The gents returned to Premier League action last Saturday when they made the tough trip north to tackle Aberdeen, who are a notoriously strong home side, however, a win was a must in order to keep pace with Blantyre.
Read MoreThe National Pairs play-downs take place this weekend and the Alex Marshall Arena is the host for these. In the gents’ event Scott Kennedy and Billy Mellors fly the Garden County flag and are in action at 2pm against Teviotdale whilst in the ladies pairs Mags Thomson (deputising for Leanne Baillie) and Lauren Baillie-Whyte represent the club and begin their campaign at 9,30am when they face the West of Scotland ladies pair. The play-downs are taking place at East Lothian from 9.30am to 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday and it’s hoped a good local crowd is in attendance to support the event and cheer on our pairs.
The ladies team were in action last Saturday when they made the short trip to Dalkeith to face local rivals Midlothian. The ladies team had enforced last minute changes due to Arlene Berwick being unwell and being replaced by Margaret Murray, whilst Dee Hoggan was a late withdrawal due to work commitments, resulting in an East Lothian debut for Tracy Riva. As always this was a hard fought affair and the game was tight until the latter stages, however, the ladies from Midlothian proved stronger over the closing stages on this occasion and ran out comfortable 43-63 winners. Janet Fairnie’s rink were involved in a high quality game against internationalist Stacey McDougall which ended up being an 18-18 tie. Yvonne Veitch’s rink fought hard throughout their game and were still in the game at peels with three to play but unfortunately lost seven shots over those ends to finish seven down whilst the rink of Megan Kivlin were involved in a great game with Margaret Porter at one down after fourteen ends, however, they suffered a bad finish to their game also to lose each of the final seven ends and lost out by thirteen shots. The ladies now have to wait until the 18th January to play their final league fixture when they travel to Abbeyview. Like the men they too will be looking to get a strong established team for this game after which they will be aiming to retain their Scottish Cup crown and stop their now annoying habit of letting close games slip away over the last few ends of a game.
The Ladies and Gents National Junior team trials took place at Arbroath last Sunday with the ladies junior trial in the morning and the gents in the afternoon. Impressing the selectors and retaining their places in the international teams were Megan Kivlin, Joe Mower and Dean Riva whilst it’s congratulations to Beth Riva on winning her first cap. Melissa Penman, Lewis Betts, Calum Darling, Aaron Betts and Danny Stevenson missed out, however, it’s surely only a matter of time before they do catch the selectors’ eyes.
The Garden County Senior brigade were in action last Wednesday when they recorded their best and biggest win of the season as they thrashed Teviotdale 103-26. The highest scoring rink was that of Graham Robertson who recorded a 32-7 victory. All three of the other rinks were not far behind in the size of their victories with Andy Burt winning 23-4, Tommy Young 27-9 and Willie Wood by 21-6. The Auld Yins now hold a two points and thirty two shot lead over Midlothian with only two fixtures remaining. The team was unchanged for the trip to Headwell on Wednesday of this week and read as follows: P Fallen, K Fender, D McGill & T Young (Skip & Captain), L Middler, J P Hamilton, D Berwick & G Robertson, B J Smith, D Pryde, A McKenna & A Burt, J Neilson, R Maguire, A Russell & W W Wood MBE. Reserves: B Johnson, R Steele, G Cowan, R Douglas, K Boyd, D Hogg & A Valentine
The East Lothian youths continued their defence of the league on Saturday morning at the Alex Marshall Arena when they hosted Abbeyview. Abbeyview got out the traps much faster than the hosts and after five ends had opened up a fourteen shot lead. The East Lothian youngsters gradually clawed their way back into the game and with one rink on the carpet they had narrowed the gap to one shot, however, the comeback was not to be completed, despite a great attempt and Abbeyview carded a four to win 36-31 and record a 5-2 points victory. The rink of Luke Cowan, Daniel Kivlin, Logan Kennedy and Kieran Dodds were 13-7 winners, whilst Rory Glen, Daryl Grieve, Callum Henderson and Aaron Betts lost out 9-12 and Beth Riva’s rink of Ethan Gillies, Abi McNeill and Lennon Rafferty lost out 8-14. This means that at the halfway point in the league East Lothian lead with 13 points, with Abbeyview and Midlothian on their tails with 10 points and Bainfield have 9 points. The league is due to resume on the 18th January.
East Lothian Indoor Bowling Club will be closing for the festive period on Christmas Eve at 4pm and will remain closed on the 25th and 26th. It will re-open for league fixtures on the 27th between 10am and 2pm before closing on the 28th and 29th. It will open once more for Gents Pairs fixtures on the 30th at 6.30pm before closing on the 31st, 1st and 2nd. The club then re-open full-time on the 3rd January.
Half year memberships are now available at the indoor from January 1st until the end of the season and these will allow anyone joining to join a league rink or help out in Scottish ties. The half year membership costs £38 and can be paid in the club or via online banking.