Sports round- up
TENNIS
A pair of tennis superstars are hoping to take the world by storm next month.
Frances Smiley and Jack Dickson have been chosen to represent Team GB in this year’s Special Olympic World Games in Abu Dhabi.
Jack, of Troon, studied at Marr College. He has intellectual disabilities, but has found his passion in tennis.
Much like Frances, of Prestwick, who studied at Queen Margaret Academy.
Frances has learning disabilities including Dyspraxia, which is a condition affecting physical co- ordination that causes a child to perform less well than expected in daily activities for his or her age, and appear to move clumsily.
She also suffers with attention deficit which meant she struggled all through school as it had a negative effect on her social life.
But she found her calling when she started playing tennis whilst at school.
She now trains at Prestwick Tennis Club with Jack, and their coach is Dominic Iannotti. They also train with Lesley Whitehead in Glasgow.
Frances’ mum Christina said: “They have been training hard over the last 18 months.
“They have been down to Sheffield for the big GB training camps.
“Dominic is their coach at Prestwick, and he is great.
“We have had to raise a lot of money, so we organised a big fundraiser in our local church hall.
“Steven Brown donated a big picture, Coca Cola donated a mountain bike, and local band Memphis played for a nominal fee.
“Frances’ old schools, St Ninian’s and Queen Margaret Academy, hosted fundraising days as well to support her to go.
“It has been a real community event, in the sense of belief in Frances and Jack.”
Christina added: “We were just so excited and overwhelmed when we heard the news.
“It was funny when Frances heard, she didn’t want to talk about it at first!
“She couldn’t get her head round it for three days, then she came back and asked about it.
“I think it’s fair to say for Fran that it was a big struggle with the weight on her shoulders with the responsibility she had.
“But she has really got into it after the training, and now she’s excited.
“They also get to take in the culture around Abu Dhabi and Dubai before the games too.”
And Jack’s mum Jean was equally as proud.
She said: “We are absolutely delighted that the pair were picked.
“All of their hard work has paid off. Jack is a busy boy with all his training.
“He also swims with the para team at Prestwick to keep fit.
“It’s a fantastic experience for them, it’s not every day you get to explore Abu Dhabi and Dubai!”
The duo will be in Abu Dhabi for over two weeks, with the games kicking off with the opening ceremony on March 14.
FIVE STAR LOTTERY
This week’s Ayr United Five Star Lottery £ 1000 winner is Matthew Simpson, of Ayr ( D2233).
£ 50 winners: W Dunbar ( J0142); G Perrie ( C3833); I Johnston ( C3624); E Cuthbert ( A1934); S Quirk ( F5045); M Toner ( H2223); J Roberts ( B4133); Mrs Spence ( E1413); S Rorison ( K1425); A Roy ( R1323); G Moore ( I1321); A Johnston ( G2212); S Dashper ( B0424); H Dunbar ( C0321); A Hunter ( A3722); J McGuire ( B4231); T Smith ( H3834); E Joan Rowan ( M1313); J Craig ( B3535).
YOUTH FOOTBALL
A football team have been showing off their new kits.
Glenburn Miners Welfare U16s have thanked their sponsors for providing the new gear.
The team are pictured above in their polo shirts sponsored by Bella Mani.
And below is the boys in their new strips sponsored by Barrmuir Kitchen and Bathroom Design and also training balls sponsored by Kerr and Smith Cumnock.
Coach Neil Jardine said: “The boys are having a great season this season so far and they are a fantastic bunch of boys.”
DARTS
Ayr and District Darts League Doubles, held in the Redstone: A total of 23 pairs turned up.
Final: S Robertson and J Devlin ( Pockets A) 4, J Auld and S McCluskey ( Pockets A) 3. Semi- finals: S Robertson and J Devlin ( Pockets A) 3, J Barclay Snr and Jr ( Redstone) 0; J Auld and S McCluskey ( Pockets A) 4, D Patterson and I Pentleton 0.
