Bowling Week kicks off

Aug 1 2008

THE 76th Ayr Bowling Week starts on Monday with more than 500 competitors in eight different tournaments.

And it continues to attract entrants from all over the UK, maintaining its place as the leading open tournament in Scotland. Play focuses on the Northfield complex, with matches also at Craigie, Forehill, Peter Boyle and Seafield on the first three days.

Play concludes on Saturday August 9 with most finals taking place at 2pm. Sponsors are South Ayrshire Coyncil, Jack High Insurance, RMC Investments, Martin and White Joiners and Taylor Bowls.

Gents singles: champion Peter McArthur (Maybole MP) starts his defence against David Kiltie snr (Gatehouse). Former winner, David Kelly (Stranraer) is the number one seed andl starts his challenge on Tuesday at 9am at Northfield. Wilson Duffy (Craigie), the number seven seed, faces a tough opener against Ayr County skip David Conway (Dalmellington). The best non seeded opening match sees forrmer champion, Peter Brown (Tarbolton) against former Ayrshire singles champion, Billy Anderson (Annbank).

Gents pairs: play gets underway on Wednesday with most of the day’s play focussed on Northfield. Holders Scott and Alan Davies open their defence against Gatehouse’s Derek Rogerson. Bud Carlton and Jocky Smith play against the Paisley pairing of Jim Bremner and David Gill. Veteran Dailly duo Gib Cathie and John McWhirter open aainst Annbank father and son Mark and Thomas Connelly. Peter Boyle's Sam Dunlop and George Allan line up at Seafield on Wednesday morning against experienced Ochiltree pairing Willie Watson and John Purdie.

Ladies singles: 102 ladies try to rest the title from Annbank’s Coleen Cowie. Play starts at 1pm on Tuesday with most of the play at Craigie, Forehill and Peter Boyle. Coleen starts her defence with a tough tie against Auchinleck's Catherine Druggan. Internationalist Linda Brennan (Uphall Station) faces Sally Kennedy (Dalrymple). Former champion Kathleen Stevenson plays the talented Rose McAuley (Ayr) while internationalist Susan Murray (Raploch) faces Hawkhill’s Wilma Ogilvie.

Ladies pairs: The first round has many strong matches but none better than Margaret Bingham and Elaine McKenzie (Cumnock) against Sheila Cole (Kincaidston) and Janette Kincaid (Maybole MP). The mother and daughter pairing of Rose Campbell and Jane Spence (Crooksmoss) start their defence against a strong Galston pair of Anne Taylor and Rita Gilmour. An all Ayr battle takes place at Craigie at 1pm when it’s Hawkhill vs Wattfield (Margaret Cardie and Nessie Fortune v Anne Hainey and Anne Park).

Mixed pairs: it’s the first time the event has been a full part of the Bowling Week. 116 Pairs have signed up to challenge for the Newton Park Bowling Club trophy which opens the tournament week on Monday morning. First round highlights are R. Smillie and S. Reid (Ayr) v A. Hamilton and A. Hamilton (Crooksmoss); D. Henderson (Castle Kennedy) and D. Kelly (Stranraer) v S. Gourlay and D. Gourlay (Annbank); and A. Kelly and I. Kelly (Canberra) v D. Finlayson and A. Williams (Prestwick).

Junior tournaments: Ayrshire youth singles champion, Craig Adrain (Irvine Park) plays the winner of Colin Forbes (Kincaidston) or Craig McClue (Cumnock) as he tries to add the Ayr Open title to his growing resumé. Jamie Main (Drongan) will try and go from last man in the draw to finishing first when play commences on Wednesday.

The junior girls singles begins at Northfield on Wednesday at 5pm. Tarbolton’s Amy Brown faces Dawn Anderson (Kincaidston) in the opening round.

There will be a new venue for the group stages of the junior pairs when Seafield hosts 50 juniors on Tuesday.