After an excellent week of golf at Torwoodlee, the various club championship finals took place with first-time finalist and former Scottish boys’ internationalist Simon Fairburn overcoming regular finalist Derek Gillie in a pulsating final.
The B Class saw Colin Shanks come out on top against Jimmy Graham while, in a battle that saw experience win out over youth, former captain Iain Gibson won the C Class over Guy Frater.
The ladies’ A Class saw multiple winner Liz Campbell take on Denise Richards and, in a extremely tight match with little in it throughout, Liz eventually came out on top to add her name to the trophy and honours board once again.
Last year’s ladies’ captain, Mary Christie, held off Scotland women’s rugby internationalist Nicola Halfpenny to win the B Class.
Trophies were presented by respective captains Sandy Stenhouse and Gillian Lithgow, with all competitors paying compliments to the greens staff for the superb condition of the course.
Bowling
Abbotsford
Hoping to end their run of defeats, the seniors were at home to Kelso. Although Bill Waugh, George Kerr and Tommy Mann snr finished ahead for Abbotsford, Kelso won the remaining games in a 68-46 victory.
Later the same evening, the ladies had an away match against Newtown where, unfortunately, both rinks lost in a 5-0 win for the hosts.
The A team were at home to league front runners Hawick and only a win would suffice to keep Abbotsford’s slim title hopes alive. However, it was the visitors who claimed the points with three of their rinks finishing ahead in an 88-71 victory.
Abbotsford had one winning rink in Taylor Johnston, Stuart Aitchison, Graham Prentice and Tommy Mann jnr.
On Friday, the A team travelled to play Melrose in the second round of the drlightbodypainters.co.uk Knock-out Cup.
The match could hardly have been closer, with both teams finishing on 69 shots, but it was Abbotsford who progressed to the next round, thanks to a 3-2 rinks victory. Highest up for Abbotsford were John Hardie, Graham Prentice, Callum Riddell and Andrew Hancock.
On Saturday, the Top Five finals were held at Coldstream Bowling Club.
In the first semi-final, Chirnside defeated Ancrum, while in the second Abbotsford won over Hawick. In the final the outcome was always in doubt, even though Chirnside took the first two points with wins from Jamie Mitchell over Kenny Johnstone and Tiger Mitchell over Keith Campbell. Abbotsford hit back with Tommy Newall defeating Gavin Douglas, but Chirnside obtained the crucial third point, when Robert Paterson won against Andrew Hancock, to become the first winners of the competition.
Finally, on Sunday, the Open Singles competition was held at Abbotsford.
In the semi-finals, Donald Elliot defeated Alan Howlieson, while Keith Campbell got the better of Scott Thomson.
Then in a closely-fought final, Campbell managed to edge out Elliot to win the tournament for the second year in a row.
Thanks go to Prosperity IFAS & Stockbrokers for sponsoring the event.
Hawick
The seniors entertained St Ronan’s at home, and recorded a very good win by 54-44.
Top rink for the home side was the Graham Lyall-skipped rink, supported by Wullie Wells and Charlie Logan.
The A team travelled to Gala to play Abbotsford and with several players away on holiday, this was expected to a difficult game. However, the revised team gelled really well and recorded a good victory, winning by 88-71.
Top rink for the Hawick side was the Scott Clarkson-skipped rink, ably supported by J. Darling, N. Anderson and G. Lyall.
The B team played local rivals Wilton at home and, with their squad weakened due to holidays, they came up against a strong Wilton team – several of whom having played regularly in their A side.
The result was 73-46 for the visitors. Top rink for the home side was the Ronnie Graham-skipped rink, ably supported by Wull Short, Jim Douglas and Alan McCredie.
This week sees the start of the Bowls Scotland National Championships at Ayr. The club would like to wish good luck to Alison Clarkson, who is in the ladies’ singles, and Irene Wilson, Mary Riddell, Pat Brady and Joyce Dickey, who are playing in the senior ladies’ section.
Langholm New Town
There was an excellent entry of 44 for the open pairs tournament for the Castle Craigs cup last Saturday.
After a long day’s competition the winners were William Adam from Eastriggs and Robert Carruthers from Annan, who beat Newcastleton pair Jemima Richardson and Robert Robson in the final.
The winners were presented with the cup and prize money by sponsors Ian and Betty Harkness. The eventual winners beat Alan Aitken and Duncan Ritchie of the host club in the semi-final, and Joe and Terri Sergeant lost in an all-Newcastleton semi-final. President Paul Warwick thanked everyone who had helped make the tournament a success, despite showers.
Cycling
Galashiels
The 25-mile time trial record was smashed on the Abbottsford/A68 course by Rob Martin who, over the past few weeks, has been constantly breaking the 10 & 25-mile records, but this week he surpassed himself by taking more than a minute off the longer distance.
Times for 25-mile: R. Martin 53.57 minutes; N. Shepherd 1.00.20; Scot Purves 1.03.18; J. Weston 1.05.45; R. Patterson & B, Hamilton 1.07.18; B. Lowes 1.11.25.
