Champion Stewart takes on the world

Oct 30 2009 by Mike Wilson

AUCHINLECK star Stewart Anderson defends his world under 25 title at Portsmouth this weekend.

He will also line up in the mixed pairs where he has been drawn to play with Commonwealth Games star Hannah Smith, from Wales.

Last weekend, Stewart was selected to play in the champion of champions. He won his first game 2-1 in a tie break against Mike Stepney before losing 2-1 also on a tie break to Darren Burnett of Arbroath.

Meanwhile, Auchinleck gents found the going tough in the Premier League when they crashed 82-63 away to Lanarkshire.

Auchinleck scores first: S. Anderson 18, R. Grant 16; D. McClue 10, J. Meikle 28; G. Johnstone 23, J. Simpson 14; D. Watson 12, R. Gordon 24.

The seniors lost 72-63 away to Newton Stewart. Scores: W. McLatchie 11, J. Sproat 31; Dvd Mitchell 32, J. McGarrie 7; T. Murdoch 10, B. Murdoch 13; W. McArthur 10, J. Govan 21.

The juniors lost 6-2 at home to Ardrossan in their first Ayrshire league match. Scores: C. James 15, C. Carswell 7; M. Walker 4, J. Montgomerie 20; C. McClue 11, P. Donechy 19.

Josephine Williamson, representing Auchinleck in national singles playdowns at Midlothian, won her first match 21-18, beat Prestwick 21-15 shots and Val McGregor of Abbeyview 21-19. She met her match in the quarter-finals when lost 21-7 to defending champion Julie Forrest.

The club hosted an international friendship fours with three rinks from Scotland and Ireland, one from Jersey and Wales in a round robin competition.

Winners were Willie McCaw's rink from Ballymoney who beat Basil Kennedy's rink from Ballymena 7-1 in the final. Ayrshire fours league at Ardrossan: Auchinleck 7, Galleon 1.

In the national senior fours playdown at Ayr, David Mitchell, Drew Mitchell, David Reid and Jim McCracken beat Irvine by 10 shots. They now play their next match on Sunday (10am) at Lanarkshire against East Kilbride.

On Saturday, the seniors have no game but the gents host Arbroath from 2-6pm. Rink 1: J. Gibson, St Gemmell, A. Fleming, G. Johnstone; Rink 2: S. McKenzie, S. Graham, J. Fleming, D. McClue; Rink 3: C. McBride, R. McLatchie, B. Anderson, S. Rankin; Rink 4 E. Duncan, St. Robertson, W. McKenzie, D. Watson.

The ladies travel to Coatbridge for their third match in the SWIBA Premier League.

On Sunday, Auchinleck play Prestwick in the first round of new Hall under 35 friendship league. Rink 1: R. McLatchie, G. McCrindle, St Gemmell, A. Fleming; Rink 2: C. McBride, D. Johnstone, Cl Johnston, J. Leitch; Rink 3: D. Anderson, A. Telfer, S. Robertson, J. Gibson; Rink 4: C. McGregor, M. Jamieson, D. Smith, G. Johnstone.

Auchinleck play Prestwick at Irvine from 2-6pm in the second Ayrshire League match.