2017 Scottish champion Dee Hoggan is the crowd puller to Belfast based Belmont Bowling Club in Northern Ireland this week with the talented garden county star bidding to enhance her national title by adding the British Isles crown.
Read MoreTranent Bowling Club king pin Hoggan challenges for the ladies singles crown and her bid for British title glory starts tomorrow (Friday) when she faces either Jersey or Ireland in a semi-final encounter. The winner will play either Wales or England in the final on Saturday. Hoggan will be joined by Cockenzie & Port Seton star figure Lauren Baillie in Belfast, as both players are part of the Bowls Scotland Ladies Senior side hoping to win the BWIBC Home International series that is also staged at Belmont BC from Sunday to Tuesday.
Alarm bells are sounding loud and clear in East Lothian bowling circles with the County team unpredictable form continuing with the seven times former champions nose diving to their third section defeat in five games. Big clashes with table toppers West Lothian and Borders lie immediately ahead in a tough climax to the East section and already the garden county have suffered defeat at the hands of Edinburgh & Leith, Stirling County East and Midlothian. The latest setback, an 18-shot defeat (133-115) against local rivals Midlothian was on home soil at Haddington BC last Saturday. It seems incredible that a 10-shot win for Billy Mellors was the only win registered by the home team but that was the case with the rinks skipped by Billy Dunleavey (-11), Joe Mower (-10), Brian Young (-6) and Malcolm Higgenbotham (-1) all suffering defeats while Steven Morgan drew 20-20.
“Very disappointing result considering what was at stake! The game was not a classic and could have gone either way at the halfway stage, but Midlothian stepped up a higher gear when it really mattered. We must think ahead and look for positives in the last two games”, said team captain Malcolm Higgenbotham.
East Lothian travel to Buchan Park BC in Broxburn this Saturday to face table toppers West Lothian. The selectors make five personnel changes to the line-up resulting in Craig Valentine, Scott Kennedy, Dean Riva, David Sked and Marc McCormack all returning at the expense of Steven Anderson, David Whitson, Joe Mower, Kevin Cunningham and James McDonagh. The team reads:- C.Dick (Hadd), G.Pryde (ELCO), S.Mackie (ELCO), B.Young (ELCO) skip M.Greenan (C&PS), G.Baillie (C&PS), B.Dunleavey (Aber), S.Morgan (C&PS) skip M.McCormack (Win), J.Blair (Hadd), G.White (Aber), S.Kennedy (C&PS) skip C.Johnston (Win), T.Young (Dun), S.Cochrane (Elph), C.Valentine (C&PS) skip D.Young (ELCO), D.Riva (ELCO), D.Sked (Hadd), B.Mellors (Hadd) skip A.Burt (Hadd), G.McNab (Hadd), S.Thomson (Hadd), M.Higgenbotham (Hadd) skip/capt
Any player selected who is unable to play is requested to contact team captain Malcolm Higgenbothan immediately on 07761 101438. Players report at Buchan Park BC by no later than 1.15pm. Any player unsure of travel arrangements should contact Malcolm Higgenbotham.
The East Lothian Under 25 side return to competitive action on Sunday July 1st and following a disappointing league campaign, they now turn their attentions to the Scottish Cup where a first round encounter with Dumbartonshire at Ardrossan BC awaits. Team manager Gordon Pryde is set to announce his team in the coming days but he is requesting players let him know there availability for selection via text message 07841 747695 as soon as possible. The set-up for the Scottish Cup sees team’s just field four rinks instead of the usual six and games played over 17 ends rather than standard 21.
The Bowls Scotland District gent’s qualifiers for East Lothian reach their conclusion this coming Sunday from 12 noon. The venue for the finals will be decided later this week following the conclusion of Wednesday night’s semi-final action staged at Castlepark BC and Aberlady BC respectively.
