Friday’s finals night at Midlothian IBC has a major crowd puller with members and friends certain to flock to The Dalkeith Stadium to witness the ‘top of the bill’ confrontation between David Peacock and Colin Walker in the Gents Singles
Read MoreBoth are world stage figures of sound reputation and a repeat of last years final finds Peacock bidding for back to back triumphs that if successful etches his name on the Championship honours board for a ninth time. Peacock – a gold medal hero of Commonwealth and World championships on the outdoor scene – captured the Scottish indoor crown back in 1996 and 20 years on remains ambitious to qualify and have another tilt at national singles glory.
Walker is also fired up by the chance of making in into next seasons national singles line up having a score to settle in his memories of making in into two finals; but losing them both in frustrating circumstances. Walker is a six times champion of the Dalkeith Stadium and to set up the chance of celebrating a magnificent seventh he played brilliantly in his semi final to lead 15-5 and beat his premier league team captain Ian Forbes, 19-10. Peacock retains a sharp edge to his domestic form in particular and proved it in his semi final where under pressure at 15-14 down he produced a grandstand run of 1, 3, 1, to clinch a 19-16 win over two times champion Ronnie Duncan.
Rivalling the gents Singles for the prospect of delivering a special encounter of the thrilling kind is the final of the ladies Singles with Scotland caps Sandra McLeish and Stacey Laidlaw going head to head.
McLeish is a veteran of six championship crowns and paved the way for a tilt at making it sevent with a semi final walk over due to the ill-health of legendary 10 times champion Jeanette Conlan. McDougall put her name up in lights as the Scottish Junior Singles Champion of 2015 and having edged a 21-19 thriller over defending champion Gaynor Duncan in her semi final is now bidding for a second title triumph at Dalkeith.
The singles finalists lined up as partners in this weeks final of the 2 Bowl Pairs and captured the title with a 2-0 sets win over Carol Muirhead and Val Gray.
McLeish has also reached the final of the Fours (down for decision tonight), The 4 Bowl Pairs, and the Triples.
Conlan is fit for tomorrow night’s final of the Seniors Singles where Scotland’s most capped player (72) faces her premier league team captain Shona Johnstone.
The final of the gents Under 25 Singles played earlier this week resulted in a 21-6 win for Jamie Macnab over Paul Innes.