The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Arbroath trophy cabinet full after dominant year
BOWLS: Club’s best ever season sees them bring home eight major honours
As the bowling season moves indoors for the winter, members of Arbroath Bowling Club are reflecting on the most successful season in their history.
The Hill completed the 2018 outdoor campaign with a trophy cabinet packed full of eight major honours – Hunter Cup, Angus League, District 5 Singles, Angus Singles, Henderson Trophy, Angus Top Five, Broughty Masters and Scottish Top 10.
Club president Gary Milne said: “If someone had said to us at the start of the season we would win half of the trophies we managed to get our hands on we would have happily taken that. But to have the season we have just had and win eight major honours, including the Scottish Top 10, is simply remarkable.
“So many players have played their part and it is a campaign that will live long in the memory of our members and will be reminisced over a few drinks in the club for many years to come, of that I am sure.”
Pride of place in their remarkable run was capturing the Scottish Top 10 title – the “Holy Grail” of outdoor bowling for local clubs.
The successful season began with both of their teams reaching the semi-final of the Hunter Cup, with one side going on to lift the trophy by defeating Broughty at Baxter Park.
With the Angus League campaign and the Scottish Top 10 getting under way, there were few free nights for the Arbroath players.
After winning the national title, Arbroath turned their attention to the Angus League and with one game remaining they were a point behind Montrose, the side they faced in the final match. It was a winner takes all tie and The Hill were without their talismanic captain, Commonwealth gold medallist Darren Burnett.
And they couldn’t have made a worse start being 18-2 down on shots early on.
Slowly but surely they pegged back their Angus rivals and going into the final end they were ahead by two shots. A oneshot loss at the final end meant the comeback was complete and they had won the title by the narrowest of margins in a thrilling conclusion.
Meanwhile, Malcolm Anderson won the District 5 singles which booked his place in the National Finals at Ayr. And he did the club, and Angus, proud in losing 21-19 to the eventual winner in the second round.
Singles success came around again when Mike Stewart won the Angus Singles, defeating Brechin by seven shots to claim the title. Arbroath then won the next team event, the Henderson Trophy, for the first time before the Angus Top Five became their next target.
The club progressed to the last four where they beat town rivals Abbey BC 4-1 to reach the final where they played fierce rivals Dundee Craigie at Carnoustie West End. With the match tied at 2-2 and with one game left on the green, Craigie were leading 20-14 requiring only one shot to take the trophy.
But up stepped Graham Haxton who dug in and, with a little bit of good fortune and some great skill, turned the tie around and snatch victory 21-20 to give The Hill a 3-2 victory and with it the Top Five crown.
As the season drew to a close, Darren Burnett was inaugurated into the Scottish Bowls Hall of Fame, and he signed off the season and the club’s amazing campaign by winning the Broughty Masters Singles title.