East Lothian Indoor Bowling Club held it’s hugely successful Pro-Am tournament for a third year on Sunday 10th February at the Alex Marshall Arena. The event featured twenty four triples and the cream of world bowls in the shape of Alex Marshall MBE, Derek Oliver, Stewart Anderson, Darren Burnett, Ronnie Duncan, Iain McLean and Davie Peacock. As well as these world stage stars on show the cream of Scottish, English and East Lothian Indoor bowlers took part alongside those from the Scottish Para-bowls scene and local qualifying triples. The tournament was once again supported by sponsorship from Johnston Oils and Medical & Professional Consultancy & Financial Planning. The tournament gives the youngsters of the East Lothian youth section the chance to play with the world stage stars as each of them is paired up with two invited players.
Making it through the final stages were teams skipped by Darren Burnett, Alex Marshall MBE, Joe Mower and Colin Walker. The first semi final saw an epic battle won by Callum Henderson, Thomas Mann and Walker 7-5 over the trio of Lennon Rafferty, Ronnie Duncan & Burnett. The other semi final witnessed Chris Brock, Dean Riva & Joe Mower defeat Keiron Dodds, David Peacock & Alex Marshall MBE 6-3.
The final was a tight affair but excellent lead play from Henderson guided Colin Walkers triple to a 6-3 win over Joe Mower’s team.
After winning, the victorious skip Colin Walker said “Without doubt this event is an excellent opportunity for the East Lothian youths to gain experience on the big stage. Our lead Callum Henderson was brilliant all day and is has to be said all the youth players performed very well”
Event organiser Billy Mellors added “Our 3rd Pro-Am has been a great success. Huge thanks to our sponsors and all the International players who gave their time to the event and made our youth players feel at ease on and off the green. Once again the youths were the real stars on show and I know the future of East Lothian Bowls looks in great shape”
Read More The Garden County gents bounced back from their league decider defeat to progress in the Scottish Cup last weekend when they travelled to West Lothian and comprehensively defeated newly promoted Coatbridge 8-2. Top scorers on the day were the rink of Mark Yuill, Robbie Shields, Chris Brock & Scott Kennedy who ran out 31-12 winners. They were ably backed up by Aaron Betts, Dougie Berwick, Dean Riva & Derek Oliver who were 21-7 victors and Andy Jeffrey, Lessel Middler, Stuart Thomson & Joe Mower who won 20-11. The only loss was suffered by the rink of Lewis Betts, Kevin Cunningham, Steven Morgan & Jamie Higgins by 10-21 to an inspired skipping performance. In the last sixteen the gents face West of Scotland which does not take place until Saturday 2nd March.
County young gun Megan Kivlin was in Belfast last weekend with the Scotland Under 25 ladies team for the international series. The team opened up by inflicting heavy defeats on Ireland and Wales with all rinks winning to set up a decider against England. The English were in top form on the day though and never looked in danger as they ran out 96-66 winners. There was a positive for Megan together with her rink of Lauren Roddie (Stonehaven), Dawn Anderson (Auchinleck) and skip Gemma Forrester from Abbeyview as they won all of their games, defeating Ireland 23-11, Wales 27-12 and England 26-16 to be one of only two rinks to win all three individual games.
These week it’s the turn of the gents Junior Internationals which take place in Aberdeen and sees Joe Mower and Dean Riva as part of the squad looking to bounce back from last year’s disappointing series and reclaim the title.
The Ladies of the Alex Marshall Arena also progressed in the Scottish Cup last weekend with an excellent 8-0 win over neighbours Midlothian to progress to the first round proper where they will face Abbeyview at Bainfield this Saturday and the following team has been selected:
M Kivlin, K Hoggan, D Hoggan & Y Veitch (Skip)
M Penman, B Riva, M Thomson & J Fairnie
M Murray, G Mackintosh, E Logan & L Baillie-Whyte
Our Seniors travelled to Midlothian last week to face Abbeyview in the first round proper of the Scottish Cup. As always these games are very tight and this was no different as going into the last end the Garden County Auld Yins had one rink up, two narrowly down and the fourth rink was peels. It was now down to how the last end on each rink faired to decide the winners. The rink of Willie Wood MBE who was one down were lying four shots with one bowl to play, however, the opposition skip made second shot for a peel. The rink of Tommy Young who was 11-14 down and could only manage a two to lose out by one shot. It was now down to Andy Burt’s rink who were level playing their last end to secure a victory for East Lothian as Dougie Berwick’s rink had won their game comfortably. The East Lothian rink lay two shots with two bowls to play until the Abbeyview skip made the shot with his last bowl and when Andy failed to draw the shot it meant the match ended in a 5-5 draw and an extra end was required. Unfortunately for East Lothian they lost the shot on three rinks and exited from the competition.
While this game was going on at Midlothian the Jock Brodie Seniors Challenge Trophy, sponsored by N T Craig, Tom Young Plumbing & Electrical Services and Colin Glen Roofing was continuing at Meadowmill. East Lothian were involved and their opponents were Tweedbank. All three rinks were very tight, however, the end result was a 7-1 victory for Tweedbank. The other game being played was between Headwell and Berwickshire and this seen Headwell run out 6-2 victors. As there was a Scottish Cup Seniors tie being played at the Alex Marshall Arena on Wednesday there was no Jock Brodie game on.
The Youths are in Top Ten action at home against Ardrossan this Sunday at 11am with the following team selected:
Singles: Aaron Betts
Pairs: Melissa Penman & Lewis Betts
Triples: Callum Henderson, Cameron Pryde & Danny Stevenson
Fours: Luke Cowan, Lennon Rafferty, Beth Riva & Kieran Dodds
Later in the day there are the pairs and triples qualifiers for the SYIBA finals when recently crowned East of Scotland champions Melissa Penman and Lewis Betts take part in the pairs with Kieran Dodds, Aaron Betts and Danny Stevenson in the triples.
Gifford Bowling & Sports Club members should take note that their AGM takes place on 24th February at 2pm.
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