Forres Bowling Club's open pairs attracts 36 entries from 11 clubs with Aviemore duo triumphing after defeating Burghead's St Aethan's father-and-son in final
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The Forres Bowling Club president, Alex Porter welcomed 36 entries from 11 different clubs to the David Petrie Handyman sponsored Forres Open Pairs.
The tournament climaxed with a tie between the holders, Craig and Gordy McDonald of St Aethan's (Burghead) and the 2019 winners, John Smith and Craig Feltham of Aviemore.
Some great play by Gordy McDonald in particular saw the coast pairing go 4-1 up after the initial handful of ends. The Aviemore pair fought back to take the following seven ends to take a strong 13-4 advantage. When they scored a brace two ends later, McDonald decided to throw in the towel.
The eight quarter-final teams on Sunday came from eight separate clubs. Steve Whittlestone of St Ninian's won six of his first eight ends to leave David Craib (Hopeman) trailing in his wake. However, half-a-dozen ends later, Craib had gone 14-12 in front. A four at the penultimate swung the game back in the Nairn pairing's favour.
A five at the seventh end gave Feltham a comfortable advantage over Forres' last survivor, Paul Coutts. Coutts fell further behind (7-18) before putting up an unsuccessful fightback over the final four ends.
The holders were in deep trouble as a five aided Aberlour's Jim Hart to an 11-5 lead. However McDonald wasn't for letting go of his grip on the shield, and won all but one of the remaining six ends to go through 15-12.
The tie between Moray's John Whitton and Nairn's Scott MacLean swung one way then the other. MacLean led 5-0 after the initial pair of ends. Whitton fought back to lead 11-7 with just four ends left.
It was then MacLean's turn to take the advantage to lead 12-11 going into the last. A lucky shot from Whitton took the tie to an extra end.
The drama was still to come. A lucky shot from MacLean this time left both skips staring at the head with Whitton still having a bowl left. Rather than play his bowl, Whitton decided to call for the umpire to measure the shots already played. His call proved to be costly one. He lost out by about 4mm.
Although Feltham was 8-3 up on Whittlestone in their semi-final, the latter made a game of it. He squared the tie at 11-11 and then 12-12. At the penultimate end, Whittlestone was holding five shots before Feltham came up with a master-stroke with his final bowl. He trailed the jack back to earn seven shots of his own. There was no way back for the St Ninian's team.
There was very little between MacLean and McDonald in the other semi-final. After 13 ends, the score was tied at 10-10. McDonald scored a brace at each of the next two ends to give him some daylight.
Scores, first round: D Sobey 14, N Ogilvie 11; M Miele 9, S Whittlestone 20; D Dobbs 30, A MacGregor 3; H Davidson 11, F McPherson 16; J Donaldson 5, D Craib 24.
Second round: D Sobey 10, S Whittlestone 17; D Dobbs 14, F McPherson 10; D Craib 23, M Swinswood 12; W Petrie 17, D Petrie 13; R McRitchie 13, P Coutts 16; N Barker w/o, E Petrie scr; S Robertson 12, C Feltham 14; H McBean 22, A Porter 2; M Munro 4, J Hart 15; P Rogan 21, E Spence 6; J Whelan 14, J Matthews 16; J Graham 12, G McDonald 15; S Murdoch 7, I Stewart 21; J Whitton 20, W Neil 11; S MacLean 14, G Fraser 10; B Riddell 10, H Sutherland 14.
Third round: S Whittlestone 14, D Dobbs 12; D Craib 17, W Petrie 12; P Coutts 15, N Barker 13; C Feltham 25, H McBean 12; J Hart 16, P Rogan 13; J Matthews 13, G McDonald 16; I Stewart 12, J Whitton 15; S MacLean 18, H Sutherland 17.
Quarter-finals: S Whittlestone 16, D Craib 15; P Coutts 13, C Feltham 18; J Hart 12, G McDonald 15; J Whitton 12, S MacLean 13 (after extra end).
Semi-finals: S Whittlestone 12, C Feltham 19; G McDonald 14, S MacLean 11.
Final: C Feltham 15, G McDonald 5.
Mary Sobey got off to a poor start in her Scottish District 2 over-55s quarter-final tie against Isobel Laing of The Elgin, going 6-0 down after three ends. Although Sobey then won four ends out of six, losing a maximum left her 13-3 behind. She matched her opponent thereafter, but succumbed 21-11.
Forres were thrashed 6-2 in their BBA/HBA Top Ten tie at home to The Elgin.
