	Week Beginning 14/02/2010

Success at SDS National Carpet Bowls Championships

              Garry Whitfield and Eileen Restorick with their trophies won at the SDS
              National Carpet Bowls Championships

A team of fifteen travelled to Dundee on Saturday 6 February 2010 to take part in the 30th SDS National Carpet Bowls Championships. With two defending champions on board hopes were high that we would not leave empty handed – and so it proved, although it was actually two different players who came away with trophies, demonstrating the depth of talent amongst our bowlers in Lothian.

Our 2010 champions were Eileen Restorick in the ambulant bowlers (ladies) unrestricted category and Garry Whitfield in the ambulant bowlers (mixed) restricted category. This is the second time Eileen has won the Bearsden Shield but as her victory this year came on her birthday it was particularly special. For Garry this was his first ever national title and in beating two opponents who have both played for Scotland outdoors he showed his talent at the short mat version of the game.

Dundee International Sports Centre was an excellent venue, apart from the lack of a café, and unlike last year when several teams were unable to make it through the snow there was a full complement of teams and very few last minute call offs. This resulted in some high quality ties – many involving Lothians players and we were delighted that nine out of the team reached their semi final or better.

With two former champions in the ambulant bowlers (men) unrestricted category we had hopes of success but both Jimmy Restorick (defending champion) and Neil Shirley were knocked out at the semi-final stage, as was Margaret Brown who was defending the title eventually taken by Eileen.

Our wheelchair bowlers, Fiona Hagenbuch and Archie Woods, also both played well to reach the semi-finals in their respective groups. They then encountered two really strong opponents and were both beaten by the eventual winner of their group.

Sadly our LD men were not able to reproduce the scintillating form shown at the regional LD event on 16 January and were all knocked out in the first round. We know, however, that they did not do themselves justice and competition will be tough to try and qualify next year to come back and show what they can do. The LD ladies did much better with Gillian Donald and Moira Wright both making it through to the semi-finals where they were unfortunately beaten, Moira only after an extra end was played to separate the two players.

Thanks to all the carers, coaches, markers and family members that helped on the day and in the lead up to the championships. Their help is invaluable and many players would not be able to take part without their support.

Full Lothian team:

Men: Archie Woods (wheelchair user), Jimmy Restorick, Neil Shirley (Ambulant and B3 unrestricted), Garry Whitfield (mixed - ambulant and B2 restricted), Stewart Martin, Gordon Graham, Alan Gordon, Scott Bruce (learning disability)

Ladies: Fiona Hagenbuch (wheelchair user), Margaret Brown, Eileen Restorick (Ambulant and B3 unrestricted), Moira Wright, Susan Cairney, Amanda Craig, Gillian Donald (learning disability)