THE final of the Gents’ Singles Championship at East Lothian Indoor Bowling Club was, as expected, a thrilling affair between two skilful exponents of the sport that ended with current Garden County team captain Billy Mellors capturing the title for the first time after he beat defending champion Willie Wood.

A cracking final was always on the cards and the talented duo certainly didn’t disappoint the bumper crowd that gathered at Meadowmill last Friday evening by producing a three-hour spectacle of top-class bowling.

Three-times champion Wood looked on course for record-breaking title win number four when he held a 20-16 lead but then Mellors, a four-time champion at the now defunct Edinburgh IBC, produced an awesome display of consistent drawing bowls to get over the line and claim the title with a 21-20 triumph. “I’m thrilled to bits to win this prestigious title for the first time and, even more exciting for me, it now brings me the major bonus of a go at the national title next season,” beamed Mellors afterwards.

The final of the Ladies’ Singles Championship was also down for decision last Friday evening and Dee Hoggan was crowned queen of the county for the second time in three years as she produced a dazzling performance to beat defending champion Janet Fairnie 21-7.

Internationalist Emma Brown beat Kim Hoggan 21-12 to land the Ladies’ Junior Singles title, while the gents’ version of the junior singles produced a cracking encounter in the final, with Scotland Under-17 cap Calvert Allison picking up the pace from 16-16 to beat junior cap Ewan Fallen 21-18.

National Under-18 Singles champion Calum Darling was victorious in the Youth Singles final, beating Allison 21-10, while Alan Morgan was in great form to beat Jim McLeod 21-16 in the Senior Singles final. Craig Mackintosh claimed the Youth Under-13 title with a commanding 21-7 win over Cameron Shaw.

In finals played earlier in the week, newly crowned British Isles Pairs champions Jamie Higgins and Derek Oliver were back on the winners’ podium as they enjoyed another title success in the Scottish 4-Bowl Pairs with a 20-12 win over Mark Johnston and Willie Wood.

The mother-and-daughter combination of Rosemary and Gillian Mackintosh held all the aces to beat defending champions Kim and Dee Hoggan to capture the Ladies’ Scottish 4-Bowl Pairs, while Aaron Betts and Dean Riva lifted the Youth Pairs title.

Andrew Jeffrey and Scott Kennedy claimed the Scottish 2-Bowl Pairs title and in the ladies’ version the strong partnership of Emma Brown and Janet Fairnie reigned supreme.

Arthur Duncan and Alistair Russell were in tip-top form to capture the Senior Pairs accolade.

The talented trio of Mark Johnston, Willie Wood and Derek Oliver reclaimed the Gents’ Scottish Triples title, while Agnes McLeod, Jean Russell and Janet Fairnie emerged triumphant in the ladies’ equivalent.

The Senior Triples title went to Alistair Russell, Billy Higgins and Jim Neilson, while the team of Gary Darling, Andrew Jeffrey, Scott Kennedy, Craig McCall, Gary Muir, Dougie Mitchell and Sandy Darling clinched the Division 1 silverware.

Representing East Lothian in the Ladies’ National Fours next season will be Catherine Jones, Cathy McLeod, Cathy Ward and Jackie MacFarlane, while the representatives in next season’s Gents’ National Senior Fours will be Graham Good, John Holmes, John P Hamilton and Ross McGuire.

The Pans People team claimed the Saturday Morning Triples title with victory over Haddington in the final.

Meanwhile, East Lothian A inscribed their name on the Jock Brodie Senior Challenge Cup for a remarkable 10th time in its 17-year history after a convincing 8-0 points win over defending champions Perth in last Wednesday’s grand finale at Meadowmill.

The Garden County posted wins on all three rinks, skipped by Peter Laidlaw (+10), Tommy Young (+8) and Jock Brodie (+1), to run out comfortable winners.

During the course of the tournament, club members Morag Wood and Muriel Hamilton organised a raffle that eventually raised a record-breaking sum of £1,400 for club funds.

The club thanked Morag and Muriel for their tremendous efforts, as well as tournament sponsors Norman T Craig and Co-operative Funeral & Monumental Services.

Turning attention now to the outdoor bowling season and the fixture list in Division 1 of the East Lothian Leagues, recently issued by ELBA match secretary Keith Fender, sets the scene for a cracking opening week of fixtures next Friday (April 25) evening.

Title holders East Linton face a major test on week one when they make the short trip down the A1 to tackle Division 2 winners Haddington, who look set to field a number of new signings against the champions.

Former five-in-a-row champions Port Seton face a tough opening challenge at West Barns, while it should be quite a night at Castlepark when they tackle Prestongrange in a ‘Pans’ derby.

Last season’s runners-up EL-Coop enjoy home advantage over Aberlady, while Gifford open with a home fixture against Tranent. A full preview of the opening games will appear in next week’s paper.

Meanwhile, Keith Fender of East Linton BC has taken over the reigns as Bowls Scotland district secretary for East Lothian after the standing down of long-serving John Halliday of Stenton BC. All club secretaries are reminded that player nomination forms for selection consideration for East Lothian in the forthcoming Scottish Counties Championship (Hamilton Trophy) must be returned to team administrator Jamie Gordon by next Saturday (April 26).

A trial team for a practice match at Haddington BC on Saturday, May 3, will be selected on the evening of next Tuesday (April 29). Also, player nomination forms for selection consideration for East Lothian in the Scottish Under-25 Championships must be returned to team convenor Keith Fender by next Saturday.

The AGM of the East Lothian Youth League is held at EL-Coop BC in Tranent next Thursday (April 24) evening from 7pm. All clubs are requested to attend.

Finally, bowls fans can now keep up-to-date with all that is happening on the outdoor bowling scene in the Garden County by following the website by East Lothian Bowling Association. All bowlers are urged to view by clicking on www.eastlothianbowls.co.uk