More than 500 players for Ayr Bowling Week

Jul 29 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

MORE than 500 players will take part in the 79th Ayr Bowling Week from Monday, August 1 to Saturday, August 6.

The event is split into eight different competitions and this year is sponsored by Jack High Insurance, Martin and White Joiners, Colin Wilson, MKD Sports and South Ayrshire Council.

Over the first three days, play is at Craigie, Crooksmoss, Forehill, Kincaidston, Peter Boyle, Northfield and Seafield before all action switches to Northfield from Thursday onwards.

The finals will take place at Northfield on Saturday from 2pm with guest of honour Mary Reid, the 1981 ladies singles champion, presenting the prizes.

Gents singles: David Kelly will bid to be the first man to claim three gents singles titles in a row when he opens on Tuesday against Derek McCabe (Newton Park) at Forehill.

Number two seed Jamie Houston (Prestwick) faces Graham Cole (Calderbank). Other notable opening encounters see Graeme Campbell (Newton Park) play former finalist Scott Davies (Castle Douglas) while Craig Yates (Crooksmoss) plays Michael Hendry (Northfield).

Gents pairs: Grandfather and grandson partnership David Kiltie and David Kiltie jnr (Port William) will hope to make it three wins from four attempts.

They open their defence against the talented pairing of Craig Cobbledick (Coylton) and Lee McCulloch (Maybole). Another interesting tie sees Paul Foster and Barry Nixon (Troon Portland) play Bryce Greenhill and Alistair Rennie (Kirkcolm).

Ladies singles: Joyce Dickey (Hawick) opens her defence against Lily Cuthbert (Ayr Indoor) at Craigie on Tuesday at 3pm. Number five seed Diana Kelly (Stranraer) has a tough opener against Anne Brown (Newton Park) at Seafield on Tuesday at 3pm. One of the best non seeded ties looks to be between Morag McDowall (Troon Portland) and Kalena McCrum (Townholm) at Northfield on Tuesday at 5pm.

Ladies pairs: The event takes its usual Wednesday slot with some interesting opening round encounters. Isobel McCulloch and Liz Rowan (Drongan) take on former champions Maureen Hyslop (Craigie) and Coleen Cowie (Annbank) at Craigie on Wednesday at 11am.

There is also an all international battle with Peggy Thomson and Sheila Hanlin (Castle Kenendy) playing Claire Johnston (Auchinleck) and Catherine Druggan (Sorn) at Seafield at 1pm on Wednesday.

Mixed pairs: This opens Ayr Bowling Week on Monday with more than 140 pairs in action. Holders Kathleen and Richard Stevenson (Stranraer WE) play grandmother and grandson pairing Kathie Mitchell and Steven Dunlop (Prestwick) at Peter Boyle on Monday at 9am. Another of the best of the opning round encounters sees Stuart Reid and Rose-ena Smillie (Ayr) play former champions John McColm and Susan Kelly (Stranraer).

Junior girls singles: Newly crowned Ayrshire singles champion Lyndsay Brown (Tarbolton) will look to regain her Ayr junior girls singles title also. The championship starts with a round robin stage from Wednesday.

Junior boys singles: 28 players will compete for the title. Darren Weir (Prestwick) opens his defence in group ‘A’ against five other players. The group stages take place over Wednesday and Thursday with the knockout stages on Friday and Saturday.

Junior pairs: The junior pairs will play their group stages at Kincaidston and Belmont with 16 pairs lining up to compete. The top two teams in each section will qualify for the knockout stages. Ryan Currie and Carrie McLean (Cumnock) open with a game against Keiron Mackin and Andrew Wallace (Maybole MP).

Scott Catering will provide the catering at Northfield from Monday onwards with Jimmy Agnew, the tournament director, in charge of all matters at Northfield.