Edinburgh is celebrating the capture of a coveted national trophy in the climax to the Bowls Scotland Championships at Ayr Northfield with the Carrick Knowe rink of Graham Pringle, John Priestley, Stephen Pringle, and skip James Hogg being hailed Champions of Scotland in the Gents Fours.
Read MoreAnd the feel good factor is also embracing West Lothian with the Sisters Act of Delia Flannigan and Angela Uttley from the Glenmavis club in Bathgate etching their name on the Ladies Pairs Trophy for a second time.
The Glenmavis triumph over Cockenzie & Port Seton in the final brought major disappointment to the East Lothian camp with the top notch sister duo of Leanne and Lauren Baillie denied what would have been a glorious fifth title celebration.
The exit of Tanfield star Liam McKay in the semi finals of the Gents Junior Singles dampened the rising spirits of an enthusiastic Edinburgh support and avoiding a negative mood swing was further challenged by the defeat of Craigentinny in the Gents Pairs and Wardie in the Gents Triples.
West Lothian travellers to the final days play at the championships also had to contend with a semi final setback with the Linlithgow Ladies Four skipped by former World No1 Lorna Smith losing to near neighbours Carron & Carronshore.
James Hogg lined up in the final of the gents Fours bidding to add to his previous Scottish title wins in the Pairs (2008) and Fours (2011) and the 42 year old internationalist notched up his treble with a 19-8 win over Dumfries club Marchmount. The early signs were worrying for Carrick Knowe with the Edinburgh challengers trailing 8-3 after seven ends. We failed to cope with the wet and windy conditions and were all over the place on these opening ends but a serious chinwag with Graham (lead) determined the urgency of adapting to the conditions and raising our game, described second player John Priestley.
Picture courtesy of Trevor Robinson photography
And the feel good factor is also embracing West Lothian with the Sisters Act of Delia Flannigan and Angela Uttley from the Glenmavis club in Bathgate etching their name on the Ladies Pairs Trophy for a second time.
The Glenmavis triumph over Cockenzie & Port Seton in the final brought major disappointment to the East Lothian camp with the top notch sister duo of Leanne and Lauren Baillie denied what would have been a glorious fifth title celebration.
The exit of Tanfield star Liam McKay in the semi finals of the Gents Junior Singles dampened the rising spirits of an enthusiastic Edinburgh support and avoiding a negative mood swing was further challenged by the defeat of Craigentinny in the Gents Pairs and Wardie in the Gents Triples.
West Lothian travellers to the final days play at the championships also had to contend with a semi final setback with the Linlithgow Ladies Four skipped by former World No1 Lorna Smith losing to near neighbours Carron & Carronshore.
James Hogg lined up in the final of the gents Fours bidding to add to his previous Scottish title wins in the Pairs (2008) and Fours (2011) and the 42 year old internationalist notched up his treble with a 19-8 win over Dumfries club Marchmount. The early signs were worrying for Carrick Knowe with the Edinburgh challengers trailing 8-3 after seven ends. We failed to cope with the wet and windy conditions and were all over the place on these opening ends but a serious chinwag with Graham (lead) determined the urgency of adapting to the conditions and raising our game, described second player John Priestley. The intense sharpening of focus led to a double on end 8 then with 54year old Pringle opting for a shorter mat, and electing to change his choice of hands, the change of tactic paid the huge dividend of a 4 to cross 9-8.
The intense sharpening of focus led to a double on end 8 then with 54year old Pringle opting for a shorter mat, and electing to change his choice of hands, the change of tactic paid the huge dividend of a 4 to cross 9-8. t was back to game on and what looked to us like a surprising dip in the opposition play allowed us to get on top of them with an extended run of 2, 1, 1, 3 to occupy the driving seat at 16-8 after 13 ends reflected Priestley.
End 14 produced the most brilliant bowl of the final and it was delivered by 24-year old Stephen Pringle who broke the hearts of the opposition with a perfectly judged chap and lie for a first shot that made it onto the card. Marchmount had threatened with a hold of 3, and perhaps more to be added, in the build up but Pringles crisp conversion in difficult conditions killed that menace then two more singles triggered the title winning salute. We are describing Stephens moment of genius as our British Isles bowl as in our eyes it clinched our place in next seasons Home Championships, said Priestley.
Representing the Scotland Banner in 2019 certainly puts the cherry on our cake and it give me the chance to make it third time lucky added Hogg.
Winning a national title was an extra special occasion for father and son Graham and Stephen Pringle with Graham saying, It was a dream come true when I won the Fours with James in 2011 but it is an even more fantastic moment to treasure when your son is a member of the rink and sharing the glory and memory of it with you. Stephen chipped in with Its the icing on the cake to win my first national title playing with my dad and I am grateful that my rink mates kept my spirits up after me losing out in the second round of the junior singles. The morning semi final play saw Carrick Knowe cross from 0-6 to 14- 6 then defeat Border champions Gordon, 18-10.
Winning a Scottish title on the day of your 59th birthday creates an extra special moment but former cap Angie Uttley took it all in her stride not so however her younger sister Delia who was overcome by emotion and broke down in tears I felt such an idiot in front of that big crowd but they had started singing Happy Birthday Angie.
The final of the Ladies pairs featuring two sets of sister started in spectacular fashion and the good news side of it saw the West Lothian support wildly cheering the count of a magnificent 7 for Glenmavis.
The extent of the flying start was unexpected against formidable opposition but it allowed us to both settle and press on to build a 10-1 lead however Leanne and Lauren (Baillie) are a class act and battled back to bring us under pressure at 11-11, described Uttley. Glenmavis put the brake on their slide with a single to 12-11 then showed they had weathered the storm by adding 1, 2, 4 to clinch a 19-11 victory. The semi final play saw Glenmavis crush Cardonald, 35-3, while Cockenzie & Port Seton beat Oban, 18-12. We won this title in 2007 and went on to become British Isles Champions so this victory gives us a dream to hold on to, said Uttley 
Picture courtesy of Trevor Robinson photography
Uttley a record six times a row finalist and four times champion of The Edinburgh Open at Balgreen was piped 21-20 by Lorna Smith for the national singles title in 2012; but crowned Seniors Singles Champion last year.
Spare a thought for Dawn Anderson of the Newton Park club based in Ayr Northfield who reached the final of both the Junior Singles and Singles: she led 18-15 in the Singles but conceded 4, 1, 1 to loose to Laura Welsh of Baillieston.
Then playing the re-arranged Junior Singles final in isolation and driving rain led Rachael Sinclair of Kingswood, 18-13 then 20-18 but lost 21-20.
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