For the first time since 2014 there was no national title glory for East Lothian bowlers at last week’s Bowls Scotland National Championships played at the well-attended Ayr Northfield Complex, however, there was silver and bronze medal linings for the garden county in the Ladies Pairs and Mixed Pairs events.
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Talented Leanne and Lauren Baillie of Cockenzie & Port Seton made a fantastic bid for their fifth title crown in the Ladies Pairs but agonisingly fell at the final hurdle when losing to Delia Flannigan and Angela Uttley from the Glenmavis club in Bathgate as they etched their name on the trophy for a second time. The final featuring two sets of sisters started in spectacular fashion and with the Glenmavis support cheering the count of a magnificent 7 for their team. 
The Baillie sisters are a class act and battled back brilliantly to bring their opposition under severe pressure at 11-11 but the Glenmavis pairing put the brake on their slide with a single to 12-11, then showed they had weathered the storm by adding 1, 2, 4 to clinch a 19-11 victory. The Castlepark duo of Margaret Thomson and Jamie Frame picked up a well-deserved bronze medal as beaten semi-finalists in the Mixed Pairs. The East Lothian champions were knocked out by Carla and Colin Bank of Inverurie who then went on to capture the title. The strong East Lothian expectations of staging serious attacks to capture the Gents and Ladies Singles ended in bitter disappointment. Billy Mellors of Haddington, last years finalist and 2006 champion, was a first round casualty crashing to a 21-12 defeat at the hands of Mark O’Hagan of Whitfield who then went on to claim the Holy Grail crown. In the Ladies Megan Kivlin of EL-Coop made it through to the third round before exiting to a 21-8 defeat from Dawn Anderson. A heartbreak outcome for Kieran Dodds (subbing for the unavailable Sean Mackie) of EL-Coop saw his 21-17 win over Joe Condy of Chirnside followed by a frustrating collapse from 20-14 up to a 21-20 defeat from Robert Lenza of Thornhill in the third round of the gent’s junior singles. 2016 champion Megan Kivlin of EL-Coop failed in her attempt to reclaim the ladies junior singles crown losing 21-10 to Dawn Anderson of Newton Park in the third round. The Macmerry trio of Paul Mair, Kenny Donaldson and Billy Cormack produced two sparkling performances to reach the quarter-finals of the gent’s triples before losing 15-9 to Ayr Seafield. The Dunbar duo if Steven Anderson and Kern Gallagher reached the second round of the gent’s pairs but then lost 22-7 to Stranraer while in the gent’s fours the East Linton rink of Keith Hamilton, Calum Blair, Keith Fender and Grant Fender made a disappointing first round exit losing 16-12 to Montrose. Billy Dunleavey of Aberlady made a disappointing second round exit in the senior singles after losing 21-19 to eventual winner Ian Garloch of Garioch. In the rest of the ladies events Janet Fairnie of Castlepark made it through to the third round of the senior singles before losing to Celia Smith of Buckhaven 21-11. The Gifford trio of Eleanor Bisset, Beth Riva and Morag Wood won on opening round thriller in the triples against Kilsyth 14-13 but then fell away in round two losing 17-10 against Leven. The Cockenzie & Port Seton rink of Ella Gorman, Riva Campbell, Essa Scott and Beth McDonald opened with a 17-16 win over Rothienorman in the Fours but then suffered a 27-6 thumping against Carronshore. Caroline Duncan, Eileen Young, Cathy Murray and Ann McDonald of Dunbar made it through to the second round of the senior Fours before losing 12-8 against Bothwell.
The all conquering East Lothian senior brigade continued to be on song in their bid to capture the Inter County Senior League Cup for the coveted Matt Purdie Trophy for a third time and in match aggregate terms were always calling the tune in a hard fought 8 shot victory (75-67) over West Fife in their latest qualifying fixture at EL-Coop BC in Tranent. Winning performances on the rinks skipped by Andy Burt (+15) and Alan Morgan (+3) kept East Lothian in the driving seat and covered the setbacks suffered by Alastair Russell (-8), Tom Young (-1) and George Cowan (-1). “I was pleased that the team showed a strong focus on the opening ends that was rewarded by an encouraging lead and although never quite reaching a comfort zone we always played with an air of being in command”, reflected team convenor Tom Young. The side hope to extend their unbeaten run to five games on Monday when they tackle local rivals Midlothian at Musselburgh BC. Team convenor Tom Young brings back Bobby Scott (Macmerry) and Kenny Glen (Elphinstone) to the exclusion of Jim Murray and Kenny Morgan and also makes a couple of positional changes involving Peter Fallen and Ian James. The slightly recast team reads: – K.Boyd (ELCO), D.Hogg (ELCO), A.Valentine (ELCO), T.Young (Dun) skip G.McLeod (Aber), P.Fallen (Elph), D.Kennedy (W/B), G.Cowan (E/L) skip I.James (ELCO), K.Glen (Elph), J.Bonner (ELCO), A.Morgan (C&PS) skip B.Brunton (Dun), A.Jamieson (C&PS), G.Smith (ELCO), A.Burt (Hadd) skip B.Scott (Mac), J.Smith (ELLC), D.Arnott (ELCO), A.Russell (Tra) Reserves: J.P.Hamilton (W/B), J.Murray (Dun), K.Morgan (C&PS), D.Pryde (Mac)
Any player selected who is unable to play is requested to contact team convenor Tom Young immediately on 07759 435750. All players, including named reserves, to report at Musselburgh BC for 11.15am.
The action in the East Coast Carpets sponsored East Lothian Leagues got back on track on Wednesday night with a full round of midweek fixtures in all four divisions and it continues Friday night as the campaign enters the crucial home straight. In Division 1 EL-Coop well be hoping to use home green advantage to good effect when they host relegation threatened Haddington A. Fellow title contenders Haddington are also at home when they entertain Elphinstone while Cockenzie & Port Seton faces a tough away assignment at Tranent. Elsewhere Castlepark welcome Dunbar while it’s probably a must win fixture for basement struggler’s West Barns at East Linton. All clubs are reminded that the remaining league fixtures must commence at the earlier start time of 6.30pm.
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.
Cockenzie & Port Seton focus on recapturing the Jubilee Cup (Top 10) has sharpened with the defending champions through to the semi-final stage of the most prestigious knockout cup event of the ELBA. Monday night’s quarter-final challenge against Aberlady was a testing one with heavy rain making playing conditions tricky but they demonstrated their supremacy to record an 8-0 point’s win. Current Division 1 leaders EL-Coop also progressed with a hard-fought win over Division 2 challengers Macmerry while Elphinstone beat West Barns and Tranent defeated East Linton. The semi-final line up reads EL-Coop v Elphinstone and Port Seton v Tranent.
Draw for Tranent Bowling Club Simon Blyth Memorial Fours tournament, sponsored by Medical Professional, at Polson Park on Saturday.
10am W.Auld, P.Watson, G.Duncan, C.Blyth, G.Blyth, M.Martin, S.Whitson, S.Hazzard.
11am C.Glen, G.Findlay, K.Jones, Tranent Belters, Lauren Blyth, A.Reid, Lynn Blyth, R.Branley
Turning attention to the fast approaching indoor season and officials at East Lothian IBC are requesting that any existing or new teams wishing to enter the leagues that haven’t already done so should contact them via the club website (www.elibc.co.uk) or Facebook page by no later than 31st August. Anyone requiring further information should email development@bowlseastlothian.uk
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