September Report

This weekend sees the Gents Scottish Singles play-downs take place at East Kilbride on Saturday and Sunday.  East Lothian Champion and former outdoor national singles champion Billy Mellors is first on the carpet at 9.30am.  He faces Stuart Pagan from Abbeyview, hopefully followed by a second round game at 1.30pm as he aims to take his place in the National Finals taking place at Fraserburgh on the 31^st January.

Division’s 1 & 2 of the Esprit Trophies sponsored Evening Leagues are now underway at Meadowmill and all domestic fixtures can now be viewed on the club’s website at www.elibc.co.uk.  Of those tournaments yet to begin the Saturday morning triples league begins tomorrow (4^th October) at 10am whilst the Wednesday afternoon triples begins on the 8^th October at 2pm and the Mixed Evening League begins on Monday 13th October.  Anyone wishing to take part in the gents pre-Christmas Scottish Triples and Fours and the Team Championship singles, triples, pairs and fours should note that entries close today (Friday 3^rd October).

The gents and under 35 sides were due to meet in a trial match on Wednesday past following which a gents’ team will have been selected for their first game of the season at home to Paisley on the 11^th October.

The Ladies are the first club side in national action when they play their first game of the season on Saturday away to West Lothian with all players to report to the club by 12.30pm.  The following team has been selected:

A Barclay, A Berwick, M Thomson, J Fairnie (Skip)

J McFarlane, I Combe, C Ward, N McNeill (Skip)

G Mackintosh, C Jones, D Rowan, Y Veitch (Skip)

M Devine, J Russell, M Hamilton, E Brown (Skip)

Res: M Kivlin, D McKillop, I Gray. 

Internally, the ladies Monday fours league is due to start this Monday the 6^th October at 2pm, whilst anyone wishing to take part in the Ladies Scottish Pairs and Fours competitions should note that they must enter their name on the applicable sheet by today (Friday).

The seniors’ first league game of the season is on Wednesday 8^th October away to Teviotdale, however, the seniors’ took part in a Challenge Match as Scottish Cup holders against the league champions Falkirk last Wednesday at West Lothian as part of the SIBA’s Scottish Development Week.  However, the seniors suffered a disappointing defeat with Willie Wood providing the only rink win by 2 shots.  The rinks of Tommy Young, Peter Laidlaw, Ronnie Douglas and Ian Patterson lost by 2, 3, 18 and 19 shots respectively to give a final score of 90-50 in favour of Falkirk.  The seniors’ first game is next Wednesday 8^th away to Teviotdale.  No team information was available at the time of going to print.  Any senior wishing to enter the pre-Christmas pairs, triples and fours tournaments should note the closing date for entries is today (Friday).

The East Coast Carpets sponsored Top Club tournament will run from November to April, it will be played in a league format initially with the top two teams in each group qualifying for the semi finals. Games will be played on Friday nights and teams may consist of gents, ladies and youths. Please contact the club or match secretary via the website if you would like to enter.

Youth coaching began last Saturday and continues every Saturday between 8am and 10am where new members and anyone interested in taking up the sport are more than welcome.

Finally membership fees must be paid by Tuesday 30th September.  Prices are £58 for full membership, £30 for Junior and £5 for Youths.  Any player not having paid their membership fee whilst playing in a competitive game from 1st October onwards will cost their team the points.