Bumper entries for the 78th Ayr Bowling Week

Jul 30 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

THE 78th Ayr Bowling tournament will spring into life on Monday with bumper entries in eight competitions.

On the first three days of play, action will be based at Craigie, Crooksmoss, Forehill, Northfield, Peter Boyle and Seafield before moving entirely to Northfield from Thursday to Saturday. The finals are scheduled for 2pm on Saturday (August 7).

A total of 298 gents will line up in the singles, looking to wrest the crown from Stranraer's David Kelly who beat Northfield’s Craig England in last year’s final. David opens his defence with a first round encounter against Derrick McCall from Hawkhill.

Number two seed Brian Fulton (Ayr) will face one of the Ayrshire triples finalists from Troon Portland in Willie Cairns.

Other notable first round encounters see Willie Cole (KBBC) play Brian Hutchison (Crosshill), Derek Lang (Hawkhill) against former champion John Davidson (Coylton) and former British pairs champion John Keir (Prestwick) take on former Ayrshire singles champion Billy Anderson (Glaisnock Valley).

Michelle Cooper defends the ladies singles. The Blacklands player is already on a high after a late call-up to the Commonwealth Games team to play in India in October and open her defence against Diane Finlayson (Prestwick).

Top seed Joyce Dickey (Hawick) meets Amy Hamilton (Crooksmoss) in her opener.. Other interesting first round matches see Rose-ena Smillie (Ayr) play Anne Wilson (KBBC) and Susan Murray (Raploch) against Maureen Shimmons (Annbank).

The gents and ladies pairs competitions start on Wednesday (August 4). Top ladies tie is between defending champions Susan Murray and Joyce Dickey and Maureen Shimmons and Isabel McKnight (Cumnock).

Gents holders Peter McArthur (Maybole) and Stephen Carlyle (Peter Boyle) play Jim Gibson and George Tweedie (Biggar).

The popular mixed pairs has an increased entry of 131 pairs who start their campaign on Monday for the title won last year by Marion and Jim Stewart (Biggar). A top tie sees Barrie Williams and Coleen Cowie (Annbank) face father and daughter pairing Tom and Karin Cairney (Cumnock).

As always, the junior competitions will play a large part of the Bowling Week with play in the junior boys’ singles, junior girls’ singles and junior pairs categories.

All of the tournaments will come to a conclusion on the Saturday with the mixed pairs final at noon. The remaining finals take place at 2pm.