East Lothian icon figure Alex ‘Tattie’ Marshall was again on the medal podium at the 2016 World Bowls Championships in New Zealand but it was not the gold colour he had hoped for as this time he had to settle for bronze in the Gents Pairs with Paul Foster.
Read MoreThe Team Scotland dream duo took on Malaysia’s Muhammad Hizlee Abdhul Rais and Fairul Izwan Abdhul Muin, who they beat convincingly in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Final. Having only lost one of their nine qualifying matches, the Malaysian pair showed they meant business and Marshall and Foster had to show their world class in the closing stages of the match to win it 14-12. They then faced tough opposition in their next match against Aaron Wilson and Brett Wilkie of Australia and lost 17-11 bringing home the bronze medal. Cockenzie & Port Seton ace Lauren Baillie was part of a Team Scotland Ladies Four that qualified through to the knockout stage from a tough qualifying section but then met their match in the shape of Australia who ran out convincing 17-8 winners and went on to win the title. Marshall and Baillie were back in action earlier this when the qualifying action in the Gents Fours and Ladies Pairs got underway. Marshall teamed up with Paul Foster MBE, Iain McLean and Ronnie Duncan in the Fours while Baillie partnered Ladies Singles silver medallist Lesley Doig in the Pairs. The championships run until Sunday and you can catch all the latest results by visiting www.burnsidebowlingclub.com/2016WorldBowlsChampionshipContents.html
There will be a strong East Lothian IBC challenge for gents Scottish Triples title in the New Year with Scotland cap Derek Oliver and fellow garden county stars Mark Johnston and Willie Wood MBE capturing the play down honours in last weekend’s section play at Bainfield IBC. Wins over East Fife, Tweedbank and Falkirk at the Edinburgh venue sparked scenes of excited jubilation in the East Lothian camp and promoted thoughts of Oliver and his front two going onto bring national title glory in the Triples for a fifth time
The play last weekend saw the domestic champions of East Lothian IBC open with a commanding 26-7 win over East Fife on the Saturday afternoon session. On Sunday morning, the talented trio faced underdog opposition in the shape of Tweedbank in their second-round challenge and a powerful display saw Oliver and Co confirm the formbook with a convincing 20-12triumph. The section final pitched EL against Falkirk and the hard-fought battle that unfolded tested the mettle of the banner carriers of the garden county but they rose resiliently to the challenge and won the encounter, 19-10. The East Lothian triple is joined in the last four stage at Aberdeen on the weekend of March 25/26 by immediate opponents, Balbardie also Inverclyde and Garioch.
“Absolutely delighted to have made it through to the final stages and it now gives Mark (Johnston) and myself a chance of a double title success at the championships (already qualified in Fours) plus it would be extra special if we could help Willie (Wood) win another gents national title at the grand old age of 78”, said a delighted Derek Oliver.
The East Lothian banner in the ladies play down action at West Lothian IBC in Livingston was carried by Emma Logan, Margaret Thomson and Yvonne Veitch but they were sentenced to an early bath in a 21-16 first round defeat from Lanarkshire.
East Lothian IBC men’s side return to Scottish Premier Division league action on Saturday as they travel North to tackle an Aberdeen team who are thus far undefeated on home terrority. The garden county go into the battle without star figure Alex Marshall MBE but the return of Billy Mellors and Mark Johnston is major compensation. Ross Thomson is handed a recall to the line-up while Matt Osborne, Lessel Middler and Craig Mackintosh all drop to the reserve bench. The team reads: – A.Jeffrey, D.Riva, D.Berwick, S.Kennedy skip C.Darling, L.Betts, G.Blair, B.Mellors skip R.Thomson, S.Thomson, J.Higgins, D.Oliver skip M.Johnston, W.W.Wood MBE, J.Mower, G.Robertson skip/capt
After a lengthy break the ladies side also return to Scottish League action on Saturday when they host foot of the table Abbeyview at the Alex Marshall Arena. Hopes of winning the East Premier section have now gone as arch rivals Midlothian continue to dominate and have a comfortable four-point lead over second placed East Fife with the garden county a further two points adrift in third place. A second-place finish is the now realistic target for East Lothian and they get an ideal opportunity to bag a couple of points when they play an Abbeyview side who have lost all five games played. Team manager Sheena Currie has announced the following side: – M.Murray, J.Russell, M.Kivlin, E.Logan skip J.McFarlane, R.Mackintosh, N.McNeil, Y.Veitch skip M.Devine, C.Ward, I.Gray, G.Mackintosh skip B.Riva, M.Hamilton, M.Thomson, J.Fairnie skip
The senior side made it eight wins out of nine as the play in the East B section of the Scottish Senior League continued last Wednesday but the table-toppers lived very dangerously in a nail biting 54-52 away victory over Balbardie at Bathgate. The garden county ‘auld yins’ started the match very brightly and were leading all the way until the 15th end when they somehow found themselves 3 shots down on the overall master scoreboard. With one rink left on the score was tied at 52-52 but the rink skipped by Peter Laidlaw secured victory for East Lothian by carding a match winning double on the last end. Chief rivals Midlothian kept the pressure on with a battling win over Bainfield so everything was set up for an eagerly awaited top of the table clash when the two sides clashed at the Alex Marshall Arena on Wednesday.
The East Lothian contingent of Billy Mellors, Scott Kennedy, Jamie Higgins and Derek Oliver have all been named in the men’s Scottish International trial match which will be staged at Falkirk IBC on Sunday January 15. World stage icon figure Alex Marshall MBE enjoys the luxury scenario of already being pre-selected for the final line-up for the British Home International series scheduled for Belfast IBC in Nothern Ireland from Thursday 16th to Saturday 18th of March. Meanwhile in the ladies equivalent its massive congratulations to the local trio of Dee Hoggan, Yvonne Veitch and Emma Logan on being selected for the trial match that will be staged on the same day but at Glasgow IBC.
A side from East Lothian IBC are in preliminary round Scottish Mixed Team Championship action on Sunday against local rivals Midlothian at the neutral venue of Tweedbank IBC in Galashiels (2pm). Andy Burt will spearhead the garden county challenge in the all-important singles event while Pat Turner and Matt Osborne team up together in the pairs. The representatives in the triples and fours was still unknown as the finals of both qualifying tournaments were being staged tonight (Thursday).
There was to be no joy for talented youth rink of Megan Kivlin, David Young, Lewis Betts and Craig Mackintosh in the SYIBA Fours Championships at Stirling IBC as the pre-tournament favourites progressed through from their qualifying section but then lost out to eventual winners Alloa in the semi-final.
On the domestic front at East Lothian IBC, Calum Darling will be the local representative in the National Under 21 singles after winning the qualifying tournament following a 21-16 win over Joe Mower in the final.
Dean Riva will carry the local hopes in National Under 18 singles event after securing his place with a 21-15 victory over Craig Mackintosh in the final of the qualifying final. The national playdown action for both disciplines are staged at Abbeyview IBC in Dunfermline on Sunday.
You must be logged in to post a comment.