The East Lothian IBC champion trio of Mark Johnston, Billy Mellors and Derek Oliver produced four smashing performances at the weekend as they qualified through to the semi-final of the Scottish Triples Championships.

The Garden County champions were at the Dewars Centre in Perth for the playdown action of this season’s event and showed red-hot form to win four tough games and reach the last-four stage.

They opened on Saturday morning with a convincing 19-4 win over Coatbridge, then added a 22-11 win over Berwickshire in the afternoon session.

On Sunday morning the talented trio produced a well-focused performance to beat a strong Falkirk triple 20-13.

The opposition in the section final (quarters of the event) came in the shape of West Lothian challengers Bryan Cooper, Stuart Johnston and Mark Allison and it was them who started the brightest and raced into a 13-2 lead after nine of the 18 ends completed.

But then Oliver and co stopped the rot and a change of jack length by them proved a master-stroke as they clawed their way back into the match and by end 15 peels at 14 was called. In the remaining final ends, the East Lothian trio always appeared in control of proceedings and went on to win a cracking encounter 17-16.

“We dedicate our triumph to Willie Wood, who should have been playing instead of me but due to recent hospital treatment had to withdraw, but I’m sure the news of us reaching the semi-final would have lifted his spirits,” said Billy Mellors.

The semi-final line up at Lanarkshire IBC in Wishaw on Saturday, March 28, is East Lothian v Cumbernauld and Elgin v Ardrossan.

The East Lothian banner in the ladies’ playdown action was carried by Agnes McLeod, Jean Russell and Janet Fairnie and their hopes of defending the title won last season by clubmates Yvonne Veitch, Margaret Thomson and Emma Brown were ended at the first round proper stage as they made a 16-11 exit to a strong East Fife triple.

East Lothian have a good record of title success in the Gents Scottish Fours Championships so hopes are high that their 2015 campaign, that starts with the playdown action this weekend, will bring further celebrations.

The challenge from the Garden County is in the capable hands of Andrew Jeffrey, Scott Kennedy, Derek Oliver (subbing for Willie Wood) and Billy Mellors.

They compete in the section of the draw being played at Bainfield IBC in Edinburgh and the multi-talented four launch their campaign tomorrow (Saturday) in the preliminary round at 9.30am against Stirling.

East Lothian are yet to make a title-winning impression in the ladies’ event and the latest hopes are invested in the shape of Jackie MacFarlane, Catherine Jones, Cathy Ward and Cathy McLeod, who also open in the preliminary round at 9.30am against Balbardie at West Lothian IBC in Livingston.

The ultra-talented senior side from East Lothian IBC finished their campaign in the East B section of the Scottish Senior League with a tremendous 100 per cent record following a convincing 86-63 win at Bainfield.

The Garden County ‘auld yins’ won all eight games in a tough section and finished a remarkable six points clear of nearest rivals Midlothian.

It has been confirmed that East Lothian will face East A section winners Falkirk in the knockout quarter-final stage at West Lothian IBC in Livingston on Wednesday, January 21.

Meanwhile, the ever-popular Jock Brodie Senior Championships got under way on Wednesday. The popular tournament for the ‘auld yins’ is now into its 17th year and this year again it has attracted a healthy total of 12 teams from the length and breadth of Scotland, with the host club (East Lothian) entering two sides (A & B) into the draw.

For the 14th successive year well-known Haddington businessman Norman T Craig has kindly agreed to sponsor the tournament, while Co-operative Funeralcare are also giving the tournament financial backing for an 11th successive year.

The opening week action featured East Lothian B against Perth and Teviotdale versus Berwickshire.

The bowling stars of the future will be on parade at Meadowmill next Saturday (December 27) as East Lothian IBC stage their annual Youth Team Championship tournament, with all the action getting under way at 9.30am.

Six sides from the length and breadth of Scotland will participate, with the eventual winning side capturing the coveted East Lothian Council Trophy.

The youth side from East Lothian IBC were in East of Scotland Junior League action on Saturday morning and suffered a second successive defeat as they went down 5-2 on points at Stirling.

Meanwhile in the SYIBA Dales Fours Championships at Blantyre IBC on Sunday, the East Lothian team of Meglan Kivlin, Lewis Betts, Dean Riva and Craig Mackintosh made it through to the knockout stage after qualifying through from a tough section before losing to Midlothian in the quarter-final.

Finally, East Lothian Indoor Bowling Club is now offering half-season memberships at a cost of £35 for full members and £20 for junior members and is effective from January 1.

Anyone wishing to join should call into Meadowmill or apply online at www.elibc.co.uk Anyone wishing to enter any of the post-Christmas leagues should also apply online via www.elibc.co.uk or contact the match secretary as soon as possible.