Indoor bowling: Auchinleck’s Claire Johnston wins two medals at Atlantic Rim Games

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

AUCHINLECK star Claire Johnston flew home from the Atlantic Rim Games in Cyprus with two medals.

She followed up her pairs gold by winning bronze in the singles.

Claire lost only one of her qualifying matches by two shots to finish second in her section. She then beat Israel 21-8 to qualify for the semis.

However, she finally met her match when she lost 21-20 to Natalie Melmor of England.

The gents fours won gold, taking Scotland’s haul to three gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals.

Auchinleck seniors lost 85-46 at Newton Stewart to drop from second to fourth in the league.

The Premier team beat Aberdeen 91-53 at home and lead their section on shots difference. Scores: J. Candlish 28, K. Pirie 15; S. Rankin 25, S. Thomson 11; G. Johnstone 26, D. McNicol 9; D. McClue 12, M. Stephen 18.

The ladies lost by five shots away to West of Scotland. Scores: M. Sunter 18, J. Woodley 22; J. Sykes 15, H. Mason 23; I. McKnight 22, J. McCormack 21; H. Kay 20, H. Torrance 14.

The under 35 league team beat Galleon away 8-2 plus 40 shots. Scores: A. Elliot 35, A. Watter 11; J. Gibson 15, I. Crawford 19; G. Johnstone 32, J. Anderson 15; S. McNeillie 24, D. Clark 21.

The senior four of Ian Hall, Sam Rowan, Tom Murdoch and Willie Dalgleish lost 14-11 to Ardrossan in the playdowns of the national senior fours at East Lothian.

Carrie McLean represented Auchinleck in the SYIBA junior masters singles at Abbeyview. She beat West Lothian 13-2 and Fraserburgh 9-7 but lost her last game 9-5 to Whiteinch. Carrie failed to qualify from her section due to shot difference.

Baird Bowl: Sorn 6, Auchinleck 2; Lugar 8, Galston 0.

Fixtures: On Friday, November 4, the club hosts a psychic evening from 7.30pm with Isobel Cree. Tickets are £5 or pay at the door.

On Saturday, the seniors host Prestwick in the first leg of a challenge match. The juniors travel to play Prestwick, also from 10am to noon.

The ladies team travel to Galleon in the Premier League. Rink 1: J. Vance, M. Lindsay, M. Sunter, Cl. Johnston; Rink 2: B. Hall, R. Bernard, M. Shimmons, J. Sykes; Rink 3: L. Hume, B. Mackin, E. Magorian, H. Kay; Rink 4: E. Reid, M. Cathie, I. McKnight, J. Williamson.

The gents Premier league team will have no game this weekend due to the play-off of the national junior singles.

Craig McClue will represent Auchinleck in the under 25 singles playdowns at Cumbernauld against Alloa or Stirling at 3pm.

On Sunday, Cheryl James will represent Auchinleck in the playdowns of the ladies under 25 singles at Cumbernauld against Lanarkshire at 10am.

In the Baird Bowl, Catrine play Sorn from noon to 2pm.

Auchinleck hosts the Ayrshire Fours League from 2-6pm when ties are Auchinleck v Prestwick; Galleon vIrvine.