E&L name an initial 42 for crack at Cities and Counties

Edinburgh & Leith Bowling Association start the build-up to the 2018 Scottish Cities and Counties Championship with a trial match at Sighthill on Saturday, May 5 for which joint team managers Duncan McLaren and Ricky Rutherford have selected a pool of 42 players.
Willie Wood is celebrating a career firstWillie Wood is celebrating a career first
Willie Wood is celebrating a career first

Craigentinny, the Champion Division 1 club of the Edinburgh Bowling League, have three of their star players on parade in the shape of Gordon Bold, Daniel Gormley and Scott Rogers while the host club have four hopefuls in John McDermott, Ross Noble, Graeme Eddington and Stuart Isbister.

Carrick Knowe, the reigning Scottish Inter County Top Ten Champions, have the strongest representation with eight players – Stephen Pringle, Colin Tough, Stuart Campbell, Darren Hush, James Hogg, John Ramsay, Richard Tough and Kevin Tennant – hoping to find favour in the starting line-up of 24. Paul O’Donnell of Carrick Knowe is a major absentee and he is understood to be unavailable to commit to the campaign. Also missing from last season’s final match line-up are Lewis Betts, Euan Craig, Ross Byers and Greg Smith.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

• HOLDER Grant Logan of Kirkliston – a four-times WL Master – will attempt to win the prestigious Sighthill Open Singles for a third time on Sunday, May 6 and entries to the Belhaven Best-sponsored event should be made to the club by Tuesday, May 1.

• NEW recruits Whitehouse & Grange make their debut in the Gifted of Stockbridge EBL Ladies Cup at home to Brunstane while defending champions Goldenacre face a stern test in a first-round visit from Willowbrae. Craigentinny v Summerside and Bainfield v Carrick Knowe are other first round eye-catchers.

• WEST Lothian Bowling Association launch their inaugural President’s Dinner on Friday, April 27 with personal injury firm of solicitors Digby Brown the headline sponsors.

The main speaker at the dinner is Mike Wheatley while bowls legend David McGill, football great Colin Stein and provost Tom Kerr also feature as notable contributors.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

• PRIZES to the value of £1000 are the rich rewards offered by Ratho BC in their annual early-season staging of the 2Bowl Open Pairs event, sponsored by Belhaven Brewers, and played on Saturday, May 5.

Entries close on Tuesday, May 1 and they should be made by contacting the club on 0131 333 2511 or email to [email protected]

• BILLY MELLORS’ bid to capture the WIBC version of the World Singles Championship at Hartlepool last week ended in disappointment with the East Lothian ace making a quarter-final exit to England’s Andy Squires.

• WILLIE WOOD MBE is celebrating a career first, the 79-year-old having etched his name on the silverware of the Seniors Singles Championship at East Lothian IBC, defeating 2016 kingpin BJ Smith.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Also in the limelight at the Alex Marshall Arena is Janet Fairnie, who is “absolutely thrilled” at reigning as Ladies Singles Champion for a record-equalling sixth time having defeated Pat Turner in the final.

• EAST LOTHIAN’S victory over Perth in the final of the Jock Brodie Seniors Challenge Cup saw the host club capture the title for a 14th time in the 20-year history of the event.

Brodie, the highly-talented and colourful founder of the event announced it was to be his last competitive game for the club after a long career of magnificent highs, including joining the greats as an Evening News Champion of Champions.

Related topics: