Linlithgow star Gary Smith will spearhead the West Lothian Challenge in the final stages of the national championships at Ayr Northfield next month with the high profile England/Scotland cap capturing the Singles title in the District Finals played at Bankton Mains.
Read MoreSmith was returning to the scene of last years Champion of Champions triumph and watched by a large banking impressed them with a strong display to beat Calum McLean of Oakbank, 21-17, counting at 13 of the 22 hard fought ends.
Kirkliston triggered the victory salute in the Pairs with icon figure John Aitken skipping Robbie Cuthill to a purple patch spell of 1, 4, 1, (3), 1, 2, 3, 3, 1 that clinched a 21-9 win over Stuart Blakelock and Andrew Walker of Winchburgh.
The outcome in the Triples hung in the balance at 10-10 with three ends to play but the deadlock was broken and the scales tipped by a hat trick of singles that saw Ian Robertson, Blair Mackie, and Jamie Aitken of Newbridge beat Andy Grimshaw, Scott Murphy, and Ewan Shearer of Linlithgow, 13-10.
Calum Black of East Calder only counted at 7 of 17 ends but included a mighty 5 and a nail biting single at the last as he skipped Ian Thorburn, Alan Walker, and Iain Grant to a 17-16 win over Tam Whitfield, Davie Ross, Walter McDougall, and Sandy McDougall of Glenmavis.
Bellsburn captured the honours in the Mixed Pairs with Jack Murphy skipping Marguerite Harris to a 23-13 win over Lisa McGarry and Derek Kerr of Armadale.
Darren Pearce of Kirkliston walked over against the unavailable Rory Walker of Newbridge in the Junior Singles
The final of the Seniors Singled played earlier in the week at East Calder saw Richard Mark of Uphall Station beat Raymond Logan of Kirkliston – winner of the national singles proper in 1998; 21-11.
Kirkliston also suffered disappointment in the Seniors Fours with their rink of Jim Davidson, Charlie Houston, Davy Boyd, and Gordon Logan losing 17-6 to John Sweeney, Bobo Forrest, Ian Robertson, and Alec Allan of Newbridge.
West Lothian suffered a disappointing 17 shot away defeat (120-103) at the hands of a competent West Fife at Lumphinans but still managed to limp into the knockout stage of The Cities and Counties Championship so their dream of capturing The Hamilton Trophy lives on. However, surrendering a table topping 2 point lead to finish second to Edinburgh & Leith has plunged West Lothian into a much tougher half of a draw where Lanarkshire South and Lanarkshire West are both major threats. Had WL replaced E&L in the other half of the draw the prospect of facing Glasgow West/Bon Accord/Glasgow South would have been much less daunting. WL wins on the rinks skipped by Andrew Dunnett (+10) and Thomas Mann (+1) plus a peel for Grant Logan were unable to cover the losses sustained by Neil Speirs (-14), Steven Fleming (-9), and Raymond Logan (-5). WL face Lanarkshire West in their quarterfinal at Doune Castle on Saturday 7th July while E&L face Glasgow West at Duffus Park, Cupar.
Pumpherston trio Ashley Mackie, Paige Mackie, and Lauren Mitchell are named in the 16 strong line that represents the WLBA banner in Sunday’s opening round of the Scottish Under 25’s Scottish Cup against Fife BA at Sighthill. Rink 1. Ashley Mackie, Jordan Walker (Harrysmuir), Jack Murphy (Bellsburn), and Darren Pearce (Kirkliston). Rink 2. Stuart Ford (Armadale), Cameron Robertson (Blackburn, Shaun Cairns (Harrysmuir), and Jordan Pearce (Kirkliston). Rink 3. Paige Mackie, Kyle Broadley (Kirkliston), Robbie Cuthill (Kirkliston), and Jamie Edwards (Broxburn). Rink 4. Liam Thomson (Pumpherston), Lauren Mitchell, Calum Melrose (Deans), and Cameron Nicol (Pumpherston).