EQUESTRIAN VAULTING

Wee County Vaulters had a succesful outing at the equestrian vaulting competition held recently at Highfield of Howe Equestrian Centre in Fife.

The Clackmannanshire-based club participated in a range of classes with a number of top three placings earned.

In the pre-novice squad competition. WCV finished second, vaulting on WH.Bentley lunged by Clare Henderson. The squad was made up of Eilidh Bennett, Rhona Swan, Michaela Hogg, Katie Cowan, Karly Leeson and Emily Bastow.

Another six members made up the Scottish Equestrian Vaulting Team which finished second in the Junior 2* category - Kyra Lennie, Sally Henderson, Mhairi Hume, Codi Hay, Jennifer Cameron and Peyton Edgar in her first Junior 2* competition, vaulting on Glaxtown Billy and lunged by Lisa Mercer.

Kerri Brylka was first in the Junior 2* individual female with Mhairi Hume third and Kyra Lennie sixth, all vaulting on Captain Jack lunged by Hannah Eccles.

Codi Hay, vaulting on Glaxtown Billy, won the Junior 1* female individual class with Sally Henderson, also on Glaxtown Billy, placing second in the Child Female 2* class.

In the Child Female 1* section, Jennifer Cameron was runner-up with Ferne Smith in fourth. Michelle Messner was second in the Senior 1* class.

Top honours in the Novice individual class went to Eilidh Bennett, vaulting on WH Bentley lunged by Clare Henderson. and third place was achieved by Peyton Edgar, also with WH Bentley.

More success followed in the prenovice individual classes. Emily Bastow finished fourth, Nadine O’Donnell was fifth in the pre-novice eight and under walk/walk class, in the eight and under canter/walk class Karly Leeson was fourth while Katie Cowan won the over eight class.

Rhona Swan placed third and Michaela Hogg two place further behind in the 12 and over class.

The Walk Pas de Deux open class saw Codi Hay and Sally Henderson finishing second place with Eilidh Bennett and Ferne Smith equal third. Rhona Swan and Michaela Hogg were fourth in the confined class.

The final class of the day saw the WCV walk squad winning in the Open section.

The cut off was 155 (better second round) and the other qualifiers were Craig McGann, Alan Lockhart, Calum Davidson, Ross Miller, Grant McIntyre, Wesley Saunders, Stuart Campbell, Gregor Johnston, Allan Cowie, Roddy Anderson, Gavin Denham, Harry Barton, Vinny O’Holloran and Alistair MacRae.

Match play ties are being played throughout the week with the 36 hole final on Saturday.

The leading qualifier for the Kirkland Trophy (Handicap Championship) was John Ward (11) on 138 (71/67) from Gerry Watt (14) on 139 (70/69).

The cut off was 145 BSR and the other qualifiers are Joe Clark (8), Kevin Malley (17), Gary Aitken (12), William Murray (13), Kenneth Valentine (14), Peter Bell (6), Alan MacKay (22), Scott Hamilton (12), Sivan Isaacs (10), Lloyd Hardman (19), Jim Brough (12), Douglas Wright (10), Philip Castle (13) and Fraser Bell (16). Match play ties are again throughout the week with the final on Saturday afternoon.

The Dewar Trophy for the best net score over the two qualifying rounds and was won by Ken Wilkie (4) on 134 (66/68).

Over the weekend there was an unbelievable three holes-in-one. Robert Wales struck at the 7th on Saturday and then on Sunday, Joe Patton had one at the 11th and Allan Cowie had his at the 16th .

The final rounds of the Stroke Play Championship were incorporated into the championship qualifying rounds. Stroke Play champion and winner of the Martin Trophy was Alan Lockhart on 282 (67/70/69/76) from Craig McGann 286 (76/67/72/71) with Ken Wilkie third on 289 (73/74/70/72).

