Funds raised for charity at Forres Bowling Club's final tournament of the season

FORRES Bowling Club's final tournament of the season has taken place – with £412 raised for charity Quarriers.

John Murdoch has the retained the Caitlin Dustan Triples Trophy, which was purchased to be played for in the late youngster's memory.

John, Skibo McKenzie and Alex Porter knew that they were in the running while enjoying a lovely half-time buffet which was generously supplied, in most part, by Caitlin's family. They had won four of their five games by that point.

Few winners manage to get through a tournament without an element of luck though. 6-0 down to John Matthews in the second set, the trio go back on level terms with a well earned six at the third end.

The luck came at the next end when Alex managed to wickie in for the winning shot. Although they, like the other teams, benefited and suffered from good and bad luck thereafter, that rub of the green proved to be the important one as it came against the eventual runners-up.

The destination of the silverware was decided on shots scored after the top two triples both finished on 14 points. Another six and two sevens helped John, Skibo and Alex on that score.

As well as allowing John to retain the trophy, it provided some tangibility for Skibo's promising first season at the club and secure a late season double for Alex, who won the Chris Stoves Trophy last month.

Sheena Murdoch, Charlie Watt and John Matthews recovered from their early misfortune to win their final four sets to finish in second place.

Harry Sutherland defeated Alex Porter, and hit early leader Brian Riddell for six. Although he also lost just three sets, he was held in a further two.

Brian was in a strong position after winning six of his opening seven sets, but somehow managed to lose his final three.

Brian Caldwell had a mixed afternoon, scoring a six en route to winning one set, but losing a seven as he went down in another.

Paul Rogan had an horrendous start, losing a six on his way as he was defeated in his first four sets. He lost just one further set, scoring a seven in the process.

Hazel Caldwell was successful in three of her initial four sets, but her results were mixed thereafter. She also lost a seven.

Derek Sobey was rather erratic, not managing to get a run of results together.

Although not too far off the pace at half-time after winning three of her first five sets, Mary Sobey fell out of the picture by not winning again until the final set.

Despite being good enough to step in to make up the numbers at short notice, Stuart Robertson couldn't get his form to flow.

Charley Dustan, Peggy Locke and Gary Mackie secured two wins and a draw but ended up with wooden spoons.

Scores: A Porter 14 points, 59 shots; J Matthews 14, 51; H Sutherland 12, 41; B Riddell 12, 33; B Caldwell 10, 48; P Rogan 10, 44; H Caldwell 10, 43; D Sobey 8, 41; M Sobey 8, 35; S Robertson 7, 23; G Mackie 5, 32.

Despite winning only eight of the 16 ends, Billy Felton, Henry Davidson and Gary Mackie won Monday's Hat-Night. The trio went in front with a five at the sixth end and never looked back.

A six at the penultimate end boosted Lesley Coutts' scorecard enough to finish second.

Sandy Burgess led 9-1 after the initial half dozen ends. He then had a couple of bad ends which reeled him in a bit.

Having won just one of her first six ends, Marjory McCarthy trailed 11-3. She recovered, but not enough for a positive outcome.

Lesley Mackintosh got off to a great start, 7-0 up after three ends. Losing a five and a six later on left her behind.

Alana Coutts' ends were all low-scoring. Unfortunately for her, she lost most of them.

Scores: G Mackie 10 up; L Coutts 7 up; A Burgess 2 up; M McCarthy 3 down; L Mackintosh 7 down; A Coutts 9 down.

Ann MacPherson, Peggy Locke and Robert McRitchie were in sparkling form to win Wednesday's hat at a canter. The trio won all four sets, dropping just two single shots all afternoon!

Brian Caldwell thought he was doing well to keep on the move. Even disregarding the four he lost at the death, he was well off the pace in second place.

A four at the last earned Ed Harris a draw overall, even if his scorecard didn't show it!

Skibo McKenzie never managed a move, but winning the final three ends made his score more respectable.

Level at the halfway stage, Derek Crosby somehow managed just one shot in his second half!

Not sure what was put in Charlie Watt's tea! 17-0 down at half-time, he managed to win his second half.

Scores: R McRitchie 21 up; B Caldwell 9 up; E Harris peels; A McKenzie 4 down; D Crosby 11 down; C Watt 15 down.

Sadly, it has come to that point in the year when an overcast sky leads to it being dark enough to have to curtail the hat nights to 12 ends.

That wasn't the only 'daylight robbery' which occurred at Thursday's Moving Hat though! At this time of year, we sometimes have non-skips skipping.

With names being written wherever the players felt like writing them, it is no wonder that match secretary, Alex Porter has been pulling his hair out.

Scorecards can be bad enough during the season, but there was some invention going on which resulted in the wrong team being crowned winners of the evening!

Stuart Robertson, Mary Sobey and Billy Felton were declared the winners after Billy managed to invent an extra end on his card where he scored three shots! The trio of bandits did manage to win their three sets.

Dean Dobbs and his skip, Robbie Fraser are entitled to say 'we woz robbed'. Robbie's correctly filled scorecard had them also winning all three sets.

The third skip to keep on the move was Henry Davidson, although his totally legible card may have been filled in by daughter, Morag. They also won all three sets.

Derek Sobey was the best of the also-rans. He narrowly lost all three sets.

Clearly having learnt a trick or two from her husband, Billy, things were going badly enough for Marion Felton that she managed to ignore the odd shot against her, and, indeed, the odd end to make her card look better!

Hazel Caldwell had a miserable evening, but wasn't afraid to admit it.

Scores: R Fraser 15 up; W Felton 13 up; H Davidson 10 up; D Sobey 4 down; M Felton 16 down; H Caldwell 18 down.

The curtain will fall on the 2023 season this coming Sunday with the customary 4-3-2-1 game.