West Lothian IBC champion Bryan Cooper was unable to capitalise on a winning position in last weekends climax to the national championships played at Midlothian IBC and was left nursing the wounds of a 21-19 defeat in the semi finals of the Gents Singles.
West Lothian IBC are in prelim round Team Championship action on Sunday and face a mighty tough battle against Midlothian at Bainfield while neighbour club Balbardie face Falkirk at Stirling.
West Lothian Seniors were aiming for an 8th win in 12 games when completing their East B campaign with a visit to foot of the table Tweedbank, yesterday.
The sad passing of Colin Russell – a Past President of the Scottish IBA and his club West Lothian IBC – has robbed the bowls community nationwide of a popular and highly respected figure who gave many years of dedicated service to the sport. The funeral of Colin – an Honorary Life member of the SIBA – took place at the West Lothian Crematorium, Livingston, on Tuesday with the large turnout of mourners coming from near and far to pay their respects. The thoughts of the Bowls Community at Large are with his wife Margaret and Family.
The West Lothian IBC banner will have a presence in the showpiece climax of the Gents 4Bowl Scottish Pairs Championship being staged at Arbroath over the weekend of March 30/31 with the partnership of Cameron Greer and Calum Logan triggering Festive Season Cheer in the playdown action.
The excitingly skilled WL duo paraded their skills in the Section play at West of Scotland and thrilled their support by reeling off four winning performances to capture the qualifying honours.
Wins over Alloa, Cowal, East Fife, and Falkirk propelled WL into a semi final confrontation against Steven Dudgeon and Graeme Peacock of Galleon while the other title challengers are Graeme Donaldson and Andrew Barker of Elgin and Abbeyview stars Stuart Pagan and Paul Brown. Logan skipped Greer to commanding 26-16 prelim round win over Kris Storf and Glenn Morton of Alloa then steam rollered Calum Goffin and Andy Scott of Cowal, 21-10. A knife-edged climax against second round opponents Charles Smith and James Fernie of East Fife saw WL clinch an 18-17 battle with sweat on the brows then a heroic section final performance saw them capture the 17-14 scalp of high calibre Falkirk opposition in the shape of Martin McCalley and Steven Glen.
Meanwhile the Balbardie challenge from Kevin Scott and Ewan Shearer at neighbour venue WLIBC failed to get off the ground as they suffered a 23-15 first round defeat from Liam and Ralph Nicholson of Tweedbank.
The playdown action of the Ladies National Pairs saw the headlines at the WLIBC venue grabbed by Balbardie stars Sharon Leith and Lorraine Craig who were the defending champions and launching a bid to capture the Scottish Crown for a fourth time.
Wins over Perth, Tweedbank, and Coatbridge secured a semi finals place against Helen McVicar and Catherine Morrison of Cowal while Leanne Furye and Caroline Ruxton of Arbroath and Auchinleck duo Coleen Cowie and Claire Johnston are the other title contenders.
Craig skipped Leitch to an inspired 24-17 win over Susan and Lindsay Myles of Perth then crushed Gloria Smith and Gail Lindores of Tweedbank, 21-6, before completing a glorious hat trick at the 25-7 expense of Coatbridge duo Myra Poole and Margaret McSkimming.
Meanwhile West Lothian challengers Jenifer Richardson and Wendy Purdie impressed with wins over Falkirk (23-17) and Blantyre (19-12) but made an 18-14 exit to Megan Grantham and Stacey McDougall of Midlothian. in sparkling form to keep their title hopes alive with three superb winning performances.