EAST Linton Bowling Club kingpin Grant Thomson is the new ELBA Champion of Champions title holder, with the 27-year-old etching his name on the coveted trophy for the first time by capturing the 2017 crown at Haddington BC on Sunday.
Thomson 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, climaxing with a thrilling 21-18 win over Gary Landells of West Barns in an epic 22-end final.
It capped a great season for the former Scotland junior cap that saw him win the championship crown at his beloved East Linton for a fifth time.
Thomson said: “I’m thrilled to bits and over the moon to be finally crowned ELBA Champion of Champions but it was hard-earned as Gary played a blinder and I was glad to get over the line.”
It was Thomson who made the better start to lead 5-0 after 3 ends but Landells responded in fine fashion with a 2, 4 to cross 6-5.
The East Linton ace answered with a brilliant game-changing reply of 2, 1, 1, (1), 3 that regained him the initiative at 13-7.
Thomson was then pressed by the loss of a double (13-9) but again responded superbly to score a 4, 1 over the next couple of ends to have Landells firmly in his 18-9 grip.
End 17 saw Landells keep his hopes alive with a maximum count of 4 that closed the deficit to 18-15 but, inspired by the sight of the winning line, Thomson showed cool composure to turn the screw with a couple of singles to move 20-15 ahead.
Landells was not going to go away without a fight and he hit back with a double then a single but he finally succumbed when Thomson managed a title-clinching single to 21.
The earlier semi-final action was also of an excellent standard, with Thomson defeating Aberlady club champion Gordon White 21-17, while Landells enjoyed a hard-fought 21-15 win over Castlepark champion Jamie Frame.
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