Joyce Kennedy pipped in Scottish singles final

Aug 6 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

JOYCE KENNEDY played the game of her life to reach the Scottishwomen’s singlesfinals....and then returned to earth with a bump.

And on Monday, she was back in the Peter Boyle club kitchen making chips and salads for players in Ayr Bowling Week.

Joyce, 68, stunned British Isles champion Lorraine Malloy 21-16 in the semis to storm into the blue riband final at Northfield.

Defending champion Malloy, from the Deans club, was bidding to become the first player to win the title three times.

But Joyce failed to repeat her sizzling semi form as she slumped 21-4 in only 15 ends to Caroline Brown from Bellshill and Mossend in the final.

Joyce admitted her path to the national final had caught her by surprise.

She confessed: “I had a big crowd cheering me on but I just didn’t catch it. I had been to the final of the Ayrshire singles before but nothing like this.

“The semi final was the game of my life but I was down to earth with a bump in the final.”

Auchinleck’s Tom Bohan, James Gibson and Garry Johnstone reached the semi-finals of the gents triples before losing14-6 to eventual winners Tainfield.

Earlier, they beat Thurso 22-10, Bogleha 12-11 and Kirkcaldy West End 13-12.

Coylton’s John Candlish reached the third round of the gents singles after beating Alistair McLelland (West Netherton) 21-5 and Peter Brown (Crail) 21-17. Then he lost 21-11 to Johnathon Ross (Priorscroft) who went on to win the title.

Kevin Anderson ((Dumbarton) won the junior singles, Anchor lifted the pairs, Tainfield the triples, Houldsworth the fours and Shotts Ironsworks the senior fours.