Scotland cap Emma Brown has carried the East Lothian IBC banner through to the semi finals stage of the Scottish Junior Singles Championship at Fraserburgh on January 31st and is joined in the last four by her internationalist colleague Stacey Laidlaw of Midlothian
Read moreBrown – currently with 12 full and 17 Junior caps to her credit – is a dazzler on the domestic and international scene and showed that level of form in the playdown action at Abbeyview (Dunfermline) to score a hat trick of fine wins. “I was really pleased with all three of my performances and now embrace the hope that I can match and even improve on that level when I bid for the title early in the New Year”, summed up Brown. The young East Lothian champion was given a hard test by first round opponent Heather Garvie of Stonehaven and showed strong battling qualities to win 21-16 then held all the aces in a 21-5 triumph over Stephanie Buchan of Elgin. Brown met Lesley Doig of East Fife in the quarterfinals and was asked lots of questions by her talented opponent but came up with the answers in impressive fashion to clinch a 21-18 thriller. Meanwhile Laidlaw –winner to date of 6 full and 12 Junior caps – walked over against Buchan in the first round then made her experience count in a commanding 21-11 victory over Cloe Thomson of Bainfield. Laidlaw had Fraserburgh in her sights when lining up against Carla Banks of Garioch in her quarterfinal and she booked her place in the showpiece climax to the event with a highly focused performance to win 21-11. The semi final line is, Brown versus Michelle Keenan of Dumbarton, and Laidlaw versus Claire Walker of Blantyre.
Meanwhile East Lothian IBC ladies are bidding for their fourth win in a row and have home carpet advantage when facing Tweedbank in today’ national league match in Division 1C. Icon figures Emma Brown and Janet Fairnie return to the line up. Bainfield have one win from three and hope to improve that statistic at the expense of visitors Balbardie who like EL have opened strongly with three wins out of three. West Lothian are at home to Teviotdale. Balbardie gents have lost their opening two matches in Division 1North and face a tough task today when they entertain top of the table Turriff at Bathgate.