearer) 21 Fauldhouse (W Ross) 17.
2nd Round
- R Mackay 21 B Cooper 18; W Smith 21 C Manson 14; J Mcleod 21 G McLaren 13; I
McCallum 21 J Clements 2; R Mark 21 M Duff 11; G Logan 21 B Saunders 8; N
Speirs 21 W Curran 10; E Shearer 21 F Muirhead 10.
3rd Round - R Mackay
21 W Smith 10; J McLeod 21 I McCallum 14; R Mark 21 G Logan 12; E Shearer 21 N
Speirs 20.
Semi finals - J
McLeod 21 R Mackay 20; E Shearer 21 R Mark 11. Final - E Shearer (Bo’ness)
21 J McLeod (Harthill) 10.
WLYBA
: Calvin Mark reward his club and tutors when the
budding teenage star captured the West Lothian Young Bowlers Association
‘Champion of Champions’ title in the showpiece climax to the Youth season
at East Calder. The Buchan Park Under16’s champion was in
sparkling form to beat Eddie McEveny of Winchburgh 21-10 in a cracking final
that saw McEeveny make a flying start to lead 8-0. But Mark got off the mark
with a double then conjured up magic counts of 3,3,2, to cross 10-8 and
sustained the pressure to keep his opponent on the back foot. It was a weekend
performance that delighted his club coach Tom Pegg and area coach Margaret
Kain who reckon they have a natural talent to nurture as young Mark is only in
his second season. The semi final action saw Mark battle to a 21-15 win over
Lloyd Reid of Queensferry and McEveny spring a 21-9 surprise on host club
champion Mark Thorburn. The event was supported by, Direct Windscreens; Move
It Express Ltd of Broxburn; and Ness Construction Ltd of Mid Calder.
WLBA
Top Ten : Springgrove iced the cake of a super 2003
season when the Bathgate based club beat their local rivals Glenmavis 6-2 in
the final of the WLBA Top Ten Championship at Armadale. George Reid set up the
success with a 21-16 triumph over Willie Black in the Singles and there were
further wins from Hughie Mitchell and George McKeating in the Pairs, and Bob
Mutter, David Bryce, Alby Riley and Davie McCallum in the Fours. The trio of
John Weir, Tom McCrone and Harry Davies also supped from the winners Cup
although they were pipped by Bobby McIvor and Co in the Triples.
WLBA
Senior Open : Dick
Saunders added another successful chapter to the fantastic 2003 Bathgate BC
story when he captured the WLBA Senior Open title sponsored by Bill McCarthy
Travel. This years Open attracted a field of 119 and it was whittled down to
the last four stage for the showpiece climax at West Calder BC. Saunders made
it to the centre-stage when he beat his Bathgate clubmate Lawson Trotter 21-6
in the semi final, and he was joined by Linlithgow ace Chic Charleston who had
turned up trumps at the 21-16 expense of Lennie Dowling from Ratho. A cracking
28-end final saw Saunders emerge from the melting pot at 18-16 to beat the
2002 Seniors Champion of Champions 21-18 having trailed Charleston 11-4 in the
early stages.
WLBA
Top Five Singles : Bathgate
BC experienced the highs and lows of Cup Final combat last weekend but their
right to be acclaimed as the strongest modern day force in West Lothian
circles is undisputable. Kirkliston’s 30 year reign as Kings of the Castle
was ended when Bathgate deprived them of the of the WLBA Top Five crown for
the second year running, beating them 3-1 in the final of the Ritchie Brothers
(Seafield) sponsored event at Whitburn. It wasn’t all plain
sailing for the holders although they always looked to be cruising and sunk
the opposition with directs hits from their first three torpedo’s.
