Champion bowls show by the Stirling County set

Aug 19 2009 by John Miller, Stirling Observer Friday

THERE was some top class action last Saturday as the Stirling County championship finals rolled into a sun-drenched Stirling green in Albert Place.

Seven clubs were celebrating at the conclusion with Stenhousemuir, Callendar MW, Bridge of Allan, Causewayhead, Denny, Burnhead and Polmaise stepping up to receive the glittering prizes.

The occasion was given a much-admired infusion of colour this year with players discarding the traditional whites and lining up in red and blue shirts donated by MKD Sports.

Much attention was focused on the singles contest where Ian McNair (Stenhousemuir) and Gary Rowan (Carron & Carronshore) delivered an absolute classic final.

The scores peeled frequently throughout the gripping 25-end match. Rowan held a 16-12 advantage after 18 ends but a maximum and a double carded by McNair over the next two ends put him in front only to be hauled back as Rowan once more went in front 19-18.

Two ends later it was 20-20 and it was a relieved McNair, lying match shot, who saw Rowan miss the target with his final delivery to send the Stenhousemuir man into the winner's enclosure.

Gareth Crosbie (Callendar MW) won the junior singles final with a deserved 21-15 win over Slamannan's Grant Imrie.

Despite losing a four on the 5th end, Gareth's greater consistency over the first eight ends saw him lead 10-9. He than carded a highly impressive 2,2,2,2,2 run to sit on the brink of victory, which was only delayed for three ends, before the talented 21- year old wrapped up the title with a single on the 17th end.

The two-bowl pairs title went to Bridge of Allan brothers Richard and Billy Guy who saw off the challenge from Camelon's Giles McCafferty and Jim Rowan by 20 shots to 11 with two ends to spare.

Pairs glory went to Graham Walker and Jason Williams from the Causewayhead Club who triumphed 20-5 over Denny's Vic Couper and Darren Couper with more than a few ends to spare.

Denny's Graham Dawson, John Grant and Stuart Hogg were always in command in their triples final with Causewayhead's Frank Wynn, Ian Ferrier and Brem Morrison. The Denny trio led 11-1 at the halfway mark and went on to run out convincing 16-5 winners.

The biggest victory of the day was recorded by Burnhead in the fours final. Robert Lawrie, George Herriot, William Gray and Andrew Thomson lost a single on the first end against Denny but then scored on the next 12 ends to win 22-1 against Jamie Grant, Tom Gardiner, Ian Todd and Tom Cochrane with four ends unplayed.

The senior fours silverware was collected by Jim Walker, Willie Kirkwood, Jim Blevins and John Binnie (Polmaise). They had a walkover against Falkirk who had withdrawn

NATIONAL SUCCESS

POLMAISE brothers Christopher and Aaron Hazel won the SYBA pairs championship last Saturday at Ayr's Northfield greens. In the final they defeated Midlothian pairing Daniel Scott and Christopher Easby.

OGILVIE TRIPLES

WINNERS of the Duncan Ogilvie triples tournament were Borestone BC with eight points and 28 shots. Runners up were Bannockburn with six points plus 37.

COUNTY TOP TEN

STIRLING County Top ten semi-finals go ahead this weekend. On Saturday at the Borestone green, Polmaise will play Bannockburn, while on Sunday at Bainsford green, Grahamston take on Burnhead. The final will be played at Stirling, on Sunday, September 6.

STIRLING PAIRS

WINNERS of last Sunday’s pairs competition at the Stirling green were JR Gilmour (Stirling) and Norrie Gilmour (Cambusbarron).

Runners up were Robert Graham and Pat Neilson (Stirling), while losing semi-finalists were Neil Boyle and Neil Lafferty (Borestone) along with Alloa East End’s Chris Duncan and Keith Hannah.

The event was generously sponsored by Whistlebinkies.

BRIDGE OF ALLAN BC

WINNERS of last Sunday's ladies open triples at Bridge of Allan were Gail Simpson, Connie Shaw and Winnie Davies (Stirling), while runners up were Margaret Ferrier, Irene Cunningham and Angie Doyle (Causewayhead).

Losing out in the semi-finals were Lauren McGowan, Elspeth McNaughton and Maud McGowan (Kippen) along with Cowie's Rita Smith, Mary Haughton and Catherine Jones.

BANNOCKBURN MATCH

A special match to commemorate the club's 150th anniversary was held at Bannockburn green last Sunday. Teams representing Stirling County, Stirlingshire Central, West Stirlingshire BA and SBA umpires participated.

Scores were (Bannockburn skips first): W McLaughlan 9, A Rose 26; D Laird 13, J Love 23; H Proctor 16, D Anderson 11; H Milne 10, B McLaughlin 17; J White 17, T Findlay 3. Totals: Bannockburn 65, Visitors 80. Sweep money was donated to Cancer Research.

TOP SIX

THE Polmaise 2 team won last Sunday’s final of the Top Six competition with victory over Dunblane.

Singles - Danny McCormick 21, Ross Wallace 12; pairs - Sandy Deans and Gary Malcolmson 17, Paul McQue and David Cuthell 10; triples - Alex McNeil, Peter Black and Derek Logie 15, David Peat, Derek Peat and John Thomson 9. Totals: Polmaise six plus 53, Dunblane 0 plus 31.

Third place went to Polmaise 3: Ian Bone, William McLeod, Jim Blevins, Peter Smith, Jim Walker and John Binnie.

Polmaise BC thank everyone who participated and sponsor John McCallum of McCallum Ceilings.

DELEGATES MATCH

STIRLING County and SCWBA (WEST) delegates played their annual match at Bridge of Allan green last week. Scores were (County skips first): J Miller 13, J Dowell 12; W Mitchell 13, S Morrison 14; B McLaughlin 21, C Shaw 4; J Stewart 15, M Falconer 8; T Laing 19, E McNaughton 13; H Wright 7, J Watson 17. Totals: Stirling County 88, SCWBA (WEST) 68.

CAUSEWAYHEAD BC

THE club held their annual charity game for the RNLI. on Sunday. Winners were Jason Williams, V Williams, H Smith and Isobel Hutchison. Runners up were Brem Morrison, John Jackson, Sylvia Morrison and Ann Jackson. £400 pounds raised will go to the RNLI