Published: Friday, 29th August, 2008 7:30am
West Barns shock champs in Top Ten
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WEST BARNS Bowling Club ripped up the form book by beating Division 1 champions East Linton in the final of the ELBA Top Ten Championship last Saturday.
They triumphed in this coveted county competition for the second year in a row with an eight shot (66-58) victory, after the match at EL Co-op Bowling Club in Tranent had finished 4-4 on points.
West Barns will now represent the county in next year"s national event.
Ironically, it was East Linton who drew first blood in a highly entertaining final.
Richard Black won the singles battle with an impressive 21-11 win over Willie Wood.
The league champions also triumphed in the triples clash. But wins in the pairs and fours carried the day for the defending cup holders.
Scottish internationalist Alister Kennedy was in awesome form as he skipped Mathew Saddler to a thumping 27-10 victory over Mike Newlands and Stuart Bell.
That defeat was a blow to East Linton. However, they retaliated in the fours with a tremendous late fightback.
Colin Murdoch, Davie Waugh, Kevin Deans and George Cowan were five shots ahead of Calum Gordon, Alan Borthwick, Ian Thorburn and Gary Landells with only two ends remaining.
But Landells and his rink produced a brilliant finale with counts of 5 and 3 to win the game and steal two priceless points.
East Linton had the consolation of Grant Thomson skipping Colin Deans and Graham Bell to a deserved 12-10 win over Dougie Kennedy, David Sked and Struan Robertson.
In the earlier semi-final action, West Barns scored an emphatic 8-0 points win over North Berwick.
In the other match played at Elphinstone, East Linton were 6-2 winners against Ormiston.
The club champions throughout the county have been battling it out over the past fortnight for the right to claim the prestigious ELBA Champion of Champions title.
The event will reach its climax tomorrow (Saturday) as North Berwick Bowling Club stage the tournament"s finals day. The action starts at 1pm.
The climax of the John McDonald Senior League Cup took place at Haddington Bowling Club on Tuesday.
Defending champions Aberlady beat Musselburgh Municipal in the final.
The annual East Linton Open Singles tournament takes place on Monday, September 15. Entries should be made be with Keith Fender on 01620 860654 by Sunday, September 7.
The draw for Tranent Bowling Club"s Adult and Youth Open Pairs four-bowl tournament which takes place tomorrow is as follows:
10am: J McGregor, D Hoggan, G Turner (Dun), Longniddry 1, Longniddry 4, K Frame (C/P), Longniddry 6, Late Entry, B French (Elph), K Hoggan, J Higgins, Longniddry 5.
10.45am: J Main, J Kilday, J Bonner, Late Entry, G Duncan, B Thomson (ELCO), B Hoggan, D Whitson, D Robertson, R McLaren, Longniddry 8, B Young (Mac).
11.30: J McCrorie (Orm), S Buchanan (ELCO), Longniddry 2, Longniddry 7, G Dickson (Long), K McCrorie, Longniddry 3, L Baillie (C&PS).