Kirkliston’s bid to capture the title for a record extending 7th
time came under immediate pressure when Billy Arnott stormed into a 16-3 lead
after making a whirlwind start against Gordon Logan. Logan weathered the storm
and made a bold effort to take the wind out of Arnott’s sail with a steady
fight back that becalmed the Bathgate star and closed the gap to 16-13. Arnott
faced 3 against him at the next but killed the growing menace with a majestic
last bowl then upped anchor and powered his way to 21 with a 3,1, finish. So
it was first blood to Bathgate and an inspirational success given the strength
and menace of Logan’s bid to tip the scales in Kirkliston’s direction. Win
number two followed quickly with Alan McCormick making a flying start to lead
10-1 then showing no mercy as he turned the screw to punish an out of touch
Alan Jenkins 21-8. In days of old Raymond Logan could be counted upon to come
to the rescue of Kirkliston but despite holding leads of 6-1, and 11-10, over
Grant Taylor the 1998 national champion failed to put his opponent to the
sword. It was Taylor who played the hero role as he hit the front with a run
of 2,1,2, to 15-11 then powered to a 21-14 triumph that triggered the title
celebrations of a Bathgate team cock-a-hoop at doing the double against the
record holders. The Kirkliston blushes were spared by 27-year old
internationalist Grant Logan who broke his teams duck with a cracking
1,2,2,1,1, finish to beat Brian Saunders 21-10. It was all over when David
Drysdale added 2,1, to cross into a 15-14 lead over David Masterton Jnr and
both players called it a day.
WLBA
Top Ten : Bathgate were back in the WLBA limelight when the final of the White Knights Top Ten against Linlithgow at
Kirkliston gave them the chance of making history as the first ever winner of
three WLBA majors in the same season. Coming
into the final as winners of the Rosebery Cup and the Top Five; but the mantle
of true greatness was to be denied them; albeit on a shot margin decision
after the points were shared 4-4. The title
favourites entered the final without the services of their spearhead player
David (Diz) Drysdale in the Singles and following lengthy consideration
Bathgate elected to promote Grant Taylor into the role. Taylor is a player on
the verge of county status but he was totally overshadowed by Linlithgow’s
WLBA star Steven Fleming who was in rampant form and crushed his opponent
21-4. “We are best pals from our indoor association at Balbardie and it was
a weird experience for me grinding Grant into the dust but it is a team event
so I had to pile on the agony in the name of Linlithgow”, said Fleming
later. It was a truly spectacular result that gifted Linlithgow a penalty kick
in terms of going on to land the title, and at the same time put the Bathgate
backs firmly against the wall. Bathgate took the unexpected blow on the chin
and set their sights on snatching the title winning verdict with counterpunch
attacks in the Pairs, Triples, and Fours. The fight back mentality was
launched in the Pairs where Gerry Duggan and Brian Saunders built up a
promising 10-3 lead over Davy Orr and Iain Grant. But Linlithgow were now
alert to their prospects of causing a real upset and their Pair of Davy Orr
and Iain Grant dug deep to close the final gap to 12-9, a defeat but not a
disaster. Bathgate had also gained control in the Triples with Dick Saunders,
David McCormick, and Alan McCormick opening up a 7-0 lead and they went on to
convert an 8-4 advantage into a 12-6 victory over Willie Scott, Chic
Charleston, and Graeme Byrne. But the rink of Ian Drysdale, John Fleming Jnr,
Matt Thomson, and Billy Arnott were against the collar in the Fours where Ian
Wallace, Alan Old, Colin Stein, and Gary Orr, led 12-9. The temperature of the
final soared however when Arnott held 2 cracking shots at the next; but Orr
answered the menace with a brilliant bowl that- nudged-checked- and followed
through- that converted for a single. Orr’s killer delivery was later hailed
as the bowl that clinched the title for Linlithgow as it left him defending 4
shot lead with three ends to play and a 2, (2), 4, finish bagged the title and
triggered an emotional moment for 75-year old returning star Alan Old. Barry
Nutley represented the White Knights and presented the Trophy to Linlithgow
president Chic Charleston. A one minute silence was
observed at the start of the final in respect of the late Roddy Campbell, the
highly respected Linlithgowshire and Kirkliston star having passed away at the
age of 82.
Almondell
League : East Calder brought the curtain down on the
Wright & McLennan Ltd sponsored Almondell League season by capturing the
League Cup honours in the recent playoffs at West Calder. Wins for their three
rink team over Pumpherston (24-15), Deans (18-15) and Springgrove (27-11) did
the trick with Graham Hamilton Jnr the hero as he skipped Craig Ramsay, Kenny
Sharp, and Kenny Black to a hat trick of triumphs. Also making the
celebrations go with a zing were other team members, Janey Hendry, Rab Fowler,
Evelyn Shaw, Ian Hentges, Ian McGill, Ross Millar, Derek Scally, and Gordon
Black. Pumpherston finished runners up with Deans in third place and
Springgrove in fourth. The 14 match League programme played throughout the
Summer was a hard fought race with Pumpherston crowned the champions on shot
margin with a plus of 8 over Deans after they finished equal on 22 points.
