Finalists revealed at Forres Bowling Club championships

John Ross, back playing and playing well, and Harry Sutherland of Forres Bowling Club were runners-up in the Pairs at Nairn Week.

They were beaten 14-8 in the final by Alan McKenzie and David Towersey of Nairn Bowling Club.

Derek Sobey has reached the final of the Men's Championship for the first time by beating the holder, Dean Dobbs, in this year's semi-finals.

Sobey won three of the opening four ends to lead 4-2, however Dobbs then scored a maximum to go 6-4 up. After swapping singles, Sobey went on a six end winning run to take a 16-7 advantage.

Dobbs wasn't for giving up his trophy without a fight, reducing the score to 18-14 before Sobey could seal his passage. Only Brian Riddell or 2018 champion, John Matthews can prevent Sobey lifting the trophy.

Alana Coutts will play her mother, Lesley in the final of the Ladies' Championship after overcoming a stubborn challenge from Wilma Petrie in the semi-finals.

Petrie hit the ground running, going 5-0 up after the first pair of ends. Coutts then got her game together to win half a dozen ends and take a 9-5 advantage. A couple of ends later Petrie had squared things again.

The game began to swing one way and then the other as both players fancied their chances. With seventeen ends played, Coutts held a slender 16-15 lead. Three ends later she had won the tie 21-15.

Malcolm Swinswood has reached his second final in his maiden season at Forres Bowling Club. His experience overcame the youthful exuberance of Alana Coutts in their President's Handicap semi-final.

Coutts picked up a brace at the first end, but before long was chasing the game. With half a dozen ends played, Swinswood held a 6-4 advantage. He then went on a five end winning run, scoring eleven shots in the process. Alana responded and won a couple more ends, but it was to be Malcolm's game. Malcolm will play Gary Mackie in the final.

Roy Anderson and Paul Coutts are into the final of the Usher Cup with a deserved victory over Alex Porter and Dean Dobbs.

Dobbs was pretty much playing on his own in the first half of the game, going 7-3 ahead after a handful of ends. Anderson and Coutts drew level a couple of ends later, and then hit a six to storm in front.

They were six shots ahead with two ends to play. Three shots were pulled back at the 14th made the final end interesting. Porter and Dobbs were lying the three shots required to force an extra end until Coutts pushed in one of Anderson's bowls with his penultimate shot.

Alana Coutts is through to another final just 24 hours after reaching the Ladies' Championship showpiece. She scored a maximum on her way to a 10-2 lead over Ed Harris after five ends of their John Raffan tie.

Harris struggled to keep the youngster at bay, and a handful of ends later trailed 15-4. Although he won the following three ends, Coutts secured her place in the final against Gary Mackie.

Henry Davidson has moved to the top of a heavily congested Scott Cup leaderboard as a result of picking up five points in the tightly contested latest round. No fewer than four players are just one point behind with four rounds to play.

Davidson, Mary Williamson and Sandy Burgess hit a six early on as they took a 16-3 lead over Dean Dobbs, who came back extremely well in the second half, but the deficit was just too great.

Unbeknown to him, Sam Morrison was in the frame until Brian Caldwell scored a brace at each of the final two ends.

Malcolm Swinswood threw away the opportunity to win overall for the first time. Although he has still won every week he has played, more was expected of him after he led the table leader, Paul Coutts, 9-0 only five ends in.

John Matthews wasn't being very generous. 11-3 up at half-time, he only conceded one shot in all but one of the nine ends he lost to Alex Porter.

Losing the final handful of ends to Mary Sobey prevented Gary Mackie returning to the head of the table.

Scores: A Burgess 20, D Dobbs 15; S Morrison 16, B Caldwell 12; M Swinswood 14, P Coutts 10; J Matthews 14, A Porter 10; G Mackie 17, M Sobey 14.

Mary Williamson won three hats in a row with her victory on Wednesday afternoon as she teamed up with Ed Harris, and the pair won all four of their sets.

Peggy Locke was beaten only by the toss of a coin after the first set, otherwise she would have kept moving.

Brian Caldwell was the beneficiary of that coin, and went on the win his other sets.

Marjory McCarthy was involved in some hefty scoring. She hit a six, but also lost a six and two fives.

Charlie Watt couldn't buy a move, losing all four sets.

Hazel Caldwell was also static, despite winning her initial two ends.

Scores: E Harris 17 up; P Locke 16 up; B Caldwell 14 up; M McCarthy 10 down; C Watt 12 down; H Caldwell 25 down.

Not content in reaching two club finals last week, Alana Coutts kept up her impressive form to skip her triple and win Thursday's Moving Hat-Night. Peggy Locke and Charlie Watt provided the assistance to Coutts on this occasion.

They kept on the move, albeit partially thanks to a coin toss after the second set, all night, losing just one shot over the final nine ends.

Lesley Coutts was left to rue a second set defeat, but was much improved in the second half.

John Matthews was left playing catch-up after losing the first set 8-4. His great fightback was halted when he lost a four at the penultimate end.

Ahead by three shots at half-time, Paul Coutts uncharacteristically lost a five at the 13th end.

Malcolm Swinswood has lost some of his early season form of late, and was denied a move by the coin.

Brian Caldwell was grateful for a coin. It provided his only highlight of the evening.

Scores: A Coutts 16 up; L Coutts 8 up; J Matthews 4 up; P Coutts 3 down; M Swinswood 9 down; B Caldwell 16 down.