Message from Hughie Robertson

After discussions with President Arthur McFegan and secretary Graeme Maxwell, I have agreed to continue for another year as team manager.
My intention is to issue letters to club reps at our next meeting in March, they will contain a stamped addressed envelope to return to myself by 31/03/11.
I will then arrange to select squad for coming season. Once again I will also be engaging some of our experienced ex players to assist on HT games. Looking forward to building on what we started last season.

The SBA Mixed Pairs competition has for a number of years been played over one day or weekend.  The SBA has intimated that, as the competition is a national event, it must be played over the full 17 ends (plus trials).  District 17 Councillor Iain McLelland has been looking for the best way to run the play off in our district and it is almost certain that arranging ties for Wednesday nights is the best option.  The ties will probably run alongside the gents’ SBA district ties which are played on Monday nights, and the district final of the mixed pairs may this year be held alongside the gents’ finals as these will be hosted by Maxwelltown.  A firm confirmation is still to come, and an update will be posted on this site as soon as possible.

At the Stewartry AGM one of the attending members suggested to District Councillor Iain McLelland that the gents’ district finals could be played on a weekend as a Finals Day, rather than on  the traditional Monday night.  Two good reasons for this suggestion were that the competitors would not have to rush from work to the venue and the host club could then select the better rinks for play as two or more sessions could be held, instead of every rink, good or bad, having to be used due to time constraints.  Iain has advised that this year’s finals will be held as normal at Maxwelltown, probably on 20th June, however he will canvass all clubs to seek opinions on the suggestion of a finals day for the following year.

Sat 14/5/11    Renfrewshire South - away - Paisley Victoria
Sat 21/5/11    Glasgow East - home - Castle Douglas
Sat 28/5/11    Dunbartonshire East - away - Kirkintilloch
Sat 4/6/11    Dumfriesshire - home - Dalbeattie
Sat 11/6/11    Ayrshire South - away - Newmilns
Sat 18/6/11    Wigtownshire - home - New Abbey
Sat 25/6/11    Lanarkshire South - away - Springwells

Some early dates for 2011 for those planning their holidays!

League starts 2nd May 2011

KBA Cup      6th, 13th and the Final on the 20th May @ Spalding.

Top Ten      3rd, 10th and Final on the 17th June @ Spalding

County Singles @ Castle Douglas on Sunday 26th June

County Triples @ Kirkcudbright on Sunday 14th August

Finals Day @ Spalding on Sunday 4th September

The Stewartry has at last got a new secretary. Graeme Maxwell from Castle Douglas has taken on the job of replacing Stevie Conchar. I hope all the clubs and players in the Stewartry will give Graeme their full support.

I asked Graeme for a “Mission Statement”  and I am delighted to share I with all the Bowlers in the Stewartry.

My aims as Secretary are to provide a first class service to the President, Committee and each of the member clubs, ensuring all the competitions are run smoothly and fairly.  I would like to see as many people as possible playing bowls in the Stewartry and will do what I can to assist clubs in this.

REMEMBER IT IS COUNTY AGM ON WENDESDAY 29th, at Castle Douglas Club House at 7.30.

Has anyone volunteered to be the new Secretary??

The Stewartry Championships were played today at President Graeme Maxwell’s home green Castle Douglas. The green looked well and with the green set up for five rinks we hoped for some good games.

The County Championships are sponsored by Ian Bendall and Golden Charter.

First final of the day started with the Fours on Rink 5. The Dalbeattie rink of Bruce Richardson, Ronald Penny, James Harper & Stuart Richardson got of to the better start and lead 7-1 after 5 ends and 11-3 after 10 ends. By the 15th end The Kirkcudbright rink of John Crawford, Stuart Gordon, Alan Gordon & Darren Gourlay had got back in the game and a 2 in the 16th end got the score to 12-12. The final end was very close and required the services of Umpire Pat Brown to measure the shot to decide the winner. Well done Dalbeattie.

The 2 Singles finals were next on rinks 2 and 3.

In the Junior Singles Ronan Crossan from Auchencairn got of to a great start with a 3 and a 2 and lead 6-3 after 5 ends. Gary Davies from Castle Douglas moved up a gear and after 10 ends lead 13-6 and went on to win comfortably 21-10.

The Singles Final between Graeme Maxwell and Gavin Green both of Castle Douglas looked like being a good game and so it proved. After 5 ends Gavin lead 5-4, after 10 he lead 8-6 and after 14 ends it was still very close with Gavin leading 12-10. Graeme then went on a great run and over the next five ends scored 11 shots to win 21-12.

The remaining finals all started at 2.15pm.

The Pairs on rink 4 should have been a good game but it turned out to be very one sided with John McGaw and Ronan Crossan from Auchencairn being no match for Alan and Scott Davies of Castle Douglas and eventually threw in the Towel after 13 ends.

The Senior Fours on rink 3 between Ralf Richardson, Robert Bryden, Les Shuttleworth & Oliver Cligan from New Abbey and Tommy Docherty, Wig True, Len Dinnel & Tam Aitken was decided by the front end of the rinks with Oliver and Les giving Tam and Len a hard time. New abbey lead 5-2 after 5 ends, 7-4 after 10 ends and with 9 sots in the last 5 ends saw New Abbey win 16-6.

The Mixed Pairs on rink 1 was a good game to watch with Keith Shuttleworth and Christine Tennant from New Abbey and David and Lillie Kiltie from Gatehouse all playing well. The first 5 ends were very tight with five singles and David and Lillie leading 3-2. A five in end eight put Keith and Christine in front and lead 8-6 after 10 ends. After 15 ends new Abbey lead 13-9 and went on to win 15-10.

The Triples Final on rink 2 was the last game of the green with Bruce Richardson and Graeme Maxwell both trying to win their second title. Details of this game will have to wait until I can find the Scorecard but it was a great game to watch. The defending champions Graeme Maxwell, William Brydson & Tom Maxwell were mostly in the lead but it took some great bowls to keep them there. The Dalbeattie triple of Bruce Richardson, Ronald Penny & Ronnie Gibson played well but on occasions when they looked like they might get shots Graeme played some excellent  shots. I think Castle Douglas were 3 shots up playing the last end and went on to win.

The final of the Stewartry Seniors Triples League was played today at Castle Douglas between winners of section ‘A’ Auchencairn and section ‘B’ winners New Abbey.

Jim Richardson, Jim Clingan and Robert Bryden beat Joe Caldow, Billy Malcolmson and John McGarrie 16-11 and Jack Robinson, Les Shuttleworth and John Bigham beat Jock Smith, Jack Crocket and Laurie Little 14-8. Giving New Abbey a well deserved victory. Thanks to Castle Douglas for the use of their green which played well despite the rain.

Result of TOP FIVE Final played at Spalding.

Castle Douglas beat Dalbeattie 3 0 

Semi Final of TOP FIVE

Castle Douglas beat Kirkcudbright 3 - 2

Dalbeattie beat Auchencairn 4 - 1

FINAL NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT @ SPALDING.

The new competition ” Top Five” started tonight

Castle Douglas beat Creetown 3 - 2 @ Gatehouse

Kirkcudbright beat Gatehouse 3 - 2 @  Castle Douglas

Next Tuesday  night Castle Douglas play Kirkcudbright @Dalbeattie

& Dalbeattie play Auchencairn @ Kirkcudbright