B J Smith will soon be hunting title success parading his skills on the now in swing outdoor season with Edinburgh club Hillside and the veteran star has just topped up his self confidence meter by signing off his indoor campaigns as The Seniors Singles Champion of East Lothian IBC.
Read MoreSmith lined up against slight favourite Lessel Middler in the battle for the Seniors Crown at The Alex Marshall Arena and a high octane performance from both players saw a 14-14 deadlock develop into an explosive climax that ended in a 21-17 triumph for the underdog. The finely balanced scales looked likely to swing in Middlers favour with a good hold of three shots bringing his opponent under severe pressure but Smith answered that menace with a brilliant pick up of the jack that earned him a two shot conversion and the lead at 16-14. It was a game-changing moment in the battle for supremacy and although the melting pot situation continued to sizzle the Smith dander was now up and he went on to clinch the title after a highly entertaining 29-end marathon. “This is my first reign as the Seniors Singles Champion of East Lothian and as I started my bowls career many many moons ago as a member of Macmerry I am absolutely thrilled at getting my name etched in gilt on the honours board at The Alex Marshall Arena”. “Lessel was also bidding for a first title triumph in this event and having lost out in last years final you have to feel for him especially as it was cracking game that could have gone either way and being a current premier league stalwart the formbook was in his favour”, added Smith.
The final of the ladies Under 25 Singles pitched 13-year old rising star Beth Riva against Junior internationalist Kim Hoggan and it was the more experienced player that prevailed having kicked on from 8-7 to win 21-9 in 17-ends.
A spectacular climax to the Youths Singles final saw holder Lewis Betts just hang on from 19-7 up to beat Dean Riva, brother of Beth, 21-16 in what turned into a 24-end thriller.
Anne Barclay held all the aces in the final of ladies Seniors Singles and turned up trumps at the 21-8 expense of Rosemary Mackintosh having cashed in on a blitz start to lead 11-0.
The Mackintosh clan was also in action bidding for the National qualifying 4Bowl Pairs title and it was a joyous occasion for them with Scott skipping his son Dean, brother of Lewis, to a 22-14 win over S Clark and M Greenan.
The final of the 2Bowl Pairs had a thrilling climax with Willie Wood MBE conjuring up a magic count of 3 to skip Mark Johnston to a 5-4 win in the tie-breaking third set to beat Calum Darling and Jamie Gordon.