The gents side from East Lothian IBC bid to capture the Henselite sponsored Scottish Cup for a magnificent eighth time came to grief at the last hurdle, the elite from the Alex Marshall Arena left frustrated by a 6-4 points defeat from local rivals Midlothian.
Read MoreThe final played at Abbeyview IBC in Dunfermline was a hard-fought battle and winning performances by the East Lothian rinks skipped by Joe Mower and Scott Kennedy kept the team in the picture but ultimately failed to prevent Midlothian celebrating the title glory for a fifth time. It was the two points from the match aggregate that tipped the scales in favour of Midlothian with their 5 shot surplus (71-66) heavily influenced by the wins achieved by Colin Walker and Billy Peacock over Billy Mellors and Graham Robertson respectively.
“The game was nip and tuck from the opening end but Midlothian finished the match the much stronger side and we congratulate them on their win”, reflected team captain Dougie Berwick.
Mower and his front three of Lessel Middler, Kevin Cunningham and Jamie Higgins had played out of their skins in the early exchanges to achieve a commanding 20-9 lead over the opposition rink skipped by former world stage star Davie Peacock. However, the wheels came off in the second half of proceedings and they lost the last six ends 7-1 before eventually winning 21-16. Kennedy and rink of Aaron Betts, David Sked and Stewart Thomson were in dire trouble at 14-9 down after 18 ends, but then carded a mighty count of six to cross 15-14 then held on to edge a 16-15 win over Graeme Archer. After an indifferent start to the match Mellors had skipped Lewis Betts, Andrew Jeffrey and Dean Riva into a 12-10 lead over Colin Walker then led 13-12; but a 5-2 collapse on the run-in cost them a 17-15 defeat. Robertson and his front three of Mark Yuill, captain Dougie Berwick and Mark Johnston were always against the collar in a 23-14 defeat from Billy Peacock.
Billy Mellors headed down to Hartlepool earlier this week to represent Scotland in the 2018 WIBC World Championships. Mellors will compete in the Gents singles championship and will compete in Group C along with Damian Doubler (Wales), Paul McEwan (Ireland) and Frans Roberts (Netherlands). He was also to be involved in the Mixed Pairs event and teams up with fellow Scot Lorraine Craig.
East Lothian IBC ladies saw their dreams of achieving eventual Ladies Scottish Cup glory snuffed out by a 6-4 point defeat at the hands of an Auchinleck opposition that tipped the scales with a stronger finish to their semi-final played at West of Scotland stadium in Glasgow. Wins on the rinks skipped by team captain Lauren Baillie (+25) and Janet Fairnie (+2) should have put East Lothian in a very strong position but didn’t do so because of a damaging shot margin mauling suffered by star figure Emma Logan (-22) while Yvonne Veitch also lost (-6). It was nightmare scenario as both defeats being a major factor in East Lothian being outgunned 82-81 on the overall match aggregate score. “Absolutely gutted that our cup dream has ended but we gave everything to try and rescue the match but the Auchinleck skips played big bowls when it really mattered and ultimately that was the difference in the game”, reflected team manager Gordon Pryde. He added, “It has been an absolute pleasure working with the team this season. There’s so many positives to take from this season which hopefully we can build on. This year the commitment from the players has been amazing which makes the difference and something I’m very thankful for”.
The climax to the Jock Brodie Senior Challenge Cup, sponsored by Norman T Craig and Electrical Services of Dunbar, was being staged at the Alex Marshall Arena on Wednesday and the final featured defending champions East Lothian and tournament favourites Perth. In last Wednesday’s semi-final action East Lothian proved too strong for Midlothian while Perth seen off the challenge of West Lothian.
Friday finals night at East Lothian IBC has a major crowd puller with members and friends certain to flock to the Alex Marshall Arena to witness the top of the bill confrontation between Janet Fairnie and Pat Turner in the Ladies Singles. Fairnie is fired up by the opportunity to equal legendary figure Diane Rowan’s record of six title successes but the five-times champion will need to be at her best to see off the challenge of Turner who is bidding for a first ever title success. Fairnie set up the chance of celebrating a sixth title success having played brilliantly in her semi-final to beat defending champion Dee Hoggan. Turner retains a sharp edge to her domestic form and proved it in her semi-final tie when she ended the hopes of Scotland cap Emma Logan. In addition, down for decision will be the Gents Junior Singles and contesting this year’s final is 2016 champion Joe Mower and Aaron Betts while defending champion will defend her Ladies Junior Singles title against either Melissa Penman or Lucy Hogg. In the Gents Senior Singles Willie Wood MBE and BJ Smith meet in the final while Stuart Johnston and Calum Darling contest the climax to the Gents Under 21 Singles. Danny Stevenson and Kieran Dodds go head to head in the Under 18 Singles final. Due to various circumstances finals weeks at East Lothian IBC will run into a second week of action with the main highlight-taking place on Monday (April 16) evening when Billy Mellors and Chris Fallen contest the Gents Singles final. Mellors set up the chance of becoming the first player to win the prestigious title for a fourth time having played a blinder in his semi-final to beat former two-times champion Jamie Higgins. Fallen is a previous two-times junior singles title champion (2009 & 2010) and held all the aces in his 21-17 semi-final win over Alan Young.
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Emma Logan held all the aces to defeat Melissa Penman 21-16 in the Ladies 2 Bowl Singles final while the team of Mark Johnston, Willie Wood MBE, Stevie Thomson, Neil Buchanan, Alastair Russell and Malcolm Higgenbotham won the Division 1 Grand Final defeating the team captained by John McCrorie. The rink captained by Andrew Jeffrey held on to their Division 1 status after a narrow win in the play-off decider against John P Hamilton. Cockenzie & Port Seton made a successful defence of the Wood & Hay Funeral Care sponsored Top Club tournament following victory over EL-Coop in the final.
East Lothian IBC has announced its staging a celebration evening on Saturday evening from 7.30pm to recognise the club’s successes achieved this season, which resulted them in recently being, announced best club in Scotland for the 2017/18 season by the SIBA. All ladies, gents, senior and youth team players are invited to attend along with additional family and friends. Live entertainment is being provided along with an evening buffet.
Meanwhile, officials at East Lothian Indoor Bowling Club have confirmed that the club will remain open during the summer months from 10am to 2pm daily (including weekends).
Cockenzie & Port Seton stage their opening of the green ceremony this coming Saturday at 1.30pm with long time member of the club Willie ‘McDuff’ McFarlane doing the honour of throwing the first jack of the 2018 outdoor season.
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