County superstars Alex Marshall MBE and Derek Oliver are off on their travels to Wales this week as they take part in the Atlantic Rims Championships for Team Scotland. This is an event in its own right but also acts as a qualifier for the World Championships next year with the top six nations in each discipline qualifying automatically. Team Scotland send out the same team that was triumphant in last year’s Commonwealth Games. Alex and Derek team up in the fours alongside Ronnie Duncan and Paul Foster while Paul and Alex are the pairs representatives and Ronnie and Derek are joined by Darren Burnett in the triples.
The Andrew Hamilton Trophy, the pinnacle team event in Scottish bowls, gets underway this weekend and the East Lothian Hamilton Trophy selectors have announced the following team for their first match of the season when they make the tough trip to Rosslyn on Saturday to face neighbours Midlothian:
D Young (ELCo-op), D Stevenson (ELCo-op), D Riva (Gifford) & B Young (ELCo-op/Skip)
S Anderson (Dunbar), J Gordon (C&PS), S Johnston (Ormiston) & C Valentine (C&PS)
C Johnston (Winton), G Inglis (Ormiston), T Young (Dunbar) & C Glen (Elphinstone)
A Cormack (ELCo-op), S Greenan (Preston’ge), G Dodds (EL Co-op) & S Morgan (C&PS)
K Cunningham (Tranent), C McLeod (Winton), G White (Aberlady) & J McCrorie (Tranent)
A Martin (Tranent), A Burt (Hadd), S Thomson (Hadd) & M Higgenbotham (Hadd/Skip)
Reserves: W Dunleavey (Aberlady), G Pryde (EL Co-op), M McCormack (Winton), J Carpenter (A’ford)
The under 25’s also begin their quest for national honours on Sunday when they too face Midlothian, this time in the home territory of Gifford. Selectors have named the following team:
Pete Gray, David Young, Liam Gallagher & Reece Cochrane (Skip & Captain)
Cammy Shaw, Beth Riva, Danny Stevenson & Joe Mower
Megan Kivlin, Rhys French, Chris Brock & Calum Darling
Ewan Leith, Kieran Whitson, Dean French & Dean Riva
Kieran Dodds, Daniel Peart, Kieran Simmants & Declan French
Calvert Alison, Robbie Shields, Jack Ferguson & James Burnett
Reserves: Chris Gordon & Iona Leith
The second fixtures in the East Coast Carpet Leagues were played last Friday. In Division One Haddington went top of the league following a 6-2 win away to East Linton. Cockenzie & Port Seton also kept their good start to the season going with a 6-2 win at EL Co-op.
Elphinstone inflicted further early season hurt on Tranent with a 6-2 win while Winton had an impressive 6-2 home win over Castlepark. In the other tie of the night Prestongrange left Dunbar with six of the eight points on offer.
This week there was a double header of fixtures due. On Wednesday Cockenzie & Port Seton hosted East Linton, Dunbar entertained Winton, Haddington were hosts to Elphinstone, Prestongrange welcomed EL Co-op and Castlepark travelled to Tranent.
While on Friday night a cracking encounter is expected when Castlepark are hosts to Tranent with both aiming to bounce back from disappointing defeats. East Linton are due to face Prestongrange at home while Dunbar travel up the A1 to face EL Co-op. Defending champions Cockenzie & Port Seton make a tricky trip to Elphinstone while Winton play Tranent at home.
The first round proper of the ELBA trophy was due to be played on Tuesday 7th May with the quarter finals on the 14th May before the semi-finals and final are played at Haddington on Sunday 26th May.
Finally for any bowlers who do not play outdoor over the spring and summer East Lothian Indoor Bowling Club and Mums at the Mill catering remains open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 2pm and weekends 10am to 1pm for anyone looking for a game indoors.