THE county’s Scottish champions are aiming to add the British crown to their CVs, with East Lothian’s internationalists also in action, at the British Isles Championships and International Series at Stanley, Durham.

First onto the carpet is Emma Brown who is part of the Scotland team who face England today (Friday), Wales tomorrow (Saturday) and Ireland on Sunday in the ladies’ internationals.

Brown is again in action alongside Yvonne Veitch and Mags Thomson in the ladies triple which faces Ireland in a prelim in the Championships on Monday at 2pm.

On Monday evening, Billy Mellors gets his British Isles singles campaign underway against Tommy Greechan of the Channel Islands, while the British Finals take place next Wednesday.

Mellors is then joined by his club mates Willie Wood MBE, Graham Robertson, Scott Kennedy, Derek Oliver and Jamie Higgins in the Scotland team which bid to retain the Hilton Trophy in the International Series, also at Stanley. They face Wales next Thursday, followed by Ireland on Friday and England on Saturday.

The Garden County senior side are in the midst of cup final fever as they prepare for the Scottish Senior League Cup Final clash with Coatbridge at West of Scotland IBC tomorrow (Saturday). The great news is that legend of the sport Willie Wood MBE has recovered from his recent operation and returns to join Peter Laidlaw, Tommy Young and Jock Brodie as the four skips heading up the garden county ‘auld yins’ challenge. The full team reads:- L.Middler, J.P.Hamilton, A.Russell, P.Laidlaw skip D.McLeod, B.J.Smith, J.Neilson, T.Young skip P.Fallen, J.McLeod, R.Douglas, J.Brodie skip B.Bisset, R.Maguire, B.Higgins, W.W.Wood MBE skip There is doubt as to whether Tommy Young will be fit to play – a decision to be made as late as possible.

A bus has been arranged to take players and spectators leaving the stadium at approx 9.30am. There are still 3/4 seats available should any one wish to come and watch please contact John Hamilton on 07974648401.

The Gents won their Scottish Cup first round game comprehensively last Saturday when they disposed of Forfar by a 119-61 scoreline with all four rinks winning.

They now face Ayr this Saturday at West of Scotland which will allow them to watch some of the Seniors League final before going on the carpet.

Alex Marshall is counted out as he prepares to travel to Australia for four months. While the services of Lessel Middler and Willie Wood are lost due to their involvement in the Seniors League final and Kieran Simants has other commitments. Fortunately Billy Mellors and Andy Jeffrey are now available and there is first call-up for John Robertson as a reward for his improved and consistent performances this season. The line-up reads:- M.Osborne, G.Darling, S.W.Thomson, S.Kennedy skip G.Muir, A.Burt, G.Robertson, D.Oliver skip E.Fallen, J Robertson, D.Berwick, B.Mellors skip M.Johnston capt, C.Darling, A Jeffrey, J.Higgins skip (Res: C Allison).

The gents’ singles have now reached the quarter final stage and there will be a player reaching the final for the first time as the top half of the draw sees John Robertson play Paul Archibald and under-25 young guns Ewan Fallen and Calum Darling face up to each other.

In the bottom half, current holder of the East Lothian and Scottish crowns Billy Mellors plays Peter Fallen while former winner Scott Kennedy plays Andy Burt.

Meanwhile, the Ladies and Under 25 events are also at the semi-final stage. In the ladies event Arlene Berwick plays Janet Fairnie while Megan Kivlin and current holder Dee Hoggan go head to head.

In the Junior singles, David Currie Jnr plays Ewan Fallen and Lewis Betts meets current holder Calvert Allison.

On Wednesday, a senior side from East Lothian IBC went out of the Central Scotland Senior Top Six, losing out 4-2 to West Lothian.

Last Sunday heralded the finals day of the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games at Glasgow IBC and East Lothian had a double interest with Calum Darling and Megan Kivlin both having burning ambitions of winning their respective disciplines. Unfortunately both players lost out narrowly in their first games with Calum going down by 21-18 to Aaron Barrett from West Lothian and Megan losing out to Stephanie Wallace from Auchinleck by 21-16.

The youth side from East Lothian IBC are currently in a rich vein of form in the East of Scotland Junior League and play Abbeyview this week at Meadowmill with a 7.50am start The Garden County young brigade is also in action on Sunday at the finals day of the SYIBA championships at Stirling IBC. Megan Kivlin and Lewis Betts team up in the pairs while Aaron Betts, Dean Riva and Craig Mackintosh are in the triples.