Garioch Indoor Bowling Centre attracts national interest for the short mat competition
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The Garioch Indoor Bowling Club in Inverurie hosted the Interclub Round the Stick competition this weekend.
Over 100 competitors attended the event, including players who regularly compete nationally and several who represent Scotland.
This is the 12th year of the competition, and this year sees a much-welcomed return to the competitions' calendar after lockdown.
The match is played twice a year and is a firm fixture in the Scottish sporting calendar.
Last weekend's competition attracted clubs locally and further afield, including clubs from Mallaig and Gretna.
The competition included singles, pairs and triples games.
The triples championship was won by Jim Gordon from Huntly Club, Sandy McDonald from Grampian Bowling Association, took runner up position, and the Triples consolation winner was Roy Lingard from Monymusk Bowling Club and I Ross as runner up.
The pairs championship winners were Murray Masson and Bill Fraser with Sandy McDonald and Roy Lingard, the pairs runners up.
The singles championship winner was Ian Jaffray.
Sandy McDonald, a finalist in this weekend's triples, plays internationally and has been selected to play at the British Championship (Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England) in January 2022.
Paul Walker from the Grampian Bowling Association, a finalist, regularly represents Scotland and joins Murray Masson and Sandy McDonald at the British Championship.
Several of this weekend's players will play at the Scottish Open Short Mat in Stranraer over the weekend of November 21-22.
The Scottish Open attracts players from across Scotland, with clubs coming from far and near, including Aberdeenshire, Dumfries, Glasgow, Skye.
Commenting on the event Derek Mackay, president of the Garioch Indoor Bowling Club, said: "Normally the competition draws over 300 players to what has become a high profile competition in the short mat calendar. "However, this year we weren't sure what to expect following lockdown.
"We were thoroughly delighted to welcome over 100 players, including players who could join us from Mallaig and Gretna Bowling Clubs.
"A thank you to Barrett Homes, who kindly sponsored this weekend's event."
Image Caption: Pairs Short Mat Bowling Winners - Murray Masson, Bill Fraser, Derek Mackay President at Garioch Indoor Bowling Club