Blackburn finished 11th in the League but sparked a 2003
celebration by capturing the Knock-out Cup.
West
Lothian Ladies : Sandra Steven of Uphall Station
captured the Classic Singles title with a 21-8 victory over Angela Uttley of
Seafield in last Saturday’s final played at Buchan Park. Steven’s
commanding performance against the hat trick winning holder of the Edinburgh
Open title came as quick compensation for her 21-20 defeat in the final of the
West Lothian Champion of Champions event. The newly crowned champion had
signalled the strength of her challenge in the semi finals where she crushed
host club star Vikki Turner 21-7 and that success followed on the heels of her
21-16 win over Carol McCulloch of Harrysmuir. Uttley had launched her day with
a 21-10 win over host club challenger Pat Redmond and followed up with a 21-7
triumph over Morven Shearer of Bo’ness in the semi final. The other
quarterfinal play saw Shearer defeat Isobel Pollock of Newbridge 21-14 and
Turner beat Anne Sneddon of Seafield 21-15.
Champion
of Champions : Multi capped outdoor/indoor international
star Linda Brennan reached the centre stage of the Foremost Bowls Champion of
Champions at Pumpherston the previous weekend and captured the spotlight with a 21-20
win over her Scotland colleague Sandra Steven. The final was a real ding dong
affair with Steven first to reach the 20 mark but Brennan emulated her 1994
success in the event when she conjured up a magic 1,1, finish to beat last
years European champion. Brennan had launched her campaign with a victory over
the host club champion and her campaign trail included wins over junior cap
Paula Kilgallon (Winchburgh) and three former C of C’s in the shape of
Lorraine Mallow (Springgrove), Shona Hogg (Glenmavis) and Steven of Uphall
Station. “I am not in the Mick Fitzgerald camp of quotes but I will say this
success gave me as big a thrill as Rangers winning the treble”, quipped West
Lothian’s newly crowned Champion of Champions.
Seniors
: Peter Ball scored a 4th title win in the
WLBA Seniors Champion of Champions event when the former Scotland cap and
British Isles triples champion from Blackburn beat Jim Johnston of Pumpherston
21-18 in the final at Winchburgh. Ball landed a late 1,2, to
clinch a 21-12 win over George Scally (Glenmavis) in the quarters then reached
the final after edging a 21-19 thriller against Alan Crabbe of Oakbank.
Johnston opened the final days play with a 21-9 win over A Grant of Letham
then produced a 1,3,2, finish to beat Jack Gray of Kinneil 21-15 in the semis.
The other quarterfinal play saw Gray edge a 21-17 win over Norrie Engelen of
Watson Memorial, and Scally defeat Bill Pollock of Newbridge 21-14.
Balbardie
IBC is set to open for the new season on the 15th
of next month and President Bill Black is confident of a good membership
response when the fee paying re-joining sessions take place on Mon September 8th
at 1 to 3 then 7 to 9pm and repeated on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, of
the same week.
West
Lothian Council Fours : West Calder captured the
limelight in the West Lothian Council Fours at Bathgate and their
title winning performance sparked a celebration first for the club in the
popular WLBA event. The hero Four were Peter Paton, Alex Donaldson, Andrew
Seaton, and Bobby Seaton, whose undefeated record in two Round Robin sections
brought extra currency to their sterling performances. Even so there was a bit
of smash and grab drama about West Calder getting their hands on the
silverware as Bathgate were also in the picture and the two clubs clashed in
the final session. The head to head was a winner takes all situation and
entering the final end it was Bathgate who held the driving seat with Liam
Starrs, Andy McMaster, John Fleming jnr, and Alan Harrower defending a 2 shot
advantage. The melting pot climax was boiling over with Bathgate holding a
single but Bobby Seaton wiped the sweat from his brow and produced a sizzling
take out that yielded 3 shots for a single shot victory—and the title.
