Polmaise Bowling Club

BRIDGE OF ALLAN bowler Richard Guy staged a magnificent fightback at the Riverside green on Monday evening to win the Scottish District Nine singles title and book his place in the national championship finals at Northfield.

Joining him were 14 other successful and delighted bowlers including Richard's Bridge of Allan clubmates who won the fours. Also qualifying were the Spittalmyre pairs, Polmaise triples, Polmaise junior singles and Callander's senior fours.

The singles contest saw Richard Guy line up against Borestone's Ian Forsyth. Five apiece after eight ends, it was Forsyth who scored more consistently over the next 11 ends to hold a 15-9 advantage. However a superb six-end run saw Guy card 11 shots without reply to put him on the brink of victory at 20-15.

On the 26th end the Bridge of Allan man clinched victory in style by ditching the jack to win 21-15.

In the junior singles, Gary Malcolmson from the Polmaise Club eventually shrugged off an early challenge from Dunblane's Ian Nairn to win 21-11. Malcolmson finished strongly - carding eight shots over the final five ends.

Pairs Sam McFarlane and Fraser Gray from the Spittalmyre Club were in scintillating form against Ian Glen and Danny McCormick (Polmaise) and raced to a 16-2 lead after 11 ends. A 4-4 share of the shots over the next five ends saw Spittalmyre triumph 20-6 with an end to spare.

The triples contest proved to be rather one-sided with David McEwan sen., Peter Black and Sandy Deans (Polmaise) easing their way to a 25-9 victory over Cambusbarron's Craig Green, Barry Liddell and Jim Liddell after only 14 ends.

It was a similar story in the senior fours where Callander's Gavin Renton, Bill McFarlane, Peter McCartney and John Bowes were in complete control in their overwhelming 28-1 victory against Borestone's Andrew Allan, David Murphy, Pasquale Tortolano and Willie Harrower after 13 ends.

Last to finish was the fours contest which saw Bridge of Allan's Brian Coburn, Stuart Muir, Bobby McGown, and Ian Anderson triumph 15-12 over Richard Turnbull, Ian Ferrier, Peter Doyle and Ian Carnachan after an extremely close fought match.

The winners now progress to the Scottish championship playdowns at Ayr's Northfield greens, on July 31 and August 1 and 2.

DEFENDING champions Polmaise held onto their City of Stirling Top 15 title last Sunday with a highly impressive show at Bridge of Allan green.

In a rain-interrupted match, the Polmaise bowlers weathered the early challenges from their Borestone opponents to run out worthy 12-0 winners - marking an amazing 14th success in the popular competition since it began back in 1977.

Junior singles Kevin Paterson got his Polmaise colleagues off to a superb start winning 21-5 over Borestone's Helen Dudgeon and this advantage was extended when Sandy Deans won a hard-fought singles match against Ian Forsyth 21-16.

In the senior fours contest Chucks Johnstone, Peter Johnstone, Jim Walker and John Binnie added another two points with a 20-11 victory over John McLean, Rab Fleming, John Crombie and Neil Boyle.

The title was wrapped up when triples James Brown, David McEwan and Ian Glen triumphed 22-12 over Richard Doran, Andy Ferguson and Dougie Kerr. The Polmaise trio carded a super seven on the seventh end to go in front and never looked back.

The pairs match proved highly entertaining with Gary Malcolmson and Danny McCormick surviving a severe test from Rab Johnston and Brian McLaughlin to win 19-17. The Polmaise duo carded four at the final end to snatch victory following an impressive last-bowl delivery by Borestone skip McLaughlin which just failed to convert the head.

Peter Black's final bowl in the fours proved to be a winner when he converted the head to a match-winning situation. Along with Alec McNeil, Ross McLeod and David McEwan jun, the Polmaise four held on for a 18-16 victory over Tom Keith, Brian Kelly, George Toner and Kevin Frogley.

Finals totals were: Polmaise 12 points and 121 shots, Borestone no points and 77 shots.

The City of Stirling Top 15 championship enjoyed sponsorship from Co-op Funeralcare and from One Stop Motor Engineers.

FINAL BLOW FOR POLMAISE HOPES

No Scottish joy at Northfield

Local Bowlers were again to the fore on the national championships' stage at Ayr last weekend.

Following some top displays by the ladies the previous week it was the turn of the gents to shine at the SBA's three-day showpiece event on the Northfield greens.

And none more so than Polmaise players David McEwan, Peter Black and Sandy Deans who made it all the way to Saturday's triples final only to lose out on national silverware, by just four shots, to near neighbours Clackmannan.

Elsewhere, District Nine bowlers also featured in the quarter-finals of the fours and the singles with the spotlight firmly fixed on the Bridge of Allan Club in both events.

The Polmaise triples got off to flyer in their opening match seeing off Bellahouston 22-7 followed by an equally impressive 23-5 victory over Grahamston. Things got a little tougher in the quarter-final but Polmaise survived to win 16-15 over Airdre to set up a Saturday semi-final date with Carrick Knowe. Another hard-earned 15-12 victory put then into the final.

Standing in their way were Clackmannan's Joe Young, John Bell and Mark McCallum who trailed Polmaise 15-18 with four ends remaining. However the Wee County three produced a powerhouse finish carding nine shots for the loss of just two to dash Polmaise hopes 24-20.

Bridge of Allan fours, Brian Cockburn, Stuart Muir, Bobby McGown and Ian Anderson won 17-13 against Ardrossan and 17-16 against Kinneil before making their quarter final exit 24-8 to Riccarton.

