WHAT A SEASON!

What a busy season we have had! Our green is fast establishing a reputation as one of the best in the Lothians and we were honoured to host the Scottish Bowling Association (SBA) District 12 Finals on 16 June. Over three hundred spectators watched some scintillating bowling for which the teams were rewarded with a superb buffet prepared by our Ladies Section!. We also attracted a Hamilton trophy game and the Semi Finals of the Water of Leith (WOL) Seniors Competitions.

All of our teams have been achieving reasonable results in their respective leagues – sometimes punching above their weight and taking some significant scalps (quite a feat considering their weight and the number of follicly challenged opponents!).
Pride of place in The Ladies Section goes to Helen Girdler who won our Ladies Championship for the sixth time thus equalling the record set by Jessie Downie who watched Helen’s latest victory. Congratulations too to Helen and to Morag Moffat and Sandra Duguid who respectively reached the semi final and the final of the SWBA District 12 Singles and 2 Bowl Pairs Competitions. In the local Currie and Balerno Pairs Competition our ladies were delighted to secure an all-Balerno BC Final with victory going to Elspeth Oliver and Margaret Beveridge.

On the Seniors front, our teams are currently sitting top of the WOL League and third in the Edinburgh West League. I need also commend the Rink of Brian Ronald, Tom Vallery, George O’Reilly and Hugh Watt for reaching the semi – final of the SBA District 12 Competition and David Lees on reaching the final of the WOL Senior Singles.

Our First and Second XVIs look as though they will better last year’s league positions. We were delighted when our Top 5 Team reached the semi – final for the first time in many years. Unfortunately, the team of Maxi Baigrie, Kenny Girdler, Stevie Watson, Jim Wight and Ross Young lost narrowly on the day but we are grateful to them and to Michael Haldane, Brian Ronald and Grant Wilson (who featured in earlier rounds) for re-affirming our belief that one day soon we shall be celebrating the return of a trophy to the Club.

In the meantime members and guests will unwind with our full programme of Cabaret and Folk Nights and Bingo  - details of which can be found on our website www.balernobowlingclub.co.uk. TTFN

 

Charlie Husband OBE
Club President