Philpstoun claimed third spot with Alister Murphy, Douglas Smith, Jamie
Wilson, and Scott Murphy finishing ahead of
Murray Ure, Jimmy beveridge, Brian Howlett, and George Kellie, of
Kinneil. Local Councillor John McGinty was an interested observer and
presented the Trophy to Bobby Seaton and his West Calder rink, on behalf of
West Lothian Council.
WLBA
Dickson Trophy : The sparks were flying in the final of
the WLBA Dickson Trophy at Winchburgh with the Seniors of Bridgeness
and Linlithgow going at it hammer and tongs in a clash that went right down to
the wire. Linlithgow had trounced holders Middleton Hall 24-10 in the morning
semi finals and the celebrations prospects looked good for Peter Purvis, Ian
Telfer, Chic Charleston, and Duncan Stuart when they led by 2 shots playing
the last end. But the victory salute made a quick change of hands when John
Kidd conjured up a magic 3 to skip his Bridgeness rink of Dougie Bow, George
Inglis, and Tom C Mulholland, to a last gasp victory. Bridgeness had survived
a 16-14 nail-biter against Springgrove to reach the final. Winchburgh
continues as the theatre of opportunity for the Seniors brigade of West
Lothian with the Champion of Champions showpiece being played Friday and
Saturday.
Broxburn
gladiators John Grant and David Wilson marched south into England and conquered all before them in the Bournemouth Open Pairs returning north
with rich spoils in the shape of a silvery trophy and a cheque to the value of
£600. The Broxburn duo put seven partnerships to the sword including the
local father and son challenge from Tony and Alan Creary in the final. The
final hung in the balance with peels called at 19-19 before the Broxburn
warriors answered the loss of a single with a gilt edged 3 to cross 22-20 then
Wilson produced a spectacular ‘jack to the ditch’ strike that yielded
another 3 shots and a 25-20 lead. It looked all over bar the shouting going
into the final end but the opposition built up a menacing head before Grant
raced up the rink to embrace his partner in a ‘champions hug’. Wilson
having produced a brilliant back-jack-toucher with his final bowl to put the
outcome beyond all doubt with a 26-20 scoreline. The quality of the opposition
in the final can gauged from the fact that Alan Creary captured the major
event, beating Hampshire county star Nick Jones 21-20 in the Singles.
Bournemouth is a well-trodden path by Scots down the years and there was a
similar West Lothian celebration back in 1984 when Billy Getty (Kirkliston)
and Harry Reston (Deans) captured the Pairs title. Reston and his younger
generation Deans club-mate Kenny Hardie hit even greater heights by capturing
the high prestige Singles title and some twenty-odd years on young Ewan Wilson
of Broxburn has put up a bold show by reaching the last 8 stage. Wilson and
his fellow 17-year old partner James Bird also made good progress in the Pairs
event, reaching the last 16 stage before making an exit to a Pair from Cumbria
who later bowed out in the semis to Grant and Wilson.
SYBA
Championships : Broxburn teenager Calum Logan stormed to
the Singles glory in the finals of the Scottish Young Bowlers Association
championships at Priorscroft, Paisley. The
14-year old son of internationalist Raymond Logan capturing the title with a
whirlwind display to beat Mark Kelsey of Greater Glasgow 19-2. Logan was
climaxing a great run that saw him win all five games in his round-robin
qualifying section and follow that superb effort with a nail-biting 9-8
success over his Central West opponent in the semis. The West Lothian flag was
also hoisted the highest in the Pairs with Middleton Hall starlets Kevin
McNeish and Gareth Simpson surviving a controversial decision by the Umpires
to triumph 8-3 in the final. McNeish and Simpson held Steven Campbell and
David Ferguson of Bainfield in their 7-3 grip playing the last end, which was
halted by the time whistle whereupon the Bainfield lead sportingly conceded to
his opposite number. But the Bainfield skip thought he might have been holding
4 shots for a peel, and challenged the right of his lead to declare the head.
It is reported that after a lengthy time delay and heated discussion the
Umpires ordered that the end be replayed. Middleton Hall kept their heads and
carded a solid single to bask in the spotlight as ‘Scottish Champions’.
