Dream Time enters its moment of truth at Ayr Northfield this week with Champions from the 32 Bowling Districts nationwide fired up by lifetime ambition to capture the Scottish title glory in which ever of the eight disciplines the are competing in
Read MoreSingles is the holy-grail crown that inspires the imagination of both player and spectator and it is 10 years back (2006) since Billy Mellors, under the banner of Goldenacre, triggered an eruption of rapturous applause from the capital city faithful.
Edinburgh is represent by twin banners set to carried this year by David Fisher of Colinton and District 15 and Martin Lewis of Brunstane and District 14. Fisher is the chief hope to create waves of excitement within the travelling support judged on profile as the stalwart figure of the E&L Hamilton Trophy team is a former District Singles champion and has experience of the challenges presented by national stage demands. Lewis, a former club champion at Portobello and now Brunstane, emerged a dark horse winner of District 14; but impressed with his mental strength qualities in producing exciting escape from jails against Colin Bell of Hillside and, in the final, Scott Rogers of Craigentinny.
The wider landscape of Edinburgh and The Lothian’s is dominated by the presence of East Lothian star Derek Oliver with the high profile Scotland Cap from Cockenzie & Port Seton deserving to be considered a front-rank contender.
Peter Lynch of Whitburn and West Lothian is also a player of proven Singles ability but has flirted in and out of the sport with his proudest claim being his 2003 capture of the WL Masters title. Lynch is a product of the sadly now defunct Fauldhouse camp that saw his pals Willie Francis lose the 2000 Singles final to John McCrorie of Tranent, while Sandy McDougall captured the 2009 Pairs title at the last bowl expense of Tanfield.
Gary Robertson doesn’t enjoy a high profile outside of Midlothian but the Gilmerton star arrives at Ayr with the scalp of Elite Scotland squad ace Colin Walker, in the District Final, and with that formline he needs fear no one. The 32 strong field at large isn’t overly dominated by high profile national figures suggesting that the battle for the 2016 title is wide open – all of course have produced something special to earn their place in the line up.
The battle for the Junior Singles Crown includes two leading lights from the Edinburgh camp in the shape of Tanfield’s Liam McKay and Stephen Pringle of Carrick Knowe both of who are richer and wiser from their 2015 campaign in the same event.
The wider Lothian area is also represented by talented emerging stars in the shape of Gordon White of Aberlady, Mark Yuill of Deantown, and Calum Black of Uphall Station. John Fleming Jnr of Port Glasgow has carved out a growing national reputation for himself and is the headline name in the event.
East Lothian have their glorious 2015 National Pairs champions back in the limelight so Jim Bonner and his son-in-law Brian Young will capture the opening spotlight however the Edinburgh focus will be on the Pilrig partnership of Graeme Gow and Darren McKenny, and Graham Pringle and 2008 champion James Hogg of Carrick Knowe.
Midlothian have elite squad star Ronnie Duncan of Bonnyrigg forming a strong partnership with John Stevenson; while Jack Murphy leads to his father Alan for Bellsburn and West Lothian.
A feature of the Triples is the challenge from the Slateford trio comprising the hugely talented and intensely competitive Ramsay brothers in the shape of Ronnie, Andrew, and Gordon.
Queensberry is double-handed with the prominent EBL Division 1 club fielding Scott Walker, Frank O’Reilly, and John Kidd in the Triples while Brian Pollard skips Ryan Gardner, Jamie Anderson, and Grant Ramsay in the Fours.
The eye-catching representation in the Seniors Fours is Midlothian’s triumphant 2015 Kirkhill rink skipped by Andy Wilton back defending their national crown while Gordon Scott of Armadale has solid claims for West Lothian in the Singles. SCHEDULE. Singles: Fri – Sat – Sun J/Singles: Fri – Sat – Sun Pairs : Thur –Sat – Sun Triples: Fri – Sat – Sun Fours: Thur – Fri –Sat – Sun Sen Singles: Tue – Wed – Thur Sen Fours: Tue – Wed – Thur Mixed Pairs : Tue – Wed – Thur.
DISTRICT – SINGLES 13 Peter Lynch – Whitburn 14 Martin Lewis -Brunstane 15 David Fisher – Colinton 16 Gary Robertson -Gilmerton 17 Derek Oliver – Cockenzie & Port Seton
DISTRICT – JUNIOR SINGLES 13 Calum Black – Uphall Station 14 Liam McKay – Tanfield 15 Stephen Pringle – Carrick Knowe 16 Mark Yuill – Deantown
17 Gordon White – Aberlady
DISTRICT – PAIRS 13 Bellsburn – Jack Murphy & Alan Murphy 14 Pilrig – Graeme Gow & Darren Mckenny 15 Carrick Knowe – Graham Pringle & James Hogg
16 Bonnyrigg – John Stevenson & Ronnie Duncan 17 Tranent – Jim Bonner & Brian Young
DISTRICT – TRIPLES 13 Queensferry – Gary Grant, Neil McLean & Iain McLean 14 Queensberry – Scott Walker, Frank O’Reilly & John Kidd 15 Slateford – Ronnie Ramsay, Andrew Ramsay & Gordon Ramsay 16 Easthouses – Roy Borthwick, Graham Mitchell & Robert bruce 17 East Lothian Co-op – Craig Cochrane, Duncan Hogg & Gordon Pryde
DISTRICT – FOURS 13 Blackburn – William Clark, John Graham, Thomas Lee & George Reynolds 14 Queensberry – Ryan Gardner, Jamie Anderson, Gavin Ramsay & Brian Pollard 15 Carrick Knowe – Andy Beith, Keith Elder, Kevin Tennant & Darren Hush 16 Bonnyrigg – Daryl Dalgleish, Andrew Robertson, Scott Lees & Jamie Hanlan 17 Cockenzie & Port Seton – Tommy Thomson, Gordon Baillie, Steven Thomson 7 Craig Valentine
DISTRICT – SENIORS SINGLES 13 Gordon Scott – Armadale 14 Gordon Taylor – Willowbrae 15 Robert Manson – Mayfield 16 George Yuill – Easthouses
17 David Arnot – East Lothian Co-op
DISTRICT – SENIORS FOURS 13 Bathgate – Graham Campbell, Alex Aitchison, John Lynas & Ian Drysdale 14 Willowbrae – Ian Paterson, Bert Munro, Peter Craig & Iain Pryde 15 Sighthill – John Houser, David Ferguson, David Connelly & Adam Melrose 16 Kirkhill – Alistair Robb, Jim Watson, Sam Wilkie & Andy Wilton 17 Dunbar – John McKellar, Tom Morrison, Jim Murray & Bobby Brunton
DISTRCT – MIXED PAIRS 13 Bathgate – Ally Blagg & Bryan Cooper 14 London Road Foundry – Gillian Mackintosh & Scott Mackintosh 15 Sighthill – Hilda Melrose & Adam Melrose 16 Musselburgh Municipal – Elizabeth Greenwood & Robert Halley 17 Tranent – Dee Hoggan & John McCrorie