Garioch bowlers miss out in qualifiers for Scottish championships
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Garioch Indoor Bowling Club's gents and ladies just failed to win the last qualifiers for the semi-finals of the Scottish 2 Bowl Championships, writes Mike Barron.
The gents were beaten by the world ranked Elgin skip, while the ladies were beaten by Stonehaven which had the Scottish triples champion skip. Both regional finals showcased outstanding bowling.
Garioch gents had changed their pair as Colin and Jason Banks were competing for a World Indoor Bowls Championships singles spot at Potters Resort in Norfolk, which will be contested at the start of next year.
The runners-up in the Garioch championship, Alan Rough and Lee Collins, were more than able deputies.
They had a tremendous tournament but lost the last match to reach the semi-finals 5-9 and 4-12. Regardless of the score the pair showed outstanding bowling in the earlier rounds.
Garioch had a bye first and then met Buchan, which had the wily pair of David Hay and Sandy Elrick, but Rough, as lead, drew well with Collins keeping the shots.
Set two was easier, and over quickly, with Buchan always behind. The score was 2-0 to Garioch.
Turriff have done well in this competition in the past, but could not match the Garioch scoring. The score 12-3 and 5-7, with a 2-1 tie break win.
Reaching the regional final were the Elgin pair of Andrew Barker and Mike Stepney. The latter is the current Scottish singles champion, who just missed out in the final of the British Championship, and is a skip in the Scottish team.
He did not disappoint throughout the day with some outstanding drawing and firing with skill. The pair did not lose a set. They beat Perth 2-0, then Aberdeen easily 2-0, who had the new cap Jak Miller, and finally Arbroath before reaching the regional final against Garioch.
The Garioch ladies were at Stonehaven and their outstanding 2 bowl champions, Angela and Carla Banks, were pitted against the home team in the final which went to a tie-break. Stonehaven won and were into the semi-final of the championship.
Both Stonehaven and Garioch had international players and following the draw were expected to do well.
Carla Banks is now a multi cap under 25 and regular in the Scottish team, but so is Catherine McIntosh who with Sheila Bremner and Kim Watt of Stonehaven are the current Scottish triples champions.
Watt, a spectator on this occasion, said: “Set one was taken 9-7 with Garioch winning five ends.
"In set two, Stonehaven were down with Garioch playing well and just ahead. At the second last end Catherine McIntosh, of Stonehaven, pulled the jack back and took four shots. The set was gone. The final score was 7-10.
"The tie-break was lost with Stonehaven scoring in the first two ends. It was one set each and a lost tie-break."
Garioch first had a bye, then met the well known Liz Stephen and Patty Findlay of Buchan and did not lose a set.
Fraserburgh's spectators were hopeful of doing well but the pair could not match the drawing and accuracy of Garioch. They lost 2-0. Then came the final of the north section.
Stonehaven had the tougher draw. They beat Turriff 2-0, then Elgin 2-0 and finally the surprise pair of the tournament, Forfar, 2-0.
Stonehaven now play the winner of the west coast section at the end of November.
