Former Weslo champs in U60s contest
Five past champions of the Weslo Seniors Open are through to Tuesday’s second round of the West Lothian Bowling Associations’s showpiece Over 60s event.
But title-holder Robert Saunders, of Whitburn, is out having bit the dust in his first round clash with Bob Mackay – the 2016 king pin from Armadale.
Mackay’s hard fought 21-18 victory saw him joined by his club-mate Gordon Scott (2012), Gordon Kain (2011) of Buchan Park, Gordon Logan (2014) of Kirkliston, and Stuart Smith (2015) of Ratho.
Mainstream stars of yesteryear bidding to capture the coveted Weslo silveware include Ronnie Erskine (Winchburgh), Colin Stein (Linlithgow), Frank Barker (Mid Calder), Willie Watson (Bellsburn), and David Wilson of Broxburn.
The venues for the second round play (11.30am) are: Kinneil, Mid Calder, Oakbank and West Calder.
Friday night heralds an extraspecial occasion at historic Bathgate Bowling Club (1862) with the staging of the 2018 finals of the traditional WLBA (1882) County Championships, and with representation from nine clubs parading their skills across five disciplines.
The final of the Jack High Insurance Singles Championship features Ratho versus Linlithgow, and The Rosy Posy’s also feature in the Mark Feeney Pairs with Whitburn in opposition.
Kirkliston defend the Jack High Insurance Triples against Bankton Mains of Livingston while Kirkliston BC sponsored Fours features Winchburgh against Middleton Hall.
An extra highlight is the final of the Jack High Insurance Junior Open for The Fred Meikle Trophy with Jamie Aitken, of Newbridge, lining up against Mark Thorburn, of East Calder.
This week’s semi-final of the coveted Meikle Trophy saw Aitken defeat Calum Melrose of Deans, 21-10, while Thorburn dealt a 21-13 exit to Stuart Ford of Armadale.
Tuesday night’s quarter-finals action in the WLBA Top Five Singles saw away wins for Broxburn, 3-2, against Whitburn; and Kirkliston, 4-1, against Uphall Station while Bathgate survived a 3-2 battle at home to Buchan Park, and Linlithgow beat Queensferry, 4-1.
Tonight’s (Thursday) semi-finals pitches Broxburn against Linlithgow at Bankton Mains, and Bathgate against Kirkliston at Broxburn.
The Section Finals results in the recently completed Johnston Oil’s 20 th West Lothian Masters were,: Alex Allan 21 Cameron Fraser (Whitburn) 8; Thomas Mann 21 Scott McMaster (Broxburn) 13; Martin Byrne 21 Robbie Cuthill (Kirkliston) 16; Andy Dunnett 21 Glenn King 13; Gary Smith 21 John Collins (Middleton Hall) 10; Raymond Logan 21 Ewan Shearer (Linlithgow) 12; Alastair Stenhouse 21 Andrew Walker 14; Darren Pearce 21 Walter McDougall (Glenmavis) 19.