West Barns Bowling Club captured the Inter County Top Five Singles title at Sighthill BC in Edinburgh on Sunday following a 5-0 points victory over Castle Douglas in the final, having edged out the challenge of Edinburgh champions Carrick Knowe in a tense 3-2 affair in the semi-final.

The last-four encounter against Carrick Knowe was always going to be an enthralling encounter with four current internationalists, two ex-internationalists and the Edinburgh Champion of Champions runner-up for good measure.

First off was Billy Mellors, who put the first point in the bag for the East Lothian champions with a 21-17 win over Richard Tough.

Next off were Scott Kennedy and Scott Thorburn both losing 21-19 in ding-dong encounters to Darren Hush and Paul O’Donnell respectively.

Alister ‘Bongo’ Kennedy then levelled the tie at 2-2 when he pipped former Garden County star James Hogg, 21-17.

This left centre-stage to Calum Gordon and former world-stage star Colin Mitchell and it was the underdog who stole the show and emerged the West Barns hero when a sparkling 4, 2, 1, 1 finish from 13-16 down saw him win 21-16 and put the Barns into the final.

The final started off a tight affair but by the halfway stage West Barns were beginning to assert themselves on proceedings.

Again, Mellors led the way as he finished first again and registered a 21-11 victory, closely followed by Thorburn, who won 21-13.

Aptly it was player-of-the-day Gordon who was the hero again and the man to give West Barns the third point they required for victory. Once again involved in a tight battle, Gordon produced the goods with a front toucher with his second bowl when leading 20-19, which his opponent could not remove, and the Garden County side were champions, much to the delight of an excited travelling support.

The Kennedy brothers Scott and Alister were leading 18-16 and 18-12 in their respective games when their opponents shook hands.

“Having suffered defeat in the National Top Ten semi-final and an agonising finish to our league campaign, the last two weekends have turned our season around and we can now go into next season’s National Top Ten as Top Five champions and also have the British Pairs champions in our midst – not bad for a wee village club,” reflected jubilant team captain Scott Kennedy.

Tranent Bowling Club kingpin John McCrorie is ELBA Champion of Champions, with the 48-year-old etching his name on the coveted trophy for a third time having captured the 2014 crown at Aberlady BC on Saturday.

McCrorie was one of many high-profile club champions challenging for the prestigious end-of-season title but he was the one that shined brightest with a series of highly polished performances that climaxed with a thrilling 21-20 win over Stevie Thomson of Castlepark in the final.

It iced the cake on a great season for the former National Singles champion that saw him reach the national finals in the pairs and win the championship crown at Tranent for a record-equalling eighth time.

“I’m thrilled to bits and over the moon at being crowned the ELBA Champion of Champions for a third time but it was hard earned as Stevie played a blinder and I was glad to get over the line,” reflected McCrorie.

McCrorie looked on course for victory when he led 18-12 but Thomson showed great spirit with a brilliant run that saw him cross 19-18. McCrorie is a player who can find extra gears in such situations and was forced to do so when he carded a double to stop the rot but then Thomson replied with a single that also took him to 20.

McCrorie played a tremendous final end that Thomson had no answer to and triggered the victory salute with a front and back toucher.

McCrorie was presented with the trophy from host club president Gus Scott.

The earlier semi-final action was also of a good standard, with McCrorie defeating Tommy Young, while Thomson held most of all the aces in a hard-fought win over Athelstaneford champion John Carpenter Jnr.

East Linton ace Grant Thomson is included in the 26-man under-25 team to represent Scotland in the Junior Home Internationals series at Belmont Bowling Club in Belfast this weekend.

Thomson will be present for an impressive fourth series in a row when he lines up at third in the rink skipped by Ryan Burnett of Carnoustie West End. The curtain falls on the ELBA competitive season tomorrow (Saturday) as four clubs battle it out for the final silverware of the outdoor season, as Macmerry Bowling Club hosts the Courier Cup finals day.

The end-of-season tournament will feature all the evening league champions, namely Haddington, Castlepark A, East Lothian Labour and Cockburnspath.

ELBA officials have confirmed the semi-final draw will take place at noon, with the action getting under way 30 minutes later. The final is expected to commence at about 3pm.

A touring side from Blantyre Bowling Club will be welcomed to the Garden County this weekend when they play two consecutive friendly matches.

First up tomorrow (Saturday) is a game against Cockenzie & Port Seton, where Commonwealth Games hero Alex ‘Tattie’ Marshall is expected to make a brief guest appearance with his gold medals in hand. Then on Sunday they make the short trip up to Tranent to tackle a side from EL-Coop. Both games get under way at 2pm. Turning attention to the indoor season, East Lothian Indoor Bowling Club has confirmed it will open its doors for the new season on a full-time basis on Monday.

The highly acclaimed Top Four tournament kicks off on Monday evening, while the Morning and Afternoon Leagues are also scheduled to commence next week.

The popular Monday morning (10am-noon) and Tuesday afternoon (2-4pm) hat games also begin next week, while the club is also introducing a new Saturday afternoon hat game which will commence on October 3, noon-2pm.

Membership fees and rink fees remain the same at £58 and £3 (£4 non-members) respectively. There is also a new car park layout, with a one-way system in operation.

The draw for the East Linton Open Singles tournament on Monday is as follows: 11am: L/E, E. Greenwood (Muss), A .McCue (E/L), L. Ritchie (E/L), D. Murdoch (E/L), G. Thomson (E/L), K. Hamilton (E/L), J. Connely (Eye), A. Gilchrist (Gord), M. Greenan (P/G), G. Brownlee (Gord), L/E, R. Wilson (W/B), R. Drysdale (C/Path), L/E, A. Borthwick (Penicuik).

Noon: A. Pringle (Muss), L/E, C. Martin (Gord), K. Fender (E/L), G. Blair (Hadd), G. J. Bell (E/L), D. Hoggan (Tra), L/E , C. Murdoch (E/L), S. White (Spitt), G. Bell (Dun), J. Carpenter (Athel), L/E, A. W. Kennedy (W/B), P. Lorrimer (W/B), G. Fender (E/L) 1pm: S. Brunton (Wint), B. Patterson (Spit), L/E, A. Gordon (Penicuik), C. Brock (Hadd), R. Black (E/L), S. Bebbington (Ayt), Y. Veitch (ELCO), A. Strang (Aber), T. Kerr (Co-path), L/E, R. Brock (Hadd), K. Robertson (Aber), C. McNeil (Eye), S. Ferguson (W/B), F. Donaldson (Gord).

Late entries can be obtained by contacting Graham Bell on 07885 020403.