The Lothian challenge is five strong in the finals of the Scottish Championships being played over this weekend at Coatbridge IBC with Midlothian numerically leading the way with representation in the Gents Pairs, Ladies Fours, and Under 21 Singles.
Read MoreColin Walker skips Billy Peacock in the Pairs and the line up in the Fours is Susan Liddle, Alison Plenderleith, Sandra McLeish, and Stacey McDougall while opportunity knocks for Paul Innes in the Under 21 Singles. Walker completed the course in 2014 to skip Ronnie Duncan to the title in while the extra motivation of Peacock is to emulate the triumphs of his younger brother David in 2004 and 2005.
The Midlothian partnership open against Derek Murray and Raymond Clark of Fraserburgh in their semi final while its Craig Lainday and Paul Foster MBE of Prestwick against Stuart Pagan and Paul Brown of Abbeyview in the other.
Stacey McDougall skipped a title winning rink that included Alison Plenderleith in 2014 and the Commonwealth Games bound star would view a national title Gold Coast send off as a great morale booster. McDougall and Co open against Blantyre while East Fife face Elgin in the other semi final. Paul Innes steps into the national arena to face Darren Weir of Prestwick while Connor Robertson (Abbeyview) and Blane Notmaan (East Kilbride) are the other challengers.
East Lothian compete in the Gents Fours and expectations in Garden County circles are understandably high that their super strong internationalist quartet of Jamie Higgins, Joe Mower, Scott Kennedy, and Derek Oliver can deliver title-winning performances. Oliver who heads to the dizzy heights of the Gold Coast soon skips his rink against a home based Coatbridge opposition while Galleon face Dundee.
Last but not least is the challenge in the Ladies Pairs from Sharon Leitch and Lorraine Craig of Balbardie IBC and given the stars from the Bathgate based club have captured the coveted crown on two previous occasions celebrating a third is an ambition driver. Balabrdie open against Rosie wood and Catherine McIntosh of Stonehaven while Galleon and Whiteinch fight out the other semi final.
Heartbreak Hotel housed a disappointed East Lothian ladies team that had made an encouraging start in their opportunity to capture the Premier League Crown at their first time of asking; but ended up losing by 18 shots (89-71) to Glasgow. We have no complaints as on the day the best team won but I am super proud of all my players for a truly fantastic campaign, reflected team manager Gordon Pryde. The rink results were; Lauren Baillie 20 June Marshall 19; Emma Logan 15 Natalie Docherty 18; Janet Fairnie 19 Lorna Cameron 23; Dee Hoggan 17 Betty Eastop 29.
Play in the First Round Proper of the Gents Scottish Cup saw wins for Bainfield (6-4) against Glasgow; West Lothian (8-2) against Tweedbank; East Lothian (8-2) against Forfar; and Midlothian (7-3) against Dundee. Balbardie crashed out to a 10-0 defeat from Falkirk.
Bowls Scotland have announced Midlothian icon figure David Peacock and Paul Foster MBE of Ayrshire as team managers for the 2018 Home International Campaign and they will be assisted by Scott Kennedy (East Lothian), Robert Grant, and Andy Meekison. This news follows hard on the heels of Bowls Scotland breaking the news that Jock Halliday the long serving District Secretary of Midlothian will team manage the national challenge in the British Isles Championships and be joined by Betty Aitken of Lanarkshire for the Ladies.