A sport for all ages: Forres Bowling Club celebrate champions from opposite ends of age spectrum as Alana Coutts (15) and Ann MacPherson (88) lift silverware
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Forres Bowling Club pride themselves in welcoming membership applications from people of all ages and abilities, aged 8 to 80+.
Never has this been better demonstrated than this week with a 15-year-old youngster Alana Coutts and an 88 year-old veteran, Ann MacPherson turning on the style to win trophies.
Coutts will represent District 2 in at least one discipline at the Scottish National Championships at Northfield, Ayr in July after winning the area's Youth Championships which were held at Dufftown. There is a possibility that she could also represent the district in the Ladies' Junior Singles (Under 25s) and the Ladies' Singles.
The Youth Championships were split into four sections, with the winner of each section reaching the semi-finals. Coutts defeated Matthew Taylor and Bronagh Gillies, both from The Elgin, 21-5 and 16-8 respectively in the group sections.
In the semi-final she played Fraserburgh West End's Shayne Watt, winning 15-6.
A familiar face provided the opposition in the final, Dufftown's Ashley McDonald. Coutts lifted the trophy with an 18-10 victory.
The tightest of margins decided the first of the club's internal competitions, the 2 Bowl Pairs. Two teams finished the round robin competition on 19 points, with the trophy being decided on shots scored. This was also very close 73-71.
When all was said and done, the winners of the tournament proved to be Ann MacPherson and her only slightly younger skip, John Ross. Although they drew three sets, the only defeat they suffered all afternoon was in their final set to John Matthews.
Ed Harris and Shetland-bound, Malcolm Swinswood were the unlucky runners-up. They drew their game against MacPherson and Ross, but were beaten by Paul Coutts and Brian Riddell.
Scores: J Ross 19 points, 73 shots; M Swinswood 19, 71; J Matthews 14, 46; B Caldwell 13, 53; D Dobbs 13, 51; A Porter 12, 46; P Coutts 12, 42; H Sutherland 12, 41; D Sobey 9, 40; B Riddell 9, 39; S Robertson 8, 37; G Mackie 8, 36; M Sobey 8, 35.
Alana Coutts is also through to the final of the District 2 Ladies' Singles Scottish Championship qualifiers to be held at Mintlaw on Saturday June 17. She will face Sarah Gowans from the host club.
After a fairly even opening to her first round tie against Dufftown's Ashley McDonald, Coutts won five ends in a row to go 10-5 up. Four ends later McDonald had squared things at 10-10. This spurred the Forres bowler on, and she won the next handful of ends to lead 16-10. Although her opponent won single shots at the following three ends, five shots over a pair of ends sealed the victory and a quarter-final tie against her mother, Lesley, who was granted a bye after her opponent, Amy Barker, had to withdraw due to illness.
Alana led Lesley throughout their quarter-final. A treble at the first end settled any nerves and Alana was soon 9-3 ahead. Lesley was picking up some shots, but was soon 14-6 behind. She fought back to 10-14 before Alana raced clear again (19-10). 20-11 up, Alana found it really difficult to secure that final winning shot. Lesley scored two threes in a row to reach 17 before Alana got over the line.
Coutts' third tie of the day was the semi-final against Mary Menzies of Strichen. She got off to a great start, going 10-1 up after half a dozen ends. The next seven ends were fairly evenly contested, with Coutts emerging 15-5 ahead. Menzies reduced the leeway to six shots before the Forres teenager pressed on again. Final score was 21-10.
John Matthews is the only shining light remaining for the Forres men in a disastrous Scottish Championships campaign.
Although it was a long, drawn out, 22 end game at Cullen, he was always in control of his tie with Fraserburgh West End player, Ian Whyte. Matthews led 9-2 after nine ends. He stepped up the pace slightly, and a three saw him 17-4 ahead seven ends later. Whyte matched him thereafter, delaying the inevitable. Matthews will play a representative of either St Aethans or Hopeman next Thursday afternoon.
Derek Sobey was dispatched in double-quick time at Fochabers, his Aberchirder opponent running out an easy 21-3 victor.
Leading 3-2 after the initial four ends, Sandy Burgess and John Ross spectacularly lost their way against their Moray opponents, Robin and Stuart Cruickshank. The Cruickshanks scored 17 shots in half a dozen ends to basically end the game. They eventually won 25-6.
Sam Morrison, Brian Caldwell and Paul Coutts were really unlucky in their tie against Davie Paton's New Deer triple at Cullen. Down 9-4 after six ends, the Forres lads fought back to force an extra end when they squared the tie at 14-14 with the designated fifteen ends having been played. New Deer got the all-important next shot.
Brian Riddell, Henry Davidson, Gary Mackie and John Matthews gave themselves a mountain to climb by going 13-0 down to their Peterhead opponents after just a handful of ends at Cullen. The Forres boys improved, but conceded the tie after going 28-10 down with just two ends to play.
Adam Nicolson earned a fantastic result in his maiden outdoor club competition tie. A maximum at the third end of his Men's Championship tie with Charlie Watt gave him an 8-2 advantage. Watt's experience saw him get back into the game, and go 13-11 in front after a dozen ends. However, Nicolson won seven of the next eight ends to secure a place in the second round with a 21-14 victory. He will now face either Brian Caldwell or Dean Dobbs.
A maximum at the fourth end gave reluctant player, Wilma Petrie, a 6-3 lead against Mary Sobey in the Ladies' Championship. This match was tight for ten ends, after which the score was 10-9 in Sobey's favour. Sobey then won a handful of ends on the spin to take a commanding lead. Although Petrie then won three in a row, she wasn't going to claw back the deficit. Sobey will play defending champion, Alana Coutts in the quarter-finals.
