East Lothian IBC gent’s junior singles champion Ewan Fallen booked his place in the field for January’s National Indoor Junior Singles gala finals weekend to be played at Paisley IBC on 23/24 January after coming through last weekend’s playdown at Abbeyview IBC in Dunfermline.
East Lothian have good history in the event with Derek Oliver (2006), and Wayne Hogg (2004 & 2005) bringing that particular silverware back to the ‘garden county’ and junior cap Fallen has the skill, experience and ambition needed to also be crowned national champion. Wins over Raymond Clark (Fraserburgh), Jamie Macnab (Midlothian), Andrew Thomson (Aberdeen), and Lee Mair of Elgin were all hard fought and earned reflecting the determination and focus of the East Lothian challenger.
The 23 year old Inhalation Technoligist opened his account with a battling 21-18 prelim round win over Clark then with game against him, survived a strong first round test by edging a 21-19 thriller over McNabb. On Sunday morning second round drama saw the garden county champion fully extended to clinch a 21-12 win over Thomson then another tip top performance, from 7-0 down, followed to score a 21-10 victory Mair, 21-10, in their quarter-final clash. “I had to produce a last bowl toucher to beat Jamie (Macnab) who was holding two shots for game with me leading 20-19 so that was huge moment for me and I hope I can take that kind of form into the final showdown in January”, said Fallen. His opposition in the semi-final comes in the shape of Turriff star Connor Milne while the other challengers for the coveted crown are Stephen Lowrie Jnr of Glasgow and Derek Ferguson of Auchinleck.
Meanwhile in the ladies playdown action, also staged at Abbeyview IBC, East Lothian looked well set to achieve a ladies and gents last four double with international star Emma Logan (nee Brown) leading 18-12 in her quarter-final encounter. But the strong challenge from Logan ended in despair when Carla Banks of Garioch battled back to clinch a 21-18 victory. Logan had earlier defeated Kimberley Dodds of Falkirk, 21-12, and Kirsty Gargan of Whiteinch, 21-6.
On the international stage East Lothian world stage star Alex Marshall MBE was part of Scotland side that lost out narrowly to auld enemy England in a test match series staged at Stanley IBC in County Durham last weekend.
The ladies side from East Lothian IBC mission to win Division 1C of the Scottish Ladies League continues to gain momentum with the confident garden county side making two wins in a row with an impressive 98-57 away win over Tweedbank last Saturday.
East Lothian gained supremacy on all four rinks skipped by Emma Logan, Yvonne Veitch, Lauren Baillie and Margaret Thomson with the major contribution being a 31-9 success for Margaret Murray, Jean Russell, Alicia Irvine and Logan over Laura Upton. The win leaves them top of the division on shot margin ahead of chief rivals Bainfield and West Lothian. The side is back in action tomorrow (Saturday) and will home environment advantage against West Lothian. Icon figure Janet Fairnie returns to a line-up which reads:- D.Rowan, P.Turner, N.McNeil, Y.Veitch skip M.Murray, J.Russell, A.Irvine, E.Logan skip M.Kivlin, M.Hamilton, M.Thomson, J.Fairnie skipA.Barclay, I.Combe, G.Mackintosh, L.Baillie skip
The talented senior side slipped up in their opening match of the campaign but have bounced back in grand style to make it three wins in a row with their latest 92-46 triumph over Tweedbank at the Alex Marshall Arena last Wednesday shooting them to the top of the East B section in the Scottish Senior League. Wins on the rinks skipped by Alistair Russell, Peter Laidlaw and Willie Wood MBE made it a runaway affair albeit the Border visitors inflicted a five shot defeat on Tom Young. Russell emerged the high flyer as he skipped Kenny Morgan, BJ Smith, and Ronnie Douglas to a 29-4 victory that was supported by a 22-6 win for Laidlaw and a 23-13 triumph for Wood while Young lost 23-18. The side was back in action on Wednesday when they made the trip to Livingston to tackle West Lothian IBC. Meanwhile the strong looking senior contingent of Lessel Middler, Jim Robertson, Peter Laidlaw and Tom Young are in national senior fours action on Sunday at Bainfield IBC and face Alloa in the opening round at 10am.
The gent’s side will hope to bounce back from their last game defeat but face a tough assignment when they make the long trip north to tackle Aberdeen. Internationalist Graham Robertson makes his seasonal debut and slots into his regular position at third in Derek Oliver’s rink. Former Midlothian player Martin Wyllie will make his first appearance in an East Lothian shirt and he will play lead in the rink skipped by captain Scott Kennedy. Lessel Middler and Andy Burt are the players sidelined. The team reads:- M.Wyllie, G.Blair, J.Higgins, S.Kennedy skip/capt M.Johnston, S.W.Thomson, G.Robertson, D.Oliver skip M.Higgenbotham, J.Gordon, G.Darling, A.Marshall MBE skip J.Mower, W.W.Wood MBE, A.Jeffrey, B.Mellors skip
Due to the planned roadworks on the Forth Road Bridge this weekend Aberdeen have kindly agreed to start the game at the slightly earlier time of 1.30pm. All players and officials should report at the Alex Marshall Arena by no later than 9.15am. A number of seats are still available on the team coach for any supporters who would like to go along and support the team. Anyone interested should contact club secretary Scott Kennedy on 01875 614166.
Cockenzie & Port Seton BC stage their annual Presentation of Prizes evening on Saturday November 7th from 6.30pm. Tickets for the event are still available to members and guests priced at £8.50 (includes 2 course meal & top class live entertainment) and can be purchased by contacting President Steven Morgan on 07861 672123.