The finals of the indoor bowls Scottish Championships played at Fraserburgh over last weekend was a West Lothian Free Zone however there was title success for East Lothian and Midlothian mixed with disappointments for Edinburgh club Bainfield.
East Lothian ace Billy Mellors turned up trumps in the Gents Singles with the former outdoor national champion surviving two epic battles to add the indoor version to his impressive CV.Mellors faced fellow cap Ronnie Duncan of Midlothian in the semi finals and Duncan looked the winner at various stages of their battle with leads of 12-6 and especially 18-11 putting him in strong positions.But Mellors stormed to the front with a whirlwind run of 4, 3, 1 to cross 19-18 then with the outcome in the melting pot at 20-20 edged the winning single on end 23 of an epic contest.With Mike Stepney of Elgin beating Paul Foster MBE of Preswick 21-18 in their semi final clash the 2010 champion faced up to Mellors in a final that lasted 24 ands and after another epic battle resulted in 21-20 win for the East Lothian challenger. It was another amazing fight back from Mellors who faced deficits of 12-5, 19-12, and 20-17 before escaping to the title with a thrilling 3, 1 finish.
The final of the gents junior singles brought last bowl heartbreak to 22 –year old Daniel Gormley of Bainfield with the Edinburgh challenger holding game for the title on three occasions but denied in a 21-20 thriller by John Fleming of Inverclyde.Gormley led 10-3 and 18-2 and was only behind on three occasions but that included the last end when holding game at 20-20 and with a noser on the jack he was denied by a wonder final bowl that saw Fleming draw shot with an inch perfect delivery.
Stacey Laidlaw captured the ladies junior singles title for Midlothian turning up the heat from 13-12 down in the final to score a 21-15 victory over Michelle Keenan of Dumbarton in 23-ends.The final of the ladies Singles saw Julie Forrest attempting to win the title for a magnificent seventh time but after a dramatic 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, fightback from 14-20 the Borders Lass from Teviotdale was denied in an epic 21-20 battle by Leslie Doig of East Fife.
The Midlothian partnership of Stacey Laidlaw and Sandra McLeish led 6-1 in the deciding set of the 2Bowl Pairs final but conceded 2, 2, 2, 1 to slip to an 8-6 defeat that cost them the title against Leanne Furye and Caroline Ruxton of Arbroath.
The gents version of the 2Bowl Pairs was won by Jason and Colin Banks of Garioch who beat Craig Lindsay and Paul Foster of Prestwick then Gary Wilson and Jim Byron of Cumbernauld.
Bradley Buchan of the host club won the Under 18 Singles title beating Alastair Nimmo of East Fife, 21-17 in the final.