County and EL Co-op female stars Megan Kivlin and Megan Grantham were part of the victorious Scotland ladies team in the Junior International Series at Ayr Northfield last weekend. The ladies opened up with a thirty nine shot win over Ireland before defeating the Auld Enemy by one shot thanks to the last bowl of the game.
Read MoreAt the time of writing the National Finals were three days in at Ayr Northfield. Last Sunday the Mixed Pairs got the finals underway but unfortunately Janet Fairnie and Raymond Frame of Castlepark just lost out 14-16 to Eaglesham. On Monday the Seniors and Juniors competitions began. Yvonne Veitch of EL Co-op received a walkover in the first round of the ladies senior singles and was due back on in the second round on Tuesday afternoon. Stewart Johnston (Ormiston) won his opening game in the gents version 21-6 but then unfortunately bowed out 11-21 to Huntly. James Hogg, Robert Scott, Davie Pryde & Billy Cormack (Macmerry) opened up with a win over Grangemouth in the Senior Fours before losing out 14-17 to Auchinairn in the second round. The ladies senior four of Moira Buchanan, Maureen Thomson, Audrey Podlinski & Aileen Dyer (Aberlady) started with a 13-12 win over Busby and then lost by the narrowest of margins 11-12 to Oban. In the Junior Singles Calum Darling (Haddington) had two impressive opening wins over Thomas Strachan (21-14) and Paul Innes (21-12) and was next due to face Jack Connolly in the quarter final on Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile Megan Kivlin (EL Co-op) won her opening game 21-20 and then defeated Eilidh Weir 21-12 and was also due back on the green on Tuesday afternoon for her quarter final.
On Wednesday the Pairs and Fours were due to commence in which our representatives are Stevie Kirk & Malcolm Higgenbotham (Haddington) and Kim & Dee Hoggan (Tranent) in the Pairs and the Fours of Kenny McCrorie, Davie Sands, Adam Martin & Graham Robertson (Tranent) and Kate Cowan, Moira Buchanan, Amanda Robertson & Melissa Penman (Aberlady). The Singles got underway on Thursday where we are represented by Gordon White (Aberlady) and Megan Kivlin (EL Co-op) whilst the Triples also begins with our entries of Mark Riding, Steven Cochrane & Colin Glen (Elphinstone) and Arlene Berwick, Yvonne Veitch & Megan Grantham (EL Co-op) in action. Following the finals of these events on Saturday the Youths take centre stage on Sunday were East Lothian are represented by Singles – Logan Kennedy (Cockenzie & Port Seton) sponsored by Jock Brodie, Pairs – Beth Riva & Kieran Dodds (EL Co-op) and Triples – Dylan Veitch, Robbie Bennion & Arran Porteous (Castlepark). Up to date results are available on the Bowls Scotland web pages.
In the East Coast Carpets League One last week Port Seton increased their lead at the top of the table. Whilst they were returning home from Castlepark with a hard fought 6-2 win news filtered through that nearest challengers EL Co-op had lost 8-0 at Winton while third placed Haddington had lost 6-2 at Tranent. These results see Port Seton open up a seven point lead over EL Co-op and ten points over Haddington with only four games remaining. Castlepark’s loss coupled with a 5-3 win for East Linton over Dunbar sees Castlepark drop into the relegation zone one point behind East Linton. Tranent are now five points above Castlepark and Winton are now eight points above them. The other result seen Elphinstone defeat Prestongrange 6-2 to move within a point of them in the fight for fourth place. There are no games this week due to the National Finals taking place although the league does resume next Wednesday when Port Seton will aim to maintain their grasp on the title at home to Tranent. EL Co-op and Haddington will look to bounce back from their disappointing results when they entertain East Linton and Winton respectively. There’s a crucial derby game in Prestonpans when Castlepark visit Prestongrange in a game they will feel they need to take something from while Dunbar welcome Elphinstone to the seaside.
Meanwhile there may be a unique achievement in the Jock Brodie Seniors Division One this season as East Linton lead the way in a competition they have never won before.
The East Lothian Seniors are next in action in at EL Co-op in the Matt Purdie on Monday and the team selected is as follows: JP Hamilton, R Strang, D Arnot & A Russell (Skip) K Boyd, D Hogg, D Pryde & T Young (Captain) J Murray, A Valentine, W Franklin & A Burt M Newlands, A Jamieson, P Fallen & G Cowan
G Smith, B Scott, D Whitson & K Fender Res: T Rattray, B Brunton, D Kennedy & I Veitch