Prestwick indoor bowlers fail in national triples

Feb 4 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

PRESTWICK failed in their bid to claim the national triples titles when they were fell at the playdown stage on Saturday.

The gents beat Newton Stewart 16-5 before losing 8-19 against Cumbernauld who qualified through to the semi-finals. The ladies 18-17 to Ayr.

The juniors had a disappointing weekend as they lost 6-2 at home in their final league match to champions Ardrossan and then went down narrowly on Sunday in their Scottish Top Ten competition at Inverclyde.

In the league match, Craig Cathie beat Calum Williamson while Jordan Slaven lost to Jack Montgomerie and Andrew Weir went down to Kevin Donnachie.

The Top Ten was agonising for Prestwick with their singles losing by five shots, their pairs losing by one shot, their triples drawing and their fours recording a comfortable win to see Prestwick win on the overall score but go out of the competition 5-3.

On Saturday, Prestwick gents will keep an eye on the East Fife v Blantyre match that will complete all of the league action for the season. A win for East Fife would see Coatbridge automatically relegated and Prestwick finish third in the section. This match was due to be played before Christmas but was delayed due to bad weather.

Prestwick finish their Scottish Ladies League campaign at home to East Kilbride. A 14 shot win will see them finish fourth in the section.

Rink 1: Ina Hamilton, Dorothy Nimmo, Jean Paterson, Kathie Mitchell; Rink 2: Margaret McRonald, Nancy Gelleburn, Cathy Lawson, Betty McKinlay; Rink 3: Doreen Wilson, May Hood, Betty Hainey, Wilma Ogilvie; Rink 4: Ann Boyd, Pat Sutherland, Muriel Cowley, Margaret Wells. The Ayrshire Seniors League starts on Saturday with Irvine the venue for the first of five weeks of play. Ardrossan play Galleon while Prestwick take on Auchinleck in what are always highly competitive matches.

Rink 1: David Brown, Willie Fulton, Jim Fortune, Michael Higgins; Rink 2: Alec Thomson, Tom Howson, Joe Reid, Alan Paxton; Rink 3: Willie Kennedy, Willie Ferguson, John Docherty, Morris Sturgeon.

Prestwick hosts an all day gents invitation fours competition on Sunday with 96 competitors in action.

Sunday also sees the start of the Ayrshire Knockout playdowns with action at Ayr and Irvine. Ayr hosts the senior singles and pairs playdowns with Irvine hosting the senior triples, senior fours and ladies two bowl pairs.

Quarter-final draw: senior singles: Galleon v Ardrossan; Prestwick v Auchinleck; Byes: Ayr and Irvine; senior pairs: Ayr v Auchinleck; Prestwick v Irvine; Galleon v bye; Ardrossan v bye.

Senior triples: Prestwick v Galleon; Irvine v Ayr; Ardrossan v Bye; Auchinleck v bye; senior fours: Galleon v Ardrossan; Irvine v Ayr; Prestwick v bye; Auchinleck v bye; ladies two bowl pairs: Irvine v Ayr; Auchinleck v Ardrossan; Prestwick v bye; Galleon v bye

The quarter-finals matches are from 9.30am to 12.30pm with the semi-finals from 1pm to 4pm. The finals are at Auchinleck on Sunday, March 20.

Paul Foster is continuing his challenge for the Welsh Grand Prix title. The new world champion beat Australia qualifier Matt Mitchell 13-2, 4-11, 2-0 in the first round and was due to face close friend Alex Marshall in the last 16.

Stewart Anderson beat Ian Bond in a match that will drop the popular player from Devon out of the top 16 in the world rankings and a guaranteed place at all events next season. Stewart was next due to face remaining Welsh hope Jason Greenslade as he continues his charge.

Prestwick has some forthcoming events that are open to all. Tickets can be purchased from the club. The ladies cash bingo is on Friday, February 18 with tickets 50p.

The Time of Your Life show will visit the stadium on Sunday, March 13 with tickets £8.50 which includes a knife and fork buffet.

Sally Buxton and friends hold a psychic night on Thursday, March 31 with tickets costing £5. Enquiries to Gordon at the Indoor.

lAyr gents and ladies lost out narrowly in their national triples on Saturday. Malcolm Baillie's team lost by one shot to a strong Lanarkshire trio while the ladies beat Prestwick before a narrow loss also to Lanarkshire.

On Sunday, Ayr's rink of Ronnie Lang, Graham Hough, Alan Law and Allister Reid finished runners-up in the Thomas Hamilton Memorial Trophy, losing by one shot to Ardrossan II. Ardrossan I were third.

The mixed pairs final takes place in the stadium this week when Anne Brown and Davie Gass take on Irene Law and Alan Law.

The winners join Allister Reid, Liz Reid, Ronnie Lang, Ian Gourlay, Margaret Hodge, Wilma McKee, Graham Hough and Stuart England at Auchinleck on Sunday where they face Newton Stewart in the first round of the Team Championship.

The fixture scheduled to take place at Ayr on Sunday between Paisley and Nithsdale has been postponed until February 13 as Ayrshire Championship playdowns take place at the stadium from 9.30am.

Ayr senior gents begin their quest for the Scottish Senior Cup with a first round tie against Newton Stewart at Auchinleck on Wednesday, February 9.