The Triples title was won by Lanarkshire A trio Lauren McMillan, Joe Daly, and
Stuart Leghorn who edged a 6-5 win over Dumfriesshire & Stewartry.
Under
25's
: West Lothian powered
their way to a ‘Calder Cup’ triumph at Newbattle the previous weekend, the
talented Under 25 brigade marching to a 16-6 points success over Midlothian
then crushing Edinburgh & Leith 20-2. The Scottish Champions were there to
be shot at by their hungry rivals but team manager Tosh Reeder had them geed
up for both confrontations and was thrilled by the high level performance they
gave him. “It was a close call against Midlothian on their home turf but we
battled well to edge the aggregate 82-79 then we simply destroyed Edinburgh
& Leith with a terrific display to win 106-62”, said Reeder later.
Broxburn’s David Lamb played the major role in the opening match against
Midlothian, skipping Ryan Lambie, Afshein Malek, and Brian Toall, to an 18-6
win over Ian Forbes. The result tipped the shot margin scales and the success
was an inspiring one as Lamb and Co had made an early impression with a an
extend run of 1,1,4,1,1,1,1, to build up a 13-3 lead. Murray Bell provided the
drama and the Bankton Mains star basked in the applause of a hero when
skipping Blair Mackie, Craig Ramsay, and Matthew Gorrie, to an 18-16 win over
Ronnie Duncan. It was a nail-biting climax however with Bell and Co entering
the final end one shot adrift; but conjuring up a magic 3 to snatch a vital 2
points on the line. Win number three was another cliffhanger with Gary
Callaghan, Louie McArthur, Neil Speirs, and Stuart Affleck, standing peels at
8 with two ends to play; but cashing in on a 3 at the next to beat Martin
Wylie 11-9. Paul Lynas was poised to register a fourth success having skipped
Mark Thorburn, David Wilson, and Calum Logan, into a 16-12 lead over Scott
Briggs; but they peeled at 16-16 and were pipped
at the post by a single in a last end thriller. Thomas Mann expected it
hot against opposition star Steven Currie; but skipped Kenny Black, Darren
Russell, and Cameron Greer, into a winning 10-9 position before crumbling to a
14-10 defeat with the loss of 2,1,2. Bryan Cooper had Adam Gilliland, Joe
Wardle, and Glenn King, in touch at 8-10; but the loss of 2,1,1,3, sent them
tumbling to a 17-9 defeat from David Salkeld.
The
second session brought West Lothian up against a strong looking Edinburgh
& Leith team but wins on five of the six rinks ensured that the Calder Cup
would be returning to its spiritual home. The late George Calder of Broxburn
having donated the trophy at the inception of the Inter County Round Robin
Challenge event. The ‘highest up’ accolade went to Stuart Affleck of
Newbridge who skipped his unchanged rink to a 22-8 triumph over Mark Newall,
having built on a 5-0 lead to stand 20-8 before adding a 5,1,1, finish. Bryan
Cooper faced junior cap Jamie Gracie and dealt out an 18-6 punishment to the
young Ayrshire star who is resident in Edinburgh whilst a student at Heriot
Watt University. Cooper made his major impression when skipping his unchanged
rink from 102 to 11-2 with a dashing run of 3,1,3,1,2.. Thomas Mann still had
his work cut out at 8-9 down to Chris Steven; but the 22-year old Newbridge
star skipped his unchanged rink on a sparkling run of 2,5,2,1,1, to triumph
19-9. Paul Lynas served up a sizzling 4,(1),4, finish to get out of the
melting pot at 11-11 and skip his unchanged rink to a 19-12 win over another
junior cap in the shape of Gavin Smith. Murray Bell, with Colin Cruickshanks
replacing Blair Mackie at lead in pre-planned move, added a magic 4 to lead
11-6 then stayed on to top to skip his rink to a 15-8 win over Richard Tough.
David Lamb was in a stew after conceding 2,4,3,1,2, to trail 2-13 and despite
a late revival his rink gave 13-19 best to junior cap Darren Mc Kenny. The
match between Midlothian and Edinburgh & Leith now had no bearing on the
destination of the Calder Cup but it was E&L who redeemed themselves with
an 18-4 points win over the host County.
