West Lothian crashed to a substantial 33 shot defeat (121-88) in the final of the Hamilton Trophy at Ayr Northfield with the defending champions paying the price for a very disappointing team performance against Lanarkshire South.
Wins on the rinks skipped by Andy Dunnett and Thomas Mann were dwarfed by the pain of defeat that was inflicted upon Raymond Logan, Grant Logan, Stevie Fleming, and Neil Speirs. Dunnett impressed as he skipped Cameron Greer, Davy Lamb, and Calum Logan into a 17-6 lead after 16 ends but coming under late pressure settled for a 19-13 win over Robert Grant. Mann also attacked the opposition in a positive way and skiped Jamie Aitken, Robbie Cuthill, and Ewan Shearer into a 15-6 lead after 14 ends but were then hard pressed to clinch a 17-14 win over John Simpson. Ray Logan and his rink of Gary Smith, Barry Sword, and Mark Allison slipped from 10-8 up after 13 ends to a 19-11 defeat from Iain McLean.
Grant Logan skipped Calum Black, Blair Mackie, and Gary Orr into a 10-7 lead after 10-ends but a weak finish cost them a 24-15 defeat at the hands of David Garner. Fleming and his front-three of Drew Paterson, Paul Sweeney, and Sandy McDougall had their hands full against opposition icon figure Ian Campbell and having trailed 13-3 after 10 ends were outgunned, 22-11. Speirs and his rink of Steven Forrest, Jamie Edwards, and James Speirs were never at the races and were punished 29-15 by Colin Thorburn.
The opening play in the weeklong national championship at Ayr Northfield saw Linlithgow super-star Lorna Smith serve up a hattrick of wins in the Seniors Singles to reach yesterdays se mi finals stage. Smith – who won the main singles a record three rimes on the trot – included the 21-4 scalp of defending champion Margaret Letham and her semi final opposition cam e in the shape of inaugural 2013 champion Isobel Laing of Elgin.
Frazer Muirhead opened with a 21-10 win in the gents Seniors Singles but then made a 21-17 exit to Mick Wiseman of Kirkhill.
Play in the Junior Singles saw Chloe Hutchinson of Linlithgow suffer the heartbreak of a 21-20 exit in the first round of the Ladies while Darren Pearce of Kirkliston win 21-19 then lose 21-14 Ryan Langdon of Crookston.
The Bankton Mains ladies rink of Wilma Roy, Joyce Gorrie, Madge Thomson, and Jean Brown made a 17-7 exit in the first round while Newbridge men Bobo Forrest, John Sweeney, Ian Robertson, and Alec Allan won 24-11 then 10-8 but were piped 17-16 in the third round by Berwick.
A close call in the first round of the Mixed Pairs saw Ann Robertson and Ewan Shearer of Linlithgow lose a 14-13 nail-biter to Glengowan-Caldercruix.
Doreen Reeder of Kirkliston and Ewan Shearer of Linlithgow are the spearhead figures in the Singles that swing into action today (Thursday).
The representation in the Pairs is Sandra Steven and Kirsteen McLelland; and young Pumpherston brothers Aiden and Nathan Davies.
Buchan Park trio Alison Brown, Barbara Plevin, and Vikki Turner fly the flag in the Triples; also Stuart Affleck, Blair Mackie , and Thomas Mann of Newbridge.
The two line ups in the Fours are, Marlyn Whitfield, Delia Flanigan, Angie Uttley, and Lorraine Craig of Glenmavis; also Mark Allison, Greg Logan, Calum Logan, and Raymond Logan of Kirkliston.