East Lothian 6/2

Dean’s semi-final was against Aaron Craig from Alloa and this was to prove a tight affair with Dean holding a narrow 8-6 lead over Arron Craig before pulling away by winning four of the next six ends to build up a 15-8 advantage. Arron wasn’t done, however, and Dean had to counter a fightback which seen him close to 14-16. Dean did counter it successfully though by claiming his place in the final four ends later with a 21-15 victory. Dean’s opponent in the final was Internationalist Darren Weir from Prestwick who was aiming for a third title in succession. It was Dean who was first out of the blocks as he counted a full house of four early on to lead 8-3 against the defending champion. Darren then lifted his game, however and scored a run of 1, 3, 3 and 3 top open up a 13-8 lead. The players then exchanged the next few ends to see the score move to 13-17. However, despite Dean’s best efforts, Darren was not to be denied and scored two doubles to win the title 21-13.

The gents are in Scottish Cup quarter final action this Saturday when they make the short trip to Bainfield to face Coatbridge. The following team has been named to keep the Garden County charge towards a title they have won a record seven times and most recently in 2016: Mark Yuill, Calum Darling, Lewis Betts & Billy Mellors, Mark Johnston, Chris Brock, Dean Riva & Derek Oliver, Ross Thomson, Danny Stevenson, Stuart Thomson & Joe Mower, Andy Jeffrey, Jamie Gordon, Steven Morgan & Scott Kennedy.

The Seniors were in Scottish Cup quarter-final action at Falkirk on Sunday as they took on East Fife. Again, as they have in previous rounds, the Auld Yins got off to a fast start and after five ends held a fifteen shot lead which they had extended to twenty nice shots after ten ends. However, in the cup shots are worth two points in addition to two points for each winning rink and while the shots margin and one rink were comfortable at this stage, three rinks were still involved in close games. By the fifteenth end the rinks of Andy Burt and Graham Robertson were losing while Willie Wood held a two shot lead meaning the tie was still in the balance despite Tommy Young’s rinks leading by eighteen. Over the last two ends Willie finished 1,2 to win 21-16, Graham scored a final end four to win 15-12 while Andy lost out 12-15. Together with Tommy’s 25-10 win the team went through to the semi-final with an 8-2 victory. The semi-final was due to take place on Wednesday at Lanarkshire where the opponents were Cumbernauld. The Seniors aim to add to their three cup wins with the most recent in 2014. The team remained unchanged and read as follows: Peter Fallen Keith Fender, Gordon Gray and Tommy Young (Captain & Skip) Lessel Middler, George Cowan, Dougie Berwick & Graham Robertson,
Brian Smith, Davie Pryde, Ali McKenna and Andy Burt, John Henderson, Alastair Russell, Billy Dunleavy and Willie Wood MBE.Reserves: John Hamilton and Ross Maguire.

At the same time on Wednesday the seniors were competing in our own Jock Brodie event against Bainfield and the following team was named: Ian James, Brian Johnston, Rob Steele &  David McGill,
Kenny Boyd, Jim McLeod, George Gray ( Captain ) & Ronnie Douglas,Duncan Hogg, Willie Franklin, Tom Rattray & George Arnot.

The youths of the club continue to have success on a national basis and last weekend following a trial match the SIBA Selectors named Aaron Betts, Kieran Dodds and Beth Riva in the ten player Scotland Under 18 team to take part in the BIIBC Under 18 International Series at Ballybrakes Community Club in Ireland in October of this year.

On Sunday there was double success in the SYIBA pairs and triples qualifiers at the Alex Marshall Arena when the pair of Beth Riva and Kieran Dodds and the triple of Callum Henderson, Lennon Rafferty and Aaron Betts both qualified for the National Finals which take place on Sunday 15th March at Bainfield.