Review of the Year

Part one

JANUARY

Ayr United open the year with a painful 1- 0 defeat at Stranraer. Jamie Longworth bags the winner after Jordan Preston blows a great chance.

Auchinleck Talbot beat the weather to host Kilbirnie but are shocked by a Darren Miller winner.

Ayr Rugby Club rout Selkirk 78- 0 to book a home tie in the play- offs.

Ian McCall says an Ayr injury crisis is the worst he has known in 16 years as a manager.

Marr Rugby lose two key players as Paul Burke lands a job in Inverness while Rory McGee is bound for Africa to do charity work.

Prestwick bowler Darren Weir wins the SIBA U18 singles, beating Alastair Nimmo ( East Fife) 21- 20. Two months later, he adds the U25 title with a 21- 4 win over Craig McClure ( Auchinleck).

FEBRUARY

Four times super middleweight world champion Carl ‘ The Cobra’ Froch visits Ayr for a talk- in.

Marr Rugby land £ 50,000, their share of a £ 1.6million pot from Scottish Rugby for a four year investment in the domestic game.

Ayr Rugby Club beat Highland 36- 13 to win the Under 16 Youth Cup. Millbrae win the BT West Regional Bowl while Carrick lift their first- ever trophy when they beat Annan 28- 5 to win the BT West Regional Shield.

Douglas Wyllie of Seafield is the new secretary of the Ayr Bowling Trophies Committee, replacing Eric Campbell who held the post for 30 years before his death in September.

MARCH

Troon FC boss Gordon Burns targets the Premier Division title after a run of four wins and a draw.

Auchinleck Indoor Bowling Club’s Carrie McLean, Heather Kay, Hannah Smith and Claire Johnston help Scotland win the British Isles ladies international series in Wales.

Sprinter Aimee McGinley smashes Ayr Seaforth’s club record for the Under 20 women’s 60 metres with 7.81 secs to win bronze at the National Championships at the Emirates Arena.

APRIL

Ayr Rugby Club beat Melrose 48- 10 in the semi- finals of the Premiership play- offs.

More gold for Auchinleck Indoor Bowling Club as Stacey Wylie, Heather Kay, Hannah Smith and Claire Johnston beat Turriff 26- 7 in the National Fours Championships.

Double joy at Murrayfield as Millbrae and Carrick win titles at national finals day.

Vicente, at 14/ 1, wins the Coral Scottish Grand National as trainer