Times for 10-mile: A. Meickle 22.45; C. Forsyth 25.07; C. Tough 26.25; K. Veiton 29.25; D. Theron 30.28; M. Shiells 30.52; L. Crawford 32.50.
Kelso Wheelers
The 10-mile Birgham League took precedence for a second week with the penultimate round of the competition.
Donald Richardson (92 points) posted his fifth minus score of the campaign to scoop 20 first-place points and virtually guarantee the title in the Red Division. Rob Ure (72) continued his charge up the leaderboard by moving into second and pushing Colin Stevenson (68) into third, while Jeremy Smith climbed to fourth on 62.
In the Pink Division, Gav Ford (76) and Audrey Power (66) leapfrogged the absent Simon Gaunt (60), with James Bader and Gordon Dalglish (42 each) the best of the rest.
David Whitecross leads the Polka Dot Division by eight points from fellow Coldstreamer Rob Smith (86). Steve Onley in third (56) may well have challenged for the title with a more regular appearance rate, which can also be said about Jill Sinton (52) in fourth.
Although being beaten by a course record (Ben Simpson), Oscar Onley (88) posted a pb of his own and moves into pole position in the Yellow Division over Daniel Easson (74) and Ben Simpson (40).
Times: K. Darling 22.45; C. Stevenson 24.15; J. Smith 24.23; R. Ure 24.29; D. Richardson 24.38; M. Burgher 24.39; W. McIntosh 24.53; R. Coupek 25.44 pb; B. Simpson 26.00 cr/pb; G. Ford 26.01; J. Bader 26.22; O. Onley 26.56 pb; G. Dalglish 27.46; A. Power 27.59; S. Onley 29.11; R. Smith 30.08; D. Whitecross 30.08; J. Sinton 31.29.
Golf
Galashiels
John Scott (Plumbing & Heating) Seniors Championship Qualifier: A League winner, S. Scott net 33; B League winner, P. Seggie 36.
Melrose
Marmion’s Melbourne Cup: 1, K. Grieve 75 (12) 63; 2, R. Mackay 80 (16) 64; 3, D. Page 75 (8) 67. Scratch: L. M. Wallace 73.
Minto
This year’s Minto Senior Ladies’ Open attracted one of the best entries, with 35 teams of three playing the course, which was in great condition, thanks to the hard work of head greenkeeper Paul Cranston and his team.
Entries were drawn from clubs as far afield as Carlisle, Elie and Buchanan Castle, with a number from East Lothian, as well as many of the Borders clubs.
The success of the day is a tribute to the hard work and meticulous preparation by the ladies’ competitions secretary, Linda Geatons, assisted by the ladies who helped with checking scorecards. Tam Glendinning ensured that the day ran like clockwork.
Results (all players Minto, unless stated otherwise): Best individual Stableford score, A. Henderson (The Roxburghe) 40 pts; Teams – 1, P. Leithhead, M. Morrison & A. Teague (Hawick) 77 BIH; 2, K. Sanford, M. Walker, Y. Sharratt (Jedburgh) 77; 3, Grace Black, Liz Campbell, Doreen Lillico (Torwoodlee) 75 BIH.
Seniors’ Summer Stableford League: 1, D. Shiell 42 points; 2, T. Glendinning 35; 3=, E. Berridge & D. Miller 34.
Junior Summer Competition No 3: 1, O. Cranston 85 (22) 63; 2, R. Nichol 81 (16) 65 (lowest gross); 3, I. Rolland 101 (36) 65.
Gents Holiday Stableford 2: 1, R. Latta 38 points; 2, C. Smith 37; 3, M. Scott 35.
St Boswells
Junior July Medal: 1, S. Murdoch 75 (14) 61; 2, D. Murdoch 74 (6) 68 (lowest gross); 3, J. McDonald 81 (12) 69; 4, G. Dodds 105 (31) 74.
Torwoodlee
1, I. Gueldner 63 (34) 29 (new handicap 30); 2, K. Anderson 55 (23) 32 (new handicap 21); 3=, D. Seggie 46 (12) 36; 3, H. Seggie 60 (24) 36.
The Torwoodlee Open (sponsored by Dave Brydon Tyres & Exhausts) takes place on Saturday. Late entries are available, please contact Iain Heard on 07825 323886.
Homing
Earlston & District
Three members sent 65 birds to Ridsdale, liberated at 8.45am into a north wind. Result: 1, 2, 3, W. Gray & Son 879.57; 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, A. Bain 535.85; 9, S. Martin 425.63.
Galashiels
Eight members sent 102 pigeons to Ridsdale, a distance of 43 miles. Result: 1, W. Hopewell 498.615; 2, 6, G. Irvine 478.706; 3, 7, K. G. Lawrie 443.556; 4, A. R. Lindores 438.066; 5, J. Ramage 423.867.
Langholm
The club liberated 74 young birds in a light north-west wind from Shap last Saturday. Result: 1, 2, 3, W. Irving 1121.109; 4, 5, A. Henderson 763.898; 6, 7, 8, D. Nordon 757.327.