	Week Beginning 13/09/2008

SDS Lawn Bowls Championships 2008....

(Eileen Restorick and Alex Ainslie with their Awards)

Some excellent results were achieved by the Lothian team at this year's SDS Lawn Bowls Championships, held at Westburn Park, Aberdeen on 13 September. A week later than usual because the venue had been hosting a World Bowls event it unfortunately clashed with the Edinburgh holiday week end and several key players, most notably Moira Wright, section 9 champion in 2004, were missing. Despite the team being smaller than usual, Eileen Restorick ( Prestonpans & District Disabled Bowling Club ) and Alex Ainslie ( Eskmills Bowling Club) played exceptional bowls on a miserable day to beat international opposition and win their respective sections. Eileen beat the 2006 & 2007 champion, Barbara McMillan from Fife, by a score of 14 shots to 6, to take the Thomas Taylor Trophy (ambulant ladies) while Alex defeated three time winner, Billy Allan, also from Fife, by 11 shots to 5, to lift the Dewars Trophy (ambulant men).

Although these were the only successes enjoyed by the nine strong Lothian Disability Sport team, all of whom had qualified as a result of their performances at the LSO and LDS regional events earlier in the year, everyone played well against some of the best disabled bowlers in Scotland and gained from the experience. Only Bruce Rawding, apart from Eileen and Alex, reached the semi final stage, the others all failing to progress beyond the earlier rounds, and this was a fine achievement in what was his first experience of the SDS Championships.

Full team

Section 2/3 Women Wheelchair User:

Frances McCraw (Prestonpans)

Section 4 Ambulant Men (Non restricted):

Bruce Rawding (Kirkhill BC)
Alex Ainslie (Eskmills BC)

Section 5 Ambulant Ladies (Non restricted):

Eileen Restorick (Prestonpans)

Section 6 Ambulant Men (restricted):

Richard Morrison (Craigentinny BC)

Section 8 Men with a Learning Disability:

Alan Gordon (Prestonpans)
Euan Wright (Edinburgh)
Scott Quinn (Loanhead)
Stewart Martin (Prestonpans)