Claire bowled out

Jul 11 2007 Ayrshire Post

GLORY bowler Claire Johnston just missed a history making double and left a huge Northfield crowd shattered.

The Auchinleck star was bidding to become the first player to win the Scottish indoor and outdoor titles in the same year.

And her dream looked on when she twice lay game against Lorraine Malloy (Spring Grove) in Sunday’s national singles final.

But Claire, who had led all the way, watched in horror as Lorraine scored a double on the 28th end to win 21-20.

Earlier, this year, Claire won the World Bowls Council indoor singles at Belfast. She also holds the WBC mixed pairs and is the Scottish ladies indoor singles champion.

Annbank’s Val Bryce and Dot Barr saw their bid for a hat-trick of wins in the four bowl pairs come unstuck in the semis when they lost 20-13 to eventual winners Blackburn.

There was Ayrshire gold in the senior fours where West Kilbride’s B. Brown, M. Dick, M. Gill and H. McKinnie beat Raploch 13-8.

In the semis, they beat Kincaidston’s Helen Belford, Anne Johnstone, Margaret Craig and Hetie Moore 13-9.

Ayr’s singles hope Jennifer Reid took Shirley Bannatyne (Campbeltown) to a marathon 30 ends before losing 21-20.

Meanwhile, 13 countries line up in the Atlantic Championships which get underway at Northfield on Friday. The traditional women only event will include gents for the first time.

lBOWLING ROUNDUP — PAGE 124.