Richard Guy (Bridge of Allan) won his opening singles match against Derek Logie (Cockenzie & Port Seton) 21-12 and then triumphed 21-19 over Ian Penwright (Inverness). In the quarter-final Richard lost out 21-10 to Burnbank's Alex Kelly.

Spittalmyre pairing Sam McFarlane and Frazer Gray won 20-11 against Dunoon then lost 15-12 to Kirkcolm.

In the junior singles, Gary Malcolmson from Polmaise BC lost his opener against Stuart Bebbington (Tweedmouth) 21-11, while senior four - Callander's Harry Crews, Bill McFarlane, Peter McCartney and John Bowes also lost out in their opening match 25-5 against eventual winners, Stranraer West End.

TOP FIFTEEN

THE City of Stirling Top Fifteen final goes ahead at the Bridge of Allan green on Sunday when Polmaise take on Borestone.

In the recent semi-finals Polmaise defeated Spittalmyre by 34 shots while Borestone saw off Cambusbarron by four points to two.

Players are requested to report to Bridge of Allan green on Sunday by 1.30p. The competition is being sponsored by sponsored by one Stop Motor Engineers and by Co-op Funeralcare.

CAUSEWAYHEAD OPEN PAIRS

WINNERS of last Sunday's open pairs competition were Borestone's Dougie Kerr and Andy Ferguson. Runners up were Jim Somerville and Pat Martin (Causewayhead).

HAMILTON TROPHY

STIRLING County West's quarter-final conquerors Lanarkshire South won last Sunday's Hamilton Trophy final against Ayrshire at Northfield (137-87)

CAUSEWAYHEAD v STIRLING

LAST Saturday's match at Causewayhead green resulted in an 18-shot victory for Stirling. Scores: P Doyle 19, D McKean 13; I Carnachan 12, JR Gilmour 15; J Blevins 11, P Neilson 21; B Morrison 10, J Miller 21. Totals: Causewayhead 52, Stirling 70.

ALLOA v RIVERSIDE

RESULTS from last Saturday's match were: R Grandison 12, J Purdie 12; J Marshall 14, I Gillies 11; J Dallas 12, T Millar 16; R Beverage 23, D Cairns 7. Totals: Alloa 61, Riverside 46.

BANNOCKBURN v CAUSEWAYHEAD

THE annual match between these clubs was played last Wednesday at Bannockburn. Scores: A Ivatt 12, I Carnachan 18; G Sludden 12, J Dawson 12; A Meldrum 13, B Morrison 10; I Cameron 19, P Martin 15. Totals: Bannockburn 56, Causewayhead 55.

DEFENDING District Nine League champions Polmaise were in blistering form last Friday at the Spittalmyre green when they retained the title with a highly convincing final victory over Borestone.

As early as the seventh end when Sandy Deans' four led 14-1 (aided by a super seven on the fourth), while Peter Black's team were 6-3 ahead on the other rink - the four-time champions looked to be heading for a fabulous fifth success.

And so it proved with the Polmaise men running out comfortable winners by four points and an overall 15 shot majority.

Ian Glen, Andy Craig, Iain Bone and Sandy Deans were never in trouble as they raced to a 23-12 victory over Ian Forsyth, Willie Ferguson, John Crombie and Rab Fleming.

Securing the other two points for Polmaise were Alex McNeil, Robert Beattie, Danny McCormick and Peter Black who fended off a stern challenge from Andy Ferguson, Neil Lafferty, Willie Hunter and Dougie Kerr to win 17-13.

Peels after 12 ends, Polmaise carded a four and three on the next two ends which carried them to victory.

For Borestone it was bitter disappointment at losing for a third time in the final, but for Polmaise, now with a handful of successes in the 15 years of the competition, it was celebration time.

This year's league campaign received generous sponsorship from Unicorn Travel and in attendance at the presentation ceremony was representative Glenys Thrower.

SANDY Deans (Polmaise) and Pat Neilson (Stirling) were winners of last Sunday's invitation pairs tournament at the Polmaise green. The event, sponsored by Rab's Taxies, attracted 24 entries.

Runners-up were Dick Kennedy (Bannockburn) and Gary Malcolmson (Polmaise Juniors).

Losing out in the semi-finals were Jim Walker and Ross McLeod (Polmaise) along with Peter Smith (Polmaise) and Jock Gairns (Cowie).

FUTURE prospects at the Polmaise Club would appear to be bright if this season's trophy haul by their younger members is an indication.

For junior bowlers within the club have enjoyed a hugely successful past few months winning no fewer than eight titles and being runners-up in another three contests.

Amongst their successes were The British Alcan Pairs, Bonestone Shield, Campsite Pairs, Carron Triples, Sports Council Triples, Kirkinutilloch Triples and the Allanadale Rink. Near successes came in the League and District Triples. Three young players have also appeared with the county junior team.

So it was a truly glittering occasion at the end of last week when club president Sandy Deans along with local councillor Tom Hazel were on hand to present the Junior Section competition trophies. Fourteen delighted youngsters also received diplomas from Mrs Janet Black.

The 12/16 years Champion was Iain Bone, (r.u. William Ferguson); 10/12 years Champion was Ross McLoad, (r.u. Kirk Russell); and the Tom Hazel trophy winners were Iain Bone and James McLelchan, (r.u. William Ferguson and Ross McLoad).

Junior coach Peter Black wishes to thank the Polmaise committee, club members and the Gothenburgh committee for support throughout the season. Thanks also to Betty Johnstone for chauffeur duties.