Fifteen shots scored over five ends put Coutts in total control of her tie against Hazel Caldwell, who staged a mini-fightback late in the game, but the tie was gone.
There were three comprehensive victories for Alana Coutts, Paul Coutts and Robert McRitchie in their President's Handicap ties against Morag Ritchie, Adam Nicolson and Hazel Caldwell respectively, although Caldwell scored 11 shots in five ends after trailing 12-0 nine ends in. Paul Coutts will take on Dean Dobbs in what should be a great second round battle.
Eight shots scored over the first three ends set Brian Caldwell up for a comfortable victory over Adam Nicolson in the John Raffan Trophy. Caldwell awaits the winner of the Henry Davidson v Mary Sobey tie.
Despite being unavailable to play last week, Hazel Caldwell has gone clear at the top of the Scott Cup table. She has won her game on all three occasions that she was in attendance, and tonight was her second overall win. Caldwell, Marion Felton and Paul Coutts were 12-2 up on Malcolm Swinswood after seven ends. Nine shots secured over two mid-game ends put them on easy street.
John Ross got off to a flier as Alex Porter allowed him to got 9 up in the opening three ends. Porter won the following five ends to level things, but a four at the penultimate end sealed the victory for John. Mary Grier played particularly well in this game.
After a slow start, winning half a dozen ends on the spin put Dean Dobbs in a commanding position over Brian Riddell. Riddell made Dobbs sweat towards the end.
There was very little in it, but Gary Mackie stayed just ahead of Derek Sobey for most of their game.
With eleven ends played, John Matthews led Harry Sutherland 11-3. Sutherland won the final handful of ends to fall just one shot short.
In another close battle, Sandy burgess led Stuart Robertson 5-0. Robertson fought back, and the game was decided at the death.
Scores: P Coutts 26, M Swinswood 8; J Ross 21, A Porter 12; D Dobbs 17, B Riddell 14; G Mackie 14, D Sobey 13; J Matthews 11, H Sutherland 10; A Burgess 12, S Robertson 11.
Despite being beaten in their first set, Billy Felton and Robert McRitchie won the Wednesday hat. They overcame their early disappointment to register three impressive wins.
Peggy Locke might've given the lads a challenge, but she lost five of her final half dozen ends.
The middle two sets cost Skibo McKenzie. He won his first and last.
After a promising opening pair of ends, Sam Morrison could do no right. He couldn't even get a result with the coin!
Scores: R McRitchie 21 up; P Locke 2 down; A McKenzie 2 down; S Morrison 17 down.
An excellent performance from two veterans saw them win Thursday's Moving Hat Night. Mary Williamson and Stuart Robertson won all four sets in an impressive display in which they dropped just four single shots!
A registration mix-up left Dean Dobbs playing on his own, having to play eight bowls per end! He did exceptionally well to keep on the move during what must've been an exhausting evening.
After losing a four at the first end, it was the second half before Ian Stewart dropped any more shots. His third set was his downfall.
Nine-year-old Charley Dustan played enough good bowls to ensure that Alex Porter had a positive scorecard for a change. Their only reverse was in the second set.
Skibo McKenzie got the opportunity to skip for a change. He did well. Had he not lost a brace at the last he would've finished ahead.
Robert McRitchie was never very far off the pace off his opponents during a low-scoring evening.
It all came good for Marjory McCarthy in her fourth set on Rink 5. A five set her off to a 10-0 victory.
Peggy Locke had a very poor end to her evening. She was just two down before losing eight shots over the final three ends.
Although he won just four ends, the highlight of Harry Sutherland's evening was winning the third set.
Mary Sobey was 14-1 down after only five ends. She did manage to win a set before another hammering to end the session.
Scores: S Robertson 25 up; D Dobbs 17 up; I Stewart 8 up; A Porter 2 up; A McKenzie peels; R McRitchie 5 down; M McCarthy 7 down; P Locke 10 down; H Sutherland 10 down; M Sobey 20 down.
Forres got their first victory of the season in the Over 55s League in their match at Fochabers.
Robert McRitchie and Brian Caldwell led the way, despite losing their initial three ends to Ali Morrison. A six at the fourth end put the Forres lads ahead, and they never looked back. By half-time they led 12-4. Scoring ten shots over the final four ends gave them a comfortable 24-8 win.
After trailing 5-3 at the halfway stage of a low-scoring tie, Derek Crosby and Derek Sobey got it together. Five shots over the next two ends set them up for a 12-7 advantage.
John Ettles was always in control of his tie with Peggy Locke and Roy Anderson. Although they got four at the penultimate end, they suffered a 16-9 defeat.
Forres were victorious in their first friendly of the season, away to Hopeman.
Elma McInnes, Roy Anderson and Henry Davidson were the top Forres triple. After conceding the initial end, they went on a seven end winning spurt against Mario Miele. Henry dropped just one further shot all game.
Paul Craib, David McLelland and Mike Munro provided Hopeman's only victorious triple. Two fours in the final four ends saw them overcome Brian Caldwell's challenge.
In a very low-scoring tie, Gary Mackie led his host 5-4 after eight ends. A three at the next gave Mackie the cushion that he wanted.
Although Sam Morrison led for most of his game against Keith Thompson, he had to win his final three ends to be sure of a result.
Leading the team for the night, Marjory McCarthy scored a four at the last to achieve a victory in her game.
A brace at the final end earned Brian Riddell a draw in his closely contested tie.
Hopeman 48, Forres 72.
