THE dozen Ettrick Forest Archers who travelled up to Glasgow for the first BLBS competition of the year may have been forgiven for thinking Mugdock Country Park had been covered by a huge glass bubble.
Every time they have visited the home of Green Hollow Bowmen in the past, they have had to battle horrendous crosswinds and boggy underfoot conditions, but the unseasonsal March heat and calmness made it a rather pleasant walk in the park.
The Borderers made up half the entry – and they fared well in the results, too.
The overall winners were Glasgow’s Hugh McBrien and unstoppable Inverness archer Barbara Campbell, but Selkirk’s Martin Stillie took a bronze medal for the gents’ first round and Elaine Pearson a bronze medal for the ladies’ second round.
Mike Pearson was in the shoot-off for the gents, but was beaten to it by McBrien. Jim Craig scored the first clout of the season for Ettrick Forest away from home and what a beauty it was too – bang on the black spot.
Results – Ladies’ 120yd double clout round: 1, Barbara Campbell 62 hits, 176 score, 4 clouts; 2, Carolyn Sharp 33, 88, 1; 3, Elaine Pearson 36, 87, 1; 4, Emma Gillies 35, 86, 1; 5, Elizabeth Normand 38, 81, 1; 6, Eileen Bilby 28, 61, 0; 7, Evelyn Craig 22, 53, 0; 8, Helen Ogilvie 11, 19, 0.
Barbara Campbell won the ladies’ best ends shoot-off.
Gents’ 180yd double clout round: 1, Hugh McBrien 50, 115, 3; 2, Martin Stillie 29, 66, 0; 3 Ned O’Neil 26, 62, 1; 4, Jim Bilby 32, 60, 0; 5, Bill Campbell (H) 24, 60, 2; 6, Alan Walker 21, 52, 0; 7, Mike Pearson 21, 52, 0; 8, Jim Craig 24, 49, 1; 9, Kevin Janiak 22, 49, 0; 10, Doug Anderson 22, 48, 0; 11, Bill Wiseman 19, 46, 1; 12, Alex Blake 20, 43, 0; 13, Jimmy Stillie 21, 39, 1; 14 Scott Nottman 17, 25, 0; 15 Bill Campbell (L) 12, 25, 0; 16, William Good 13, 22, 0.
Hugh McBrien won the best ends shoot-off for the gents.