Meanwhile the district finals of the Scottish Young Bowlers National Championships took place at Castlepark BC last Saturday to decide who would represent the East Lothian challenge in the national finals. Robbie Buchanan of Cockenzie & Port Seton will spearhead the garden county challenge in the blue riband singles event at the championships at Ayr Northfield on Sunday July 22nd. Aberlady captured the limelight in the Pairs playdown action with Luke Cowan and Melissa Penman emerging victorious. The EL-Coop trio of Beth Riva, Kieran Dodds and Robbie Shields will carry the local hopes in the triples event. “The standard of bowling was exceptional throughout the whole day and all the youngsters played the game in great spirit which was brilliant to see. A massive well done to everyone who took part”, said an ELBA spokesperson.
Week 8 of 18 in Division 1 of the East Coast Carpets sponsored East Lothian Leagues resulted in significant changes to the pecking order including new leaders in the shape of high-flying Tranent based side EL-Coop hitting the front and early season leaders Cockenzie & Port Seton dropping back to third. EL-Coop remain unbeaten and surged three points ahead of the chasing pack after producing another strong team performance last Friday night to thrash their West Barns visitors, 8-0. ““Whilst there is extra pressure in leading from the front it is an encouraging position for us to be four three points ahead of the chasing pack approaching the half-way stage” said an EL-Coop spokesperson. Cockenzie & Port Seton title hopes was severely dented when they were put to the sword in an 8-0 defeat away to fellow title challengers Haddington who leapfrogged their victims into second place. The prospects of Elphinstone doing a Leicester City is probably remote, but they have risen to the lofty heights of fourth place after celebrating another terrific 8-0 success at Castlepark. Dunbar eased their relegation fears with a battling 6-2 away win at East Linton while Haddington A put the cat amongst the pigeons in the battle to avoid the drop with a shock 6-2 away success at Tranent.
On Friday night, Division 1 leaders EL-Coop face a tough looking test at Dunbar while nearest challengers Haddington also a face a testing away challenge at Castlepark. Cockenzie & Port Seton visit Haddington for the second successive week but this time to take on their second-string side. Elphinstone will hope to keep their recent winning momentum going when they entertain East Linton while foot of the table West Barns is at home to Tranent.
All club secretaries are requested to ensure that all league and cup results, including shots aggregate score, are phoned into ELBA Match Secretary Keith Fender on 01620 860217 or via text message 07786 110416 immediately after each match.
Newly appointed East Lothian senior convenor Tommy Young has announced that the trial match for the forthcoming Inter-County Senior League Cup campaign for the Matt Purdie Trophy is being staged at Haddington BC on Monday. All players nominated by their respective club requested to report at Haddington for 9.50am.
Officials at East Lothian Indoor Bowling Club have confirmed that the club is open daily over the summer months from 10am-4pm. For more information contact the clubs catering staff on 01875-614166 then dial extension 303. If coaching required please contact Development Officer Billy Mellors on 07930 716073 to arrange a suitable day and time for a lesson.
Finally, you can keep up-to-date with all that is happening on the outdoor bowling scene in the garden county by following the website by East Lothian Bowling Association. All bowlers are urged to view by clicking on www.eastlothianbowls.com
Draw for Gifford Bowling & Sports Club Open Triples on Saturday is as follows:-
10am J.Lothian, T.Kerr, S.Plenderleith, Dirleton 2, A.Riva, J.Carpenter (Snr), Dirleton 1, E.Denholm, S.Johnston, J.Strang, G.Inglis, G.Findlay
11am M.Grindlay, J.Kerr, C.Darling, E.Armstrong, B.Bisset, Dirleton 3, K.Whitson, W.W.Wood MBE
Draw for the West Barns BC Senior Open Pairs on Tuesday 19th June is as follows:- 9.30am Dirleton (1), B.Brunton, M.Gordon, V.Renwick, Dirleton (4), W.Smith, W.Reid, A.Brown, W.Higgenbottom, Dirleton (3), B.Marshall, D.Ballingham, M.Hamilton, C.Kennedy, A.Burt, A.Young
10.30am T.Kerr, C.Binnie, A.Currie, J.Dugay, P.Fallen, J.Currie, Bellsburns (1), D.Kennedy, L.Runciman, Bellsburn (2), G.McLeod, J.Brodie, D.Pryde, J.P.Hamilton, Dirleton (2), L.Mitchell
Any pair named in the draw that are now unable to attend should contact tournament organiser John P Hamilton immediately on 07974 648401.