Next league fixtures, Feb 19: Ship v Mathas, Anchor A v Anchor B; Pockets A v High Society; Redstone v Pockets B; Coylton v Glenburn.
BOWLS NEWS
Bowls Scotland have announced the appointment of Sheila Cowan to the Board as finance director.
Sheila, from Ayr, has over 20 years’ experience of working in finance in the IT sector, most recently for Hewlett Packard, which included living in the Netherlands for six years.
Now semi- retired, Sheila was looking to move away from the corporate world when she applied for the role.
“This was really of interest to me because of the vision Bowls Scotland has moving towards,” Sheila said, “and I would like to develop it into making some change, and hopefully through influencing from the top down, we’ll be able to do something different.”
Chair of Bowls Scotland, Sue Beatt, said: “I’m delighted that Sheila is joining the Board as director of finance.
“She brings a wealth of experience in the sector and I’m sure that her expertise and enthusiasm will be a welcome addition.”
MINI TENNIS CHAMPS
The Ayrshire mini tennis championships brought over 60 children to Prestwick Sports and Leisure to compete in the 8U and 10U age groups.
Once again the young players showed off a high standard of play to the watching parents and guests, with some closely fought matches in the group and knockout stages before the winners emerged.
Winners: Boys 10U: Luca Smyth ( Sundrum), r- up: Callum Normansell ( Ayr), semis: Blake Reilly ( Symington), Riley Steele ( Ayr).
Girls 10U: Abby Paterson ( Ayr), r- up: Charlotte McCulloch ( Ayr), semis: Millie McIntyre ( Coylton), Holly McNeilly ( Ayr).
Boys 8U: Kieran McGuire ( Prestwick), r- up Corey Mackay ( Kilmarnock), semis: Jamie Dunlop ( Coylton), Max McColm ( Prestwick).
Girls 8U: Evie McAlister ( Ayr), r- up Eilidh Tait ( Kilmarnock), semis: Sophie Alexander ( Prestwick), Aileen Heslop ( Ayr).
The competition continues on Sunday 10 March for 9U and open age ( still at primary school).
Entry forms are available either from the reception at Prestwick Sports and Leisure or from your local tennis club.
GOLF ROUND- UP AYR CARRICK
Christmas Outing at Girvan: B Henderson ( 5) 32; S Chambers ( 21) 31; H Campbell ( 19) 31; R Martin ( 5) 29; I Rillie ( 16) 29; D Rooney ( 11) 29; A McMorland ( 14) 28; H Uriarte ( 18) 28; C Park ( 16) 28; A Vallance ( 17) 28; S Gray ( 5) 27; C Brown ( 22) 27; I Thorburn ( 12) 27; L Galloway ( 17) 26; E Uriarte ( 16) 26; C Petticrew ( 11) 25; S Knox ( 19) 25; D Paterson ( 10) 24; P Docherty ( 12) 22; J Cowan ( 10) 21; C Paterson ( 9) 20.
AYR DALMILLING
An almost entirely wholly new committee was elected at the club’s recent Annual General Meeting.
Captain: Gary Falconer; Vice Captain: Mark Hendry; Secretary/ Match Sec: Robert Green; Treasurer: Jim Dickie; Committee Members: Derek Gemmell, Andrew Lindsay, Kieron Johnston, Tony McCurdie and Kenny McGarvey.
With subscriptions held at £ 50 for adult members and £ 25 for under 18’ s.
Captain Gary Falconer thanked the members for putting their trust in the new Committee, forecasting an exciting season ahead for the club with the fixture list introducing innovative and impelling competition
With the threat of closure now removed, members can now rejoin with confidence.
The winter works on the course are nearing completion and with the course in excellent order, it offers as fine a test of golf as you will find in South Ayrshire.
MAYBOLE
Maybole Golf Club is holding its AGM in the clubhouse on Tuesday, February