The indoor senior side got their league campaign in the East B section of the Scottish Senior Leagues of to a winning start last Wednesday at home to Teviotdale. The game started slowly with Teviotdale just edging proceedings over the first few ends, however, the game turned gradually in the home teams favour and after 10 ends they held a lead of 13 shots and from then on East Lothian never looked in doubt and finished 69-42 victors. There were wins for Willie Wood MBE (+14), Alastair Russell (+8) and Tommy Young (+4) whilst Dougie Berwick lost narrowly by 2 shots. The team travelled to West Lothian on Wednesday where a tough encounter was expected. The following team was selected: Lessel Middler, Davie Pryde, Gordon Gray & Dougie Berwick (Skip) B J Smith, Peter Fallen, Brian Bisset & Tommy Young (Skip & Captain) Billy Higgins, Ali McKenna, David McGill & Willie Wood MBE (Skip) Jim Neilson, Ronnie Douglas, Andy Burt & Alastair Russell (Skip) Reserves: Willie Gillies, Jim McLeod, Ross Maguire & J P Hamilton
The ladies side get their national league campaign underway this Saturday (October 6) with a challenging away clash at local rivals Midlothian. The ladies league format has changed this year with only three rinks now playing. The following team has been selected by Convenor Gordon Pryde as the ladies aim to back-up the progress they made last year: Margaret Murray, Kim Hoggan, Megan Kivlin & Dee Hogan (Skip) Melissa Penman, Pat Turner, Mags Thomson & Janet Fairnie (Skip) Jacky McFarlane, Arlene Berwick, Gillian Mackintosh & Lauren Baillie (Skip) Reserves: Beth Riva & Jean Russell
The gents side enter the fray on Saturday October 14 and face an away test at Dunfermline based Abbeyview although Club Champion Billy Mellors is in National Singles action this weekend. The 2015 National Champion faces a tough opener against the host club of Ardrossan’s Steven Burns at 2pm on Saturday. Should he win he will return on the Sunday for two games to make the semi final.
The Indoor Bowling Club is now fully open with the Top Four tournament as well as the Morning, Afternoon and Evening leagues all well underway. All members are reminded that that all annual membership fees were to be paid by Monday 1st October. Anyone playing after that date, having not paid their membership, will automatically forfeit that game no matter what format.
Meanwhile the highly acclaimed youth coaching set-up at East Lothian IBC is up and running once more on Fridays from 2pm-4pm with coaching from ages 7-17 run by junior internationalist Megan Kivlin. On Saturdays from 8am-10am there will be intermediate coaching for youths who are more developed and hope to play for the youth county side and progress their bowling skills.
All those wishing to take part in the popular Hat Games at the club are reminded that these take place every Monday at 10am, Tuesday at 2pm and Saturday at 12 noon. These Hat Games are open to both members and non-members and would be an excellent introduction to the game for new bowlers or outdoor players wanting to sample the indoor game.
Meanwhile it was a successful venture for East Lothian IBC committee, players and partners who descended on Glasgow IBC last Saturday evening for the prestigious SIBA Annual Awards Night 2018. The club collected the Scottish Indoor Club of the Year award (see picture) while the Scotland Under 18 Team managed by Scott Kennedy and including Megan Kivlin and Craig Mackintosh walked away with the Team of the Year following their success in the British Isles Under 18 International Series last year.
The Scotland Under 18 team travel to Newport next weekend to defend the title and are again managed by Scott Kennedy. This year the team has three East Lothian players included in the shape of Lewis Betts, Danny Stevenson and Robbie Shields.
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