Week Beginning 09/02/2008

Bowled Over at SDS National Championships…….

Lothian Disability Sport enjoyed a very successful day at the Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) National Carpet Bowls Championships on Saturday, 9th February at the Fife Sports Institute in Glenrothes.  Our team of 19 was the largest ever taken to this event and the players more than justified their selection with 6 reaching the finals.

Success was guaranteed in the mens unrestricted section as this final was contested by two players not only both from Lothian but also from the same club, the Prestonpans & District Disabled Bowling Club.  Neil Shirley and Jimmy Restorick are well used to competing against each other and this was always going to be a tight game - and so it proved with Neil defeating last year's champion by one shot in a 10-9 thriller.

In the ladies unrestricted section final Margaret Brown, also from the Prestonpans Club, came up against three times winner Barbara McMillan from Fife and was unable to find a way past her, despite some fine bowls.

A very close game in the mens restricted section saw Garry Whitfield from the West Lothian Disabled Bowling Club take the 2006 champion, Robbie Craig from Fife, to an extra end only to lose out narrowly.  A runner's up place was still a superb result from Garry in only his second National Championships.

Another fine performance was given by Fiona Hagenbuch who was playing in the ladies' restricted section in her first ever National Championships. Hopes were high after she won all her matches in her qualifying section but the vastly experienced Eleanor Clark from Fife prevailed in the final. If she keeps playing at this standard it will, however, only be a matter of time before Fiona lifts the trophy.

Last, but by no means least, the most successful bowler in the history of Lothian Disability Sport, triumphed yet again in the ladies learning disability final. Moira Wright from Midlothian has won this section on no fewer than seven previous occasions and, despite not having the best of preparation, she made it comfortably through to the final to record victory for a magnificent eighth time.

Team members

Men - wheelchair users: 
Archie Wood, Prestonpans & District Disabled Bowling Club  

Ladies - wheelchair users:
Frances McCraw, Prestonpans & District Disabled Bowling Club
Rachel Wilson, Musselburgh Sunday Bowlers

Men - unrestricted:
Jimmy Restorick, Prestonpans & District Disabled Bowling Club
Neil Shirley, Prestonpans & District Disabled Bowling Club
Billy Falcon, West Lothian Disabled Bowling Club

Ladies - unrestricted:
Eileen Restorick, Prestonpans & District Disabled Bowling Club
Margaret Brown, Prestonpans & District Disabled Bowling Club

News | Events | Sports | Gallery | Contact | Links | Find out more | Resize text | Site Map

© Lothian Disabilty Sport 2007
Registered Scottish charity no SC028933