Handicap Stroke Play champion is Gordon Whitelaw (6) on 281 (71/72/67/71). Runner-up is Ross Miller (4) on 282 (best fourth round) (68/75/69/70) with Craig McGann (0) third on 282 BR4 (66/73/72/71).

Saturday is Finals Day and there will be no competition. Members are encouraged to come along and support the players who are contesting the various finals - Gents, Ladies and Juniors.

Results: Club Championship Qualifying and Kirkland Trophy Qualifying (June 15/16) Scratch - 1 Steven Aitken 138 (70/68); 2 Craig McGann 143 (72/71).

First Class - 1 Gordon Whitelaw 149 (73/76) handicap 6 137 (67/70); 2 Ross Miller 157 (73/74) handicap 4 139 (69/70); 3 Stuart McDonald 160 (80/80) handicap 10 140 bsr (70/70).

Second Class - 1 John Ward 162 (83/79) handicap 12 138 (71//67); 2 Gerry Watt 167 (84/83) handicap 14 139 (70/69); 3 Gary Aitken 166 (80/86) handicap 13 140 (67/73).

Third Class - 1 Kevin Malley 174 (87/87) handicap 17 140 (70/70); 2 Alan Mackay 186 (93/93) handicap 22 142 (71/71); 3 Lloyd Hardman 191 (93/88) handicap 19 143 (74/69).

Dewar Trophy winner Ken Wilkie 142 (70/72) handicap 3, 134 (66/68).

Stroke Play Championship (Martin Trophy) -1 Alan Lockhart 282 (67/70/69/76) 2 Craig McGann 286 (76/67/72/71); 3 Ken Wilkie 289 (73/74/70/72).

Handicap Championship - 1 Gordon Whitelaw 281 (71/72/67/71); 2 Ross Miller 282 br4 (68/75/69/70); 3 Craig McGann 282 br4 (66/73/72/71).

STIRLING

Scratch player James (Jas) Donaldson added a one under par 71 to last week’s 68 for a combined (best two scores from three qualifying rounds) five under total of 139 to win the club’s Strokeplay Championship by four shots from John Colquhoun on Saturday. Birdies at holes 1, 2, 12 and 18 with dropped shots at 6, 9 and 14 sees Jas made No 1 seed for the knockout ties which take place throughout this week.

Players were vying for one of the 16 spots for the club championship and with two qualifiers - six times champion Kevin Brunton and Robin Cockburn electing to play in the Seniors Championship, Douglas Todd electing to play in the Handicap Championship and Jonathan Turner not available, the qualifying score dropped to 153 with Ewan Robertson taking 16th spot on the better second round from five other players all on 153.

Other qualifiers for the last 16 were Barry McIntyre, Ben Liddell, Greg McLellan, Lee Wilson, Jack Hill, Steven Duncan, David Oates, Stewart McLellan, Roland Fleming, Liam Haldane, Jim Anderson, Ewan Robertson, Campbell Leggat and Iain MacFarlane.

On Monday, last 16 results were: Jas Donaldson beat Barry McIntyre; Ben Liddell beat Greg McLellan; Lee Wilson beat Jack Hill; Steven Duncan lost to David Oates; Stewart McLellan lost to Roland Fleming; Liam Haldane beat Jim Anderson; Ewan Robertson beat, Campbell Leggat and Iain MacFarlane beat John Colquhoun.

Draw for quarter-final played last night: Jas Donaldson v Ben Liddell; Lee Wilson v David Oates; Roland Fleming v Liam Haldane; Ewan Robertson v Iain McFarlane.

Class 1 was won by the ever improving Jack Hill who returned a three over par 75 off 9 to qualify in his first season as a member. Ewan Robertson was second (72 net 66) and Stewart McLellan third (71, net 68 bih).

Alan Easton won Class 2 aided by a terrific eagle two at the 4th and another two at the 10th for a net 68 to qualify for the Handicap Championship Matchplay. Elder statesman Richard D Park was second on net 70 (bih) and qualified for the inaugural Seniors Handicap Championship. John Yuill was third.