John Ross, Gary Mackie and Dean Dobbs were the only bright lights for Forres as they edged out Mike Junor's triple. They started their game badly, going 5-0 down after three ends. Within two ends they were on level terms, and, a great shot by Dean, as directed by Gary, earned a five at the seventh end to go 10-7 up. At 13-9 ahead, the home team lost three ends on the spin as the tie levelled at 13-13 going into the deciding end. Ross' bowl took the shot for a 14-13 victory.
John Matthews scored a maximum at the fourth end as he went 9-5 up with eight ends of the singles played. However he then lost a handful of ends in a row to trail 15-9. Some great play squared the tie at 19-19 before a decent third bowl secured two shots for Brian Christie.
Malcolm Swinswood and Paul Coutts lost a seven at the second end as Zander Christie took an 11-1 advantage after only four ends. Within four ends Coutts had got the score back to 10-13. However Forres then lost four ends out of five to leave themselves a mountain to climb at 11-20. The tie finished 21-15 to the Elgin pairing.
A dreadful start saw Davie Petrie, Derek Sobey, Sandy Burgess and Alex Porter fall 7-0 down to Jim Henderson after three ends of the rinks. Three ends later Forres had got the score back to 5-7. However, in a similar situation to Thursday evening, Alex won just one of the remaining eleven ends, dropping two fives in the process. Final score in this one – 28-8 to Elgin.
Newcomer, Carol McRitchie is joint top of the Scott Cup table after the second round of the four-month long competition.
There was an anxious wait in the clubhouse before McRitchie, Paul Rogan and Alex Porter were declared the night's overall winners after a countback. Although the trio started well enough, 7-0 up on Brian Caldwell after four ends, they were aware of what was happening on the rink next to them. A six at the 11th end was their highest score.
Dean Dobbs scored a six at the very first end, and was 16-0 up on Paul Coutts just four ends in. Coutts eventually got going, but a brace at the last restored Dobbs' 16-shot margin.
After a tight initial nine ends, Sandy Burgess went nap against John Ross, who won just one end thereafter.
Nine shots scored over two mid-game ends put Gary Mackie in control over Marjory McCarthy. Although both skips won eight ends, Mackie was scoring better.
Malcolm Swinswood led Harry Sutherland 15-4 after nine ends. As usual, Swinswood then took his foot off the throttle.
Despite losing the final pair of ends, John Matthews pipped Stuart Robertson by a single shot in a closely contested game.
Scores: A Porter 23, B Caldwell 7; D Dobbs 26, P Coutts 10; A Burgess 17, J Ross 8; G Mackie 20, M McCarthy 12; M Swinswood 17, H Sutherland 11; J Matthews 14, S Robertson 13.
For the second week in succession, the Wednesday hat was won by Peggy Locke. She was ably assisted by Ann MacPherson this week. They won all four sets, hitting Alana Coutts for six at the penultimate end.
You wouldn't know it, but Skibo McKenzie is new to the outdoor game. He kept on the move all afternoon, but, after going nap to square his third set, he managed to lose every end of his final one.
Trailing 11-4 after ten ends, Robert McRitchie did really well to win his final half dozen to finish the session on level terms.
Brian Caldwell didn't fancy a move, so waited for a victory until the final set.
After a poor start, Alana Coutts was ahead until losing the aforementioned six.
Sheena Murdoch trailed throughout, but at least she won her third set.
Scores: P Locke 18 up; A McKenzie 4 up; R McRitchie peels; B Caldwell 5 down; A Coutts 7 down; S Murdoch 10 down.
After going 7-0 down with just three ends played, no-one expected Robert McRitchie and Paul Rogan to win Thursday's Moving Hat-Night. They dropped just two further ends all evening to win the evening overall by some distance.
A five at the penultimate end boosted Derek Sobey's score. He had been ticking along nicely until losing the third set.
Dropping five shots over the final pair of ends cost Gary Mackie the chance of an overall win.
Paul Coutts was in with a chance until he lost a handful at the last.
A decent second half performance enabled John Matthews to finish on a positive note.
Brian Riddell trailed 8-2 at half-time, and, despite losing a five at the second last end, finished ahead.
A final set victory edged Dean ahead of his opponents.
Stuart Robertson just lost out at the end of a low-scoring evening for him.
John Ross won just six ends, but saved the best until last where he went nap.
Brian Caldwell was never far behind his opposition, until the last five ends.
Alex Porter was leading 11-2 after half a dozen ends. Somehow he managed to lose all but one of his final ten.
Harry Sutherland battled bravely on rink 6, securing two draws for his efforts.
Scores: P Rogan 18 up; D Sobey 9 up; G Mackie 5 up; P Coutts 3 up; J Matthews 3 up; B Riddell 2 up; D Dobbs 1 up; S Robertson 1 down; J Ross 6 down; B Caldwell 7 down; A Porter 11 down; H Sutherland 16 down.
