SBA CHAMPIONS 2008
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Scottish Bowling Association
District 23 West Renfrewshire, Bute and Cowal
2008 Scottish National Championships
The six National competitions were played from Thursday 31st July to Saturday 2nd August at Northfield Bowling Complex Ayr.
The first 2 days were played in almost constant rain, which forced a halt to all the matches for 30 minutes on Friday afternoon. Saturday’s matches were played in hot sunny conditions.
The local player in the junior singles was Stephen McLellan the well known Wellington Park bowler who was in his third consecutive finals at Ayr. Stephens first opponent was Marc Padbury from the Paisley club Blacklandmill. The Wellington player had a fairly easy victory 21 – 13. In his second match he played Iain McMillan from the Argyll Club in Campbelltown. Stephen continued to play his drawing game and matched Iain for a while, but the Argyll man managed to draw the shot many times even though Stephen had almost surrounded the jack. Iain eventually won 21 -13 and continued through the next 3 rounds to win the final against Alex Higgins from Stranraer 21 -6
The holder of the Scottish and British singles titles Port Glasgow’s Sandy Wotherspoon returned to Ayr to defend his title. In the first round he defeated Ian McNair from Stenhousemuir 21- 8, Sandy playing his normal three quarters jack continued through the second round defeating McDuff’s David Mitchell 21-7.
In the third round Sandy had a harder game against Drew Cunningham of Lenzie eventually winning 21 -16.
The Saturday morning semi-final against Daniel Jackson from Edinburgh was a similar match with the score almost level up to double figures. Sandy then turned up the pressure to win 21-15.
In the final the Port player continued to play his drawing game, Wayne Hogg his opponent from Markinch BC who had already dismissed 2 International players was more aggressive and drove at the head when Sandy was lying the shot. Near the end of the match Sandy drew 2 perfect shots in front and 1 just behind the jack, Wayne fired with his last 2 bowls and succeeded with the last bowl to clear the head slicing the jack to one of his own bowls, depending on who you support some would say he was lucky. At times the local player fell a yard short allowing Wayne to draw into the white. At the last end of the final Sandy was holding the shot but the Markinch player wicked off a side bowl to with his last shot to win 21 – 8.
Sandy now heads to Aberdeen at the end of August to challenge for the World singles Champion of Champions title to add it to his British crown.
The Dunoon Argyll pairs of Willie Kelly and Hugh McPherson were unfortunate to loose their first round tie to the Kirkcolm pair by 20-11. The score was reasonable close up to the 12th end then the Stranraer boys eased away to their victory. Carrick Knowe were the eventual winners defeating Maidens 18-10
The triples representatives were from Port Glasgow lead David Tolan, second Peter Johnstone and skip Freddie Kimmins They were unfortunate to loose by one shot 14-13 to a team from Thornhill. The Port boys played well with Freddie playing very well and did not deserve to lose. The Triples was won by Clackmannan who defeated Pomaise 24-20.
Gourock Park fielded a four of John Reid, second Alex McIlravey, third Rodger Lynn and skip Ian Brown. They won the first round match against Alloa Co-op 20-10 the second round against Whitehall 21-4, in the third round they had a very hard match against Danderhall near the end the park players lost a six to go 3 down, but they fought back to level the score 16 each at the 16th end. In the final end the Gourock Park boys held on to a shot to win the tie. The semi-final was almost a walk without having to play the last 2 ends with the local players winning 23-3 against Polmont. The final against Haddington was again all the Park being 10 nil up after 7 ends. Even though their opponents tried to fight back, they could not catch the Gourock Park team and conceded with one end still to play. For the third year in a row District 23 have a Scottish title. It was some time in Sunday morning before the local team and club members ended the celebrations, this being the first Scottish Championship that Gourock Park have won. They now travel to Belfast next year to contest the British Title.
The Senior fours from Gourock had a great run, lead Archie Clements, second (big) Andy Miller, third Willie McAlpine and skip John Peden won the first game against Whitehall 20-14, then demolished Danderhall 20-9 before they struggled to beat Carmyle 12-10. with only 3 ends to go the Gourock boys were10-5 down, but a five at a full length jack brought them back into the game at 10 all, a single at the penultimate saw them into the last end in the lead. With Willie McAlpine still to play the Danderhall boys were lying shot but with his first bowl again at a full length jack Willie turned out the shot and lay in its place. The opposing skip twice missed the jack by a hair to loose by 2 shots. On a warm dry Saturday morning the Gourock team could not catch the faster pace and lost 23-4 to Stranraer West End who were the eventual winners.
The District bowlers are proud that for the first time in years 3 teams out of six made the semi-finals and for the third time in a row won a Scottish Title. This added to their success in the British, Renfrewshire and Argyll & Bute Championships makes it a golden year for all concerned.
Bill Knox
SBA District 23 Secretary
4th Auguust2008
SBA District Secretary, Bill Knox's report
Please pass on my congratulations to Joda, Alex, Roger and Big Broono on their recent success at Northfield. A truly outstanding achievement and excellent for the district
Best Regards Brian Osborne
From the Four Seniors who were with you all the way,sad we couldnt
go all the way with you but delighted with your success
Big A -- Andy Miller Gourock BC
Congratulations to all at Gourock Park and the Scottish Champions Joda, Alex, Rodger and Ian. A truly tremendous achievment and well deserved they played very well in the final and looked like winners after the first few ends.
Once again well done.
Regards
Jim Quye
Thanks to everyone who has left messages of congratulations on the guestbook for our proud Scottish Champions and also to those who have emailed me with similar, which are listed below. I am sure the lads appreciate them
