Golden year of global success
Stars shine on world stage
Andy Murray slipped to No 3 in the world when he lost the Madrid final to Novak Djokovic but his efforts on clay improved when he reversed the result in Italy - the perfect warm-up for the French Open.
At Roland Garros he twice came from behind against Radek Stepanek and Matthias Borgue to win and for the first time he reached the final.
Again it was Djokovic in his way and the Serb came through in four sets.
Before the French Open the Dunblane ace had split with coach Amelie Mauresmo and former mentor Ivan Lendl was back in place in time for the Queen’s tournament, which he won for a record fifth time. Wimbledon beckoned.
Brother Jamie had dropped to No 4 in the rankings and he and Bruno Soares lost in the third round in the French. And Gordon Reid retained his wheelchair doubles title but lost in the singles final.
Summer sports took over. Stirling County had mixed fortunes in the Western Union First Division Cricket League, beating Irvine - where Kiwi teenager Kevin Loggenberg scored 110 not out and added 42 for last wicket with Ali Mubarak - Renfrew, Hillhead and Weirs but losing to Poloc and St Michaels and Glasgow Accies. Their Scottish Cup hopes were ended by Greenock after they defeated Penicuik.
Central AC won 16 titles at the East District Championships. Their juniors had 21 top-three finishes in the Forth Valley League and Balfron High pupil Briagha Cook broke the 14-year-old Scottish Schools record in the 75m hurdles.
Dunblane runner Andrew Butchart was the latest local to win an Olympics spot when he won the 5000m British title. He had earlier run a Scottish record time for the distance, beating Nat Muir’s time set in 1980.
Swimmer Ross Murdoch won his first European title in the 200m breaststroke and also picked up a silver in the 100m breaststroke and bronze in the 50m.
On the golf course Allan Watson won the Stirling championship for the third time and Andrew Grant landed the Dunblane New accolade. Balfron High’s Jamie Paterson became the first boys’ Stirling schools champ.
Boxer James Thomson continued his unbeaten run with a win over Liam Richards at the Radisson Blu, Glasgow, and Livilands’ John Bryson won the Central singles bowls championship.
Stirling County West’s Scottish Championship bowls hopes disappeared with losses to Glasgow West, Renfrewshire West, Clackmannanshire and Kinross, Ayrshire North and Dunbarton- shire West.
Football continued with local amateurs finishing leagues, Forth and Endrick continuing and Stirling Albion in pre-season mode.
Doune Castle lost to Giffnock on penalties in the Challenge Cup final and winners of the Stirling and District AFA Leagues were Bonnybridge YFP (Premier), Grangemouth Rovers (Division 1), Pennies (Division 2) and Beechwood Albion (Division 3).
Balfron stayed top of F&E and Gartocharn landed the first silverware by beating Blanefield 1-0 in the Macgregor Ferguson final.
Stirling Albion were drawn to meet Falkirk, St Johnstone, Elgin City and Brechin City in the new-look Betfred League Cup and were due to meet Hearts Under-20s in the Irn-Bru Cup.
Livilands’ John Bryson won Central singles bowls championship