Galleon bowlers win senior triples at Prestwick Indoor Bowling Club

Apr 15 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

GALLEON won the annual senior invitation triples at Prestwick Indoor last Wednesday with 15 teams competing.

After the group stages, two Prestwick teams, one Auchinleck and one Galleon team made it to the semis.

In an all Prestwick tie, Michael Higgins, Jim Fortune and Morris Sturgeon edged past Hector Berretti, Tom McLarty and Eddie Doolan.

In the other semi, Galleon’s Hugh Fowler, Les Pollock and Tom Patterson always held the advantage against Willie White, Jim McCracken and David Mitchell.

The final saw Galleon build an early lead that they were able to maintain to claim the title.

The tournament was kindly sponsored by Morag and Hugh Crichton and the club is greatly appreciative of their support.

Michael Higgins, Alan Paxton and Willie Kennedy won the senior invitation triples, sponsored by Martin and White Joiners, at Auchinleck on Saturday. They beat Auchinleck’s John McHallum, Willie White and David Weir in the final.

A number of teams competed in the Scottish Young Indoor Bowlers Association adult and junior triples at Falkirk on Sunday. But none progressed from the group stages to make the knockout semi-finals.

Prestwick hosted the Scottish Under 35 League semi final on Sunday when Ardrossan beat Blantyre on all four rinks. They now meet Midlothian in the final at West Lothian on Sunday.

Jim and Val O' Neill won the Sunday night mixed pairs, beating Stewart and Helen Dunlop 17-14. Val also lifted the ladies national pairs with Rose-ena Smillie after beating Muriel Cowley and Kathie Mitchell in the final.

This week sees the continuation of semi finals and finals at Prestwick with each night seeing a busy schedule. On Tuesday, Brian Fulton and Robert McCulloch played Alec Adrain and Paul Foster in the four bowl pairs final.

Wednesday sees the gents triples final with Allan Hendry, Junior Cole and Brian Fulton playing Cliff Eade, Michael Higgins and Dougie McKie.

The gents national fours final is on Thursday with Alan Paxton, Cliff Eade, Michael Higgins and Dougie McKie playing Lee McCulloch, Stuart Reid, Craig Cobbledick and Robert McCulloch. Thursday also sees the Division One final between the teams of Colin Weir and Donald Hendry.

The last week of the season will see a new League Cup format over the Monday and Tuesday night with 16 teams from all the fours leagues of the club competing in an FA Cup style tournament.

The matches will last 90 minutes with two games being played each night. The last 16 will start at 6.30pm on Monday with quarter-finals at 8.30pm. The semi finals will take place on Tuesday at 6.30pm with the final at 8.30pm.

Five singles finals will finish the season on Thursday, April 21 with the gents singles, ladies singles, under 25 singles, under 17 singles and senior sngles being played. The presentation of prizes will follow.