Craigentinny plays host to todays climax of the Victor Paris sponsored Knockout Championships of the Edinburgh Bowling League with six titles to be captured and the colours of 11 clubs being represented.
Read MoreThe host club is the only one with two bites of the cherry with Euan Gray carrying their banner in the Junior Singles and the high profile partnership of Gordon Bold and Willie McDonald entertaining high hopes in the Pairs. Gray is bidding to follow on from the two wins of his clubmate Danny Gormley but the Craigentinny hat trick challenge is rivalled by Andrew Tregoning of Tanfield fired up to emulate the inaugural triumph of David Snodgrass in 1998.
The Craigentinny name is yet to be etched on the silverware of the Pairs and that provides strong incentive for Bold and McDonald against Graeme McAdam and Jamie Gracie of Slateford.
The clash in the Singles proper features Colin Hutchison of Goldenacre against Hillside stalwart Colin Bell Hutchison has previously basked in the limelight as champion having captured the crown in 2004.
Juniper Green bid for a first knockout title and hope are high that Bob Lawson, Jimmy Keegan, and Danny Conway can deliver it in the Triples however that will be no easy task against Fraser Milligan, Ross MacGuire, and Malcolm Weir of Whitehouse & Grange.
Sighthill are also on a first time mission and their chance of making a winning impression comes in the Fours where the rink of Scott Moodie, Luke Corbett, Ross Noble, and Scott Lyle go head to head against Mick Murray, Derek Jempson, Steven Kirkland, and Gavin Ramsay of Queensberry.
Carrick Knowe have done immensely well since joining the EBL fro The Water of Leith League with wins in the Singles, Junior Singles, Pairs, and Fours and now they attempt to add the Seniors Fours. However their rink of Rab Hush, Dennis Rose, Ian Combe, and Alan MacIntyre have contend with defending champions Leith, represented by Kenny Ettinger, Willie Gilbertson, Peter Rodger, and George Wood.
Currie proved too hot a handful for Brunstane in the final of the Penplaid Ltd sponsored Edinburgh Plate and their spiced up 6-0 points triumph over three rinks completed an impressive defence of the EBL silverware. The heroic efforts on the rinks slipped by Neil Fisher, Ian Braid, and Dean Fleming sparked the victory salute in front of an enthusiastic support in attendance at neutral venue Craigentinny. Braid laid the foundation for victory with a super solid start of 5, 1, 4 (10-0) then a later run of 1, 6, 3 fired him into an inspirational 23-5 lead after 11-ends and he skipped Paul Fleming, Bill Beatson, and Andy McCormick to a 27-15 win over Martin Lewis, Eddie Manson, Keith Young, and Jamie Gunn.
Fisher raised his match temperature with a sizzling count of 6 to skip Alex Neill, Derek Docherty, and John Anderson into a 15-6 lead after eight ends then went on to clinch a 27-11 win over Adam Lawrence, Brian Gosman, Davy Pinkney, and John Marshall. Fleming was much harder pressed in his match but rose to the challenge at 8-8 after 10-ends to skip Allan Buchan, Andy Melville, and Stewart Inglis to a 19-10 win over Dennis Ward, Alex Hay, Alan McKenzie, and Bobby Clark.
Mike Forde of Kinneil BC in Boness is the 2018 champion of the coveted Weslo Seniors Open having captured the Holy Grail crown of the Over 60s branch of the sport of bowls in West Lothian with two commanding victories in the final day climax at Glenmavis BC in Bathgate. Wins over Alister Wilson of Linlithgow and 2015 champion Stuart Smith of Ratho were both achieved in grand 21-11 style and allowed the latest King Pin of The Weslo to bask in the limelight of a well deserved applause.
Wilson bounced back into the lime light couple of days later as he progressed through a field of 25 current champions to capture the West Lothian Seniors Champion of Champions title at host venue Winchburgh defeating Josie Johnston of Bridgeness, 21-11 in the final.
Deans BC is the centre of attraction this weekend with the Livingston club of many legends playing host to and sponsoring the last of the 2018 WLBA Majors in the shape of The Champion of Champions. The field is 29 current champions strong and includes world stage figures Neil Speirs of Kirkliston and George Sneddon of Broxburn also the youngest ever Scottish and British Isles champion in Frazer Muirhead of Uphall Station (1981) plus record 5 times CofC Ewan Shearer of Linlithgow. The session times day are 10am, 12noon, 2pm, and 4pm while the play on Sunday features the Quarter-Finals at 11am the Semi-Finals at 1-30pm and The Final at 4pm.
The climax day to the Andrew McKellar Inter County Top Five Singles at Sighthill tomorrow, features defending champions Tranent of East Lothian against Broad Street of West Fife; and Newbridge of West Lothian against Chirnside of Borders.
Legend figure David McGill can still turn on the style having skipped fellow veterans J P Hamilton, and George Gray to title triumph in the Stenton Seniors Open Triples.
Willie Wood MBE reigns as club champion once again at Gifford, celebrating title number 26 with a 21-13 win over Ronnie Skea in the final.