Local bowlers' hopes dashed at Scottish Championships

East Lothian suffered disappointment as they battled for glory on three fronts in the Scottish Indoor Bowls Championships at Falkirk.

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2013 champions Jamie Higgins and Derek Oliver lost out 21-16 in the Gents Pairs final to Arbroath’s Colin Smith and Andy Furye, the EL duo having beaten Jim Meikle and Iain McLean of Blantyre 24-16 in the last four.

Play in the Ladies Fours saw the East Lothian rink of Dee Hoggan, Mags Thomson, Yvonne Veitch and Janet Fairnie lead 9-4 after seven ends of their semi-final against Turriff but suffer a 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 5, 1, 1 collapse to trail 17-9 then lose 18-14.

Auchinleck had defeated East Kilbride 24-19 in their semi-final and their rink skipped by Claire Johnston stormed to a 26-7 triumph over Turriff in a one-sided final.

The task of Calum Darling in the Under-21 Singles was a daunting one against 2015 Under-25 Junior Singles champion John Fleming from Inverclyde and glimpses of good form from the EL teenager couldn’t prevent a 21-11 exit.

Fleming confirmed his rising-star status with a 21-8 win over Jason Banks of Garioch in the final.

Meanwhile, Bainfield lost their semi-final in the Gents Triples as Josh Spalding, Daniel Gormley and John McDermott were outgunned 21-7 by Auchinleck.

The Ayrshire outfit’s Derek Ferguson, Craig Johnston and Gary Johnstone lost 15-14 to Turriff trio Graham Alexander, George Barclay and Connor Milne in the final.