West
Lothian Masters : Peter
Lynch became ‘Peter The Great’ when the 34-year old No 9 seed from
Fauldhouse captured the £1000 crown in the 5th West Lothian
Masters, that reached it’s climax at Kirkliston. “Ya Beauty”, was the
triumphant roar from the Master who had made it all look so simple as he
silenced Simon Lamb in a super-quick 12 ends; giving the No7 seed the chop
21-6 in an anti-climax final. The finalists had battled their way through a
field 280 strong and each won seven ‘head to head’ confrontations as they
endured the rigours of a testing eight-day schedule that would produce a
worthy winner of the famous ‘Green Jacket’. Lynch, like Lamb, has always
been a star in the making and over the past three seasons the former youth
prodigy has come to the fore and established himself as a fixture in the
County team. “This is my biggest and richest success to date and I just love
the whole Masters scene as it opens up a window of opportunity for all West
Lothian bowlers, in contrast to the county and national events that are
restricted to one entry per club”, said Lynch. Lamb
isn’t a maiden having won the ‘champion of champions’ title in 1998 but
the talented 25-year old bowler has a habit of losing out in finals, outdoor
and indoor, albeit the margin is normally an agonising single shot or two.
“Peter played brilliant bowls and on the odd occasion that I held the shot
he would come and beat it but I must say I feel distressed about the extent
and manner of my defeat which was disappointing to say the least”, said Lamb
later. Both finalists had impressed the crowded banking in the quarterfinal
and semi final play so expectations of an epic shoot-out battle were
exceptionally high as the banking settled back in the warm Summer Sun to enjoy
the spectacle. Lamb was first off the mark and it was an explosive start to
count 4 shots that should have given the Bellsburn (Linlithgow) star a
tremendous boost. But it was Lynch who got the shot of adrenalin in the arm
and the response from the Fauldhouse ace was instant and sensational. The No 9
seed opened his own account with a magic 3 at the second end then set the
banking alight as he continued with a scorching run of 2,3,1, to stand 9-4 up
after five ends. “When Simon counted a full house at the first end I thought
it was a danger signal for me and I new my immediate priority was to stay
focused and keep my concentration level at 100 percent”, explained Lynch
later. Lamb put the breaks on Lynch with a double to 6 at the sixth end but
failed to reach the driving seat and the next acceleration came from Lynch who
zipped to 21 with a spectacular run of 2,2,4,1,1,2. The 5th West
Lothian Master was acclaimed by rapturous applause from an appreciative
banking that nonetheless were shocked by the abrupt conclusion to the final
and puzzled by the meekness of Lamb’s capitulation. “I new early doors
that I had the measure of the rink and I found it an absolute dream to play on
“, said Lynch, who had proved the point with an exhibition of jack
smothering bowling. Lamb had a nightmare with the No7 seed well short of his
normal form and failing to turn or disturb the heads that built up against
him. “Peter was relentless with the accuracy of his draw shots which meant I
was under constant pressure; but I struggled to find a consistent line so my
weight suffered and my frustrations built up but I am thrilled to have made it
all the way to the final”.
The
semi final action provided the Masters with its most memorable moment and it
was Peter Lynch who conjured up the magic bowl that set the banking alight as
they witnessed the title dream of No13 seed Sandy Bryant dashed in a flash.
The outcome resulted in Lynch coming into the final on a fantastic high as he
was out the exit door until resurrecting his title hopes with a sensational
‘last bowl’ runner that picked the jack off the nose of Bryant’s
match-holding head to reverse the result. Bryant, from Kinneil, had come off
an 11-16 pace to cross 18-16 then at 19-19, in a cracking encounter, lay two
smackers for a place in the final. Lynch surprised the banking by opting for a
stiff ‘yard on’ on the backhand when everybody, and their grannies, new
his only hope of success lay with a fierce strike on the forehand. Bryant had
played his last bowl to cover that very option so looked on in disbelief as
Lynch achieved the impossible with a fantastic trail that yielded 2 shots for
a 21-19 victory. “Win or lose that is the best game I have ever played in my
life”, said Lynch who added “I was playing to my own personal strengths
with my final bowl and although everything about it had to be 100 percent I
was prepared to risk it”. Meanwhile Lamb had axed No 14 seed Jimmy Mallon,
21-17, in their semi final, which
was another cracker with the No 7 seed storming home from 10-16 down. The
morning quarterfinals saw Lynch end the bold run of Armadale dark horse Bob
Mackay with a 21-13 scoreline while Lamb crushed No15 seed Steven Fleming, of
Linlithgow, 21-3. John Paterson, of Foremost Bowls, presented the Masters
Trophy to Lynch while Past Masters Andrew Dunnett, Martin Black, Ewan Shearer,
and Neil Speirs, draped the Fauldhouse ace with the 2003 Green Jacket.
