THE majority of outdoor bowlers will tell you that reaching the National Finals is always an ambition, with qualifying rounds in one of the most talented counties making it harder than most to make the National Centre for Bowling (Ayr) a reality.
Ian Thorburn, Danny Stevenson and duo James Burnett and Sam Gray took full advantage of qualifying for the finals and went just a little bit further.
Last Wednesday, Thorburn (West Barns) and Stevenson (EL Co-op) had booked their places in the over-55s’ singles and under-25s’ singles semi-finals respectively.
Thorburn would take on Ronnie Duffie (Burnside), while Stevenson faced a familiar face in East Lothian Indoor bowler Lewis Betts (Craigentinny).
With the games taking part simultaneously, it would be both East Lothian men quickest out of the blocks and they raced into healthy leads, thanks in part to the noisy East Coast support in the stands.
Both opponents were keen to show they deserved a place in the last four and responded to close the games within just a handful of shots.
Stevenson would be first over the line and into the final, closing out his battle 21-15.
Meanwhile, Thorburn would put the crowd through a tense final few ends before seeing out a 21-19 victory.
The West Barns bowler would contest the gold medal and title of Scottish over-55s’ singles champion against Scott McCubbin (Auchencairn) on the next rink, while Stevenson played for the under-25s’ title against Lee Trotter (Turriff).
The duo followed suit from earlier contests and both commanded strong leads from the start.
The EL Co-op junior pushed on to a healthy 12-5 lead, while his county team-mate held a 13-8 lead at the same time.
Again, Stevenson would be first over the line, claiming East Lothian’s first gold medal of the 2022 championships, overcoming the northern player 21-13.
Thorburn would once again put wife Debbie and the West Barns faithful through the ringer as the Auchencairn man levelled up the match at 19-19.
However, Thorburn held his nerve to secure a two at the last and claim a second gold for the Garden County.
There would be more success for the Prestongrange duo of James Burnett and Sam Gray, who secured their place in the national pairs semi-final against father and son Aaron and David Miller (Inverkeithing).
A tricky rink six proved difficult in any attempts to change the game.
The Inverkeithing duo looked to be holding a healthy five-shot lead as the tie entered the final few ends.
However, a rare slack end from the young lead provided the ‘Grange pair with a rare opportunity to score multiple shots.
Gray gladly accepted the invitation, removing their bowl with a perfectly timed runner and making a huge count of six.
The end appeared to deflate the Fifers, with the Prestongrange men heading into the last with a four-shot cushion.
Young Miller composed himself to leave four bowls within close proximity of the jack.
Gray quickly removed the danger, making contact and springing the jack out to the confines of the rink, leaving the Inverkeithing man just one attempt left to burn the end and have it replayed.
A momentary lapse in judgement saw Gray unbelievably trail the jack out of the rink, forcing a replayed last end. But fortunately, both players regained their composure to see out the last and book their place in the afternoon final.
Kirkintilloch BC would be the opponents after an impressive morning session against Carluke, at one point leading 12-1 in the match.
They would repeat the blistering start in the final as Prestongrange were stunned at finding themselves 8-0 down and in real danger of being part of a procession for the gold medal.
A huge relief came on the fifth end, Prestongrange halving arrears to trail 8-4.
At end 12, and Prestongrange trailed -9, Kirkintilloch skip Alan Barrie adding a third short jack high as they looked to reopen their early advantage.
Gray had other ideas, firstly putting the jack in the ditch to lie three shots himself.
Barrie replied, drawing the shot within three feet of the ditch.
Gray replied in kind with a perfectly timed runner, removing the opposition bowl and securing a match-defining four and the lead in the match for the first time.
Prestongrange held a four-shot lead entering end 16 as they looked to close out the match for the title.
Gray drew into the head to match James’ two bowls to hold a three; Barrie looked to play a runner to disturb the head, narrowly failing off a short bowl.
That would leave Prestongrange with a massive seven-shot lead at the last, a lead the Kirkintilloch duo felt would not be overturned.
In very sporting fashion, Kirky shook hands and conceded the title – much to the delight of Prestongrange and the travelling East Lothian support.
That was not the end of the success for East Lothian, though, as Aberlady Ladies’ four guaranteed they would be in on the medal action.
Kate Cowan, Moira Buchanan, Amanda Robertson and Melissa Penman booked their place in the Saturday morning semi-finals after wins against Newmains, Castle Kennedy and Westerton.
West Lothian side Buchan Park would provide the challenge as they looked to make the gold medal match.
A close encounter saw Aberlady trail by three at end 14.
A solid two, followed by a single on end 16, would see the match go right to the wire.
Robertson trailed the jack through the head to lie one and a possible measure for the game; the Buchan Park skip drew a guaranteed second shot to force an extra end.
The West Lothian second drew a front toucher with her second delivery to leave Aberlady needing to disturb the head. Robertson narrowly failed just inches past the jack, followed by an equally close attempt by Penman.
With the backhand now blocked, Penman was forced to swap to the forehand to disrupt the head.
Chasing her final delivery, the Aberlady starlet failed just fractionally wide of the target.
The ladies secured the bronze medal to add to an impressive East Lothian medal haul for the championships.
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