Kevin Cunningham won Class 3 with a net 68 with Donald McKinlay second on net 71 (bih) with Donald qualifying for the Handicap Championship. James McIntyre was third, also on 71, and qualified for the Seniors Handicap event.

Results: Class 1 - 1 Jack Hill 75 (9) 66 bih; 2 Ewan Robertson 72 (6) 66; 3 Stewart McLellan 71 (3) 68 bih. Class 2 - 1 Alan Easton 79 (11) 68; 2 Richard D Park 80 (10) 70 bih; 3 John Yuill 81 (11) 70. Class 3 - 1 Kevin Cunningham 88 (20) 68; 2 Donald McKinlay 87 (16) 71 bih; 3 James McIntyre 87 (16)71.

Finals Day is on Saturday, June 22 with Juniors, Ladies and Gents Finals. Gents 36-hole Championship final is at 9am and 2pm. Members and guests are welcome as are spectators for all finals with the prizegiving ceremony in the clubhouse around 5pm.

BRIDGE OF ALLAN

Qualifying for the Gents Championships was concluded at the weekend starting with the Senior Gents on Friday. The four qualifiers for the semifinals on Friday were David Shaw, Stuart Kerr, Steve Ingram and Jimmy McKenzie. In Friday’s qualifying round itself the best score of the day was returned by Steve Ingram with 19 points while John Johnston just pipped Stuart Kerr for second place both scoring 18 points.

In the qualifying for the Club Championship, Kyle McClung was top qualifier and also the winner of the Strokeplay Championship with his combined two round scratch total of 133 made up of rounds of 65 and 68. In the Handicap Strokeplay Gordon Mitchell led the way with his 129 two round total. Kyle and Gordon can now look forward to picking up their trophies at the year-end prize giving.

In the Saturday competition Mike Smith returned the best score on the day by virtue of the better inward half with his net 65. In second place was Tommy Davidson again with a net 65 and third place went to Lewis Cowie on 66.

The knockout rounds of the Club Championship and Oliphant Trophies take place this week with the 36-hole finals being played on Saturday.

BRAEHEAD

On Monday, June 10, Braehead Seniors played a friendly match against Royal Montrose at the Alloa club. The match was played in lovely weather conditions with a few rumbles of thunder over the Ochil Hills and a heavy downpour just as the players left the course. The Braehead team won the match by 7.5 games to 0.5 with home advantage contributing to the result. Braehead looks forward to the return match later in the year.

The Seniors’ friendly match on Wednesday, June 12 took place when King James VI (Perth) visited the club for the annual match which Braehead won by 5-1. The return match will be held in Perth in July.

Saturday, June 15 saw the finals of the Club Championship with all categories being closely fought in dry conditions. Congratulations to all competitors and results were: Club Champion Allan Watson, runner-up James Muir; 2nd Division Champion Stuart McCallum, runner-up Billy Blair; 3rd Division Champion John Graham, runner up Robert Docherty; Seniors Champion Murdy Gilmour, runner up John Murray; Ladies Scratch Champion Laura Bissett, runner up Lynn Parsler; Ladies Handicap Champion Julie Gibbons, runner up Glenys Talbot.

The Gents Senior Open competition at the club is being held on Thursday, July 11 and tee off times can still be booked through the BRS booking system or via the club professional.

DOLLAR

Moir Medal third round (Saturday, June 15): Div 1 - 1 Kenneth Christie 70 (11) 59; 2 Fraser Christie 72 (9) 63; 3 Gary Gordon 76 (12) 64. Div 2 - 1 Andrew Ray 78 (17) 61; 2 Alan Daly 81 (18) 63; 3 Andrew Rourke 90 (22) 68.

DOLLAR LADIES

Club Championship first round (Wednesday, June 12): 1 Moragh Dunning 92 (17) 75; 2 Barbara Malcolm 100 (23) 77; 3 Janette McMillan 105 (26) 79.