Forres Bowling Club has first-time men's champion in Dean Dobbs while Lesley Coutts claims sixth ladies' title

IT was trophy week at Forres Bowling Club, with a new men’s champion crowned and a familiar face lifting the ladies’ title, writes Alex Porter.

Dean Dobbs shrugged off losing the initial two ends of the men’s final to Davie Petrie to go on a 10 end winning spree to lead 16-3. Petrie won the next couple of ends but was never going to claw back the massive deficit.

Lesley Coutts came from behind to secure the ladies’ championship title for the sixth time.

Opponent Mary Sobey, in five finals this season, started the final well to lead 5-1 after four ends and 6-3 after three more ends, before Coutts took control by scoring nine shots without reply to win comfortably in the end.

Mary Sobey lost to her husband Derek in President’s Handicap Trophy, leading 5-1 at one stage but losing three maximums in a row to go 18-6 down, from where there was no way back.

There was a third final defeat for Sobey as John Ross has retained the W D MacPherson Trophy at her expense.

Seven shots in the space of the first three ends set Ross off to a flier and he was 16-3 ahead after 12 ends before Sobey won six of the next eight ends but couldn’t stop the holder from keeping his grip on the silver.

Dobbs added the Usher Cup to his men’s title, partnering lead John Matthews to a 21-8 over John Ross and Alex Porter, who took the last three ends for consolation.

Matthews also won the Men’s Pairs final with Charlie Watt. They trailed Brian Riddell and Paul Coutts 9-7 before winning the remaining five ends, with a four at the12th proving to be the real turning point.

Lesley Coutts made it a singles and pairs double for the third time, with partner Mary Sobey ending her losing sequence to claim a cup despite trailing 9-3 to Ailene Matthews and Hazel Caldwell 8-1 halfway through.

A seven at the 10th end changed the game in the victorious pair’s favour.

Brian Riddell has won the John Raffan Trophy in his first attempt, consigning Mary Sobey to another runners-up spot. Three shots down at the tenth end, Riddell won five of the next six ends to go 16-12 in front.

Sobey fought back, and, within three ends, held an 18-16 advantage but Riddell got back on track, and, two ends later, finished the game.

Peggy Locke and Dean Dobbs were victorious at the penultimate Scott Cup Hat Night of the season.

The duo were sure but steady over their first seven ends to lead Gary Mackie 10-0 before claiming an eight in one end to leave newcomer Mackie with a customary box of chocolates as a consolation.

Scores: D Dobbs 27, G Mackie 5; B Caldwell 19, A Porter 9; A Gardner 19, M Sobey 12; R Anderson 19, D Sobey 12; H Sutherland 18, J Matthews 14; John Ross 20, S Robertson 19.

For the second week in a row, Brian Caldwell and Derek Sobey won the Wednesday afternoon hat. This time they were accompanied by Ray Boyd, winning all four sets.

A six at the sixth end put Sam Morrison on a seven end winning streak after trailing 8-4.

A poor first set initially left Steve Gill 6-0 down. Thereafter he won most of his ends.

Hazel Caldwell won her first handful of ends, but was hit for six at the next.

Alex Porter made himself at home on rink 3 and Charlie Watt stranded on 2 after winning his first set.

Scores: B Caldwell 19 up; S Morrison 13 up: S Gill 4 up; H Caldwell 8 down; A Porter 8 down; C Watt 20 down.

An amazing first half performance laid the foundations for Roy Anderson and Sam Morrison to win Thursday's Moving Hat-Night.

They went nap twice to lead their opposition 19-2 after eight ends and although they lost their third set, a solid finish to the evening got them over the line.

Alex Porter paid the price for drawing the final set after looking comfortable with three ends to play.

Dean Dobbs couldn't capitalise on his first half showing, during which he scored 14 shots in four ends.

Harry Sutherland was the only skip to keep on the move, but, although he only lost five shots, didn't score enough.

A six at the fourth end should have set John Matthews up for the evening, but he had a poor second half.

A decent third set masked the fact that Paul Coutts had a poor evening by his standards.

Despite losing just one set, Alan Gardner spent most of the night on rink 1.

Lesley Coutts was 7 up at half-time but faded while the highlight for Derek Sobey was winning his middle two sets.

Mary Sobey was stuck on rink 4 throughout, but was able to draw her final set, and Steve Gill managed two draws as he remained on rink 2 for the evening.

There was no way back for Brian Caldwell after losing 20 shots in five first half ends.

Scores: S Morrison 21 up; A Porter 18 up; D Dobbs 10 up; H Sutherland 10 up; J Matthews 5 up; P Coutts 3 up; A Gardner 4 down; L Coutts 7 down; D Sobey 10 down; M Sobey 11 down; S Gill 12 down; B Caldwell 23 down.