John
Kerr of Armadale made the 4th round headlines in the West Lothian
Masters with the 21-12 scalp of Neil Speirs, the holder and No 1 seed. Kerr
was joined in the Section 1 (Livingston FC) final by his clubmate Bob Mackay
who raised his profile by showing Martin Black, the 2000 Master and No 16
seed, the exit door (21-12), at the same stage. The Dale duo produced an
exciting 5th round clash which Mackay edged 21-17 to reach the final days
play. Peter Lynch clinched his place in the Section 2 (Belhaven Brewery) final
with a 21-9 win over Mark Fry of Pumpherston and was joined by David Thomson
Jr of Deans who beat Charlie Hunter of Bridgeness in a 21-18 thriller. Lynch
had it tough in the 5th round but tipped the scales with a magic
double to pip Thomson 21-19. Stewart McMaster reached the Section 3 (Foremost
Bowls) final at the 21-9 expense of Middleton Hall’s Craig Pattison and was
joined by Walter McDougall of Fauldhouse who beat George Inglis Sen. Of
Bridgeness 21-8. McMaster, the No 12 seed, produced a 1,4,1, finish to beat
McDougall 21-11. Broxburn’s Mike Nelson sent major shockwaves through the
Masters when he dumped No4 seed Grant Logan 21-2 but the former County
champion blew a 14-5 lead as he made a 21-18 exit to Sandy Bryant in the
section 4 (Golden Wonder) final. Bryant, the No13 seed from Kinneil, had
pipped 68-year old Dick Saunders of Bathgate 21-20 in an epic 4th
round battle. David Forrest caused a stir with the 21-18 scalp of No3 seed
Willie Francis (Fauldhouse) but
the Middleton Hall ace came a cropper, 21-4, at the hands of No 14 seed Jimmy
Mallon in the Section 5 (Ratho Coaches) final. Mallon (Broxburn), had defeated
Gary Grant oif Queensferry 21-16 in the 4th round action.
Queensferry’s Alan Atkinsson followed up his 3rd round giant
killing act against John Aitken (Kirkliston) with a 21-20 verdict over No6
seed Scott Murphy of Philpstoun in Section 6 (The Royal Bank of Scotland).
Alan Jenkin’s (Kirkliston) edged out Gerry Duggan of Bathgate in a 21-19
nail biter then beat Atkinson 21-6 in their 5th round clash. Simon
Lamb was all the rage in Section 7 (Wm Morton Ltd) and reached the 5th
round at the 21-9 expense of Mid Calder’s Neil McGillivary while Brian
Saunders progressed with a 21-15 win over John Aitken of Bo’ness. An epic
battle developed in the 5th round clash with Lamb landing a late
1,2, to deal a 21-19 knockout to Saunders. Steven Fleming , the No 15 seed
from Linlithgow, battled to a 21-17 success over Colin Cruickshanks (Winchburgh)
and was joined in the Section 8 (West Lothian Council) final by No2 seed Ewan
Shearer who edged John Campbell of Buchan Park 21-18. Fleming stole the show
in the 5th round clash, springing a 21-13 surprise on the 2001
Master from Bo’ness. The scene was now set for the last day climax of the
Masters at Kirkliston, with the line up reading; Bob Mackay v Peter Lynch;
Stewart McMaster v Sandy Bryant; Jim Mallon v Alan Jenkins; Simon Lamb v
Steven Fleming.
West
Lothian WBA : The ladies spotlight was also focused on
the Fauldhouse BC w