Bowls: Dumbarton teams participate in National Pairs competition

Dec 25 2009 by Andy Galloway, Lennox Herald (main ed)

THE playdown rounds of the ladies and gents National Pairs took place last weekend at various locations throughout the country.

Representing Dumbarton and District IBC in the ladies pairs were Jean Irwin and Annette Christie, while brothers Robert and Graeme Sloan represented the club in the gents pairs.

The ladies were drawn to play Irvine IBC in the preliminary tie at East Kilbride IBC.

After a steady first game, the Dumbarton ladies ran out comfortable winners by 23-13.

In the first round in the afternoon, they were drawn against Newton Stewart and recorded an even more convincing win, 27-13.

The Dumbarton ladies returned to the fray on Sunday at Blantyre IBC, where they were drawn to play Paisley IBC.

This proved to be a very close encounter, with the two teams tied on 18 shots each at the finish, meaning an extra end.

Unfortunately it was Paisley who took the extra shot, sadly ending a great effort by the Dumbarton ladies.

However, Robert and Graeme remain in the competition, having started their campaign with a 26-14 win over Newton Stewart at Blantyre.

They returned there on the Sunday to face Cumbernauld, and were 26-12 winners, which meant taking on Ardrossan on the quarter finals.

In a game which they never looked like losing, Robert and Graeme had a runaway victory by 24-9.

The final stages of the competition will be played at Prestwick IBC on the weekend of March 27 and 28. The Dumbarton duo’s semi-final will be against J Gibson and W Rankin of Midlothian.

IN the Dumbarton and District Indoor Bowling Club inter-club leagues, the senior gents team were the only club team in action last weekend, with a home fixture against the West of Scotland.

The team were looking for a winning end to the year, but it was not to be their day.

After a keenly contested game the home team went down by 7 shots to 71. The interclub leagues start again in early January.

THE Scottish Young Bowlers’ Indoor Association’s latest trial to pick the national squad for a forthcoming international series took place at Abbeyview IBC last Sunday, with 18 players taking part.

Dumbarton and District’s Richard O’Malley has made the final squad of 12, and he is wished well in the forthcoming internationals.

DUMBARTON and District IBC’s junior section held their Christmas celebrations last Sunday, with a game of bowls followed by a lunch.

About 20 juniors took part along with parents and friends. Santa paid a visit and presented all the children with a gift.

Club coach Jim Irwin thanked all who had assisted in making the day a most enjoyable one.