© Gary Bradley 2001-5 - all rights reserved, all trademarks hereby acknowledged |
This year's Greenock & District Championship Finals were held at IBM Bowling club. President Robert Harron, welcomed the players, guests, officials and spectators before handing the green over to Greenock & District President, Ian Creelman to get play underway.. First game to come to a close was the Singles Final between Wellington Park's Stephen Mc Lellan and Jimmy Boyd of Kilmacolm. I marked Stephen's first round game against George Felgate last saturday at Gourock Park and he looked dead and buried at 20 v 15 down, but he recovered brilliantly and won by 21 v 20. " I think someone up there likes me" he said as he came off the green. Well if there was they were certainly watching all of Stephens games as he looked unstoppable as he roared to victory against Jimmy Boyd by 21 shots to 8 shots in a game that lasted 40 mins. Kilmacolm player, Jimmy appeared to be struggling to come to terms on the heavier green compared to the semi-final game on a fast Lady Alice green and this was to be his downfall on the day. |
The Junior Singles Final was a real classic between the experienced Stephen Hendry of Wellington Park against relative new comer Gavin Miller of Rankin Park. The early stages of this match indicated that like the other singles match, would be over within the hour, as Stephen raced into a 12 v 3 lead after just ten ends played. Young Gavin was not for throwing in the towel and brought himself back into the match by taking the mat up the green. This allowed him to slowly eat away at Stephen's lead and by the 15th end the gap had closed to just 5 shots at 13 v 8. Both players were delivering some excellent shots and each had gained a further shot to take the score to 14 v 9 by the 17th end. Stephen then once again to make his experience count as he again gained the advantage to lead at 19 shots to 9 after twenty ends played and many thought it would be gave over soon. Rankin Park's Gavin had other ideas though as he once again got stuck in and played a brilliant shot to save the game with his last bowl in end 21 with Stephen holding two match winning shots. Over the next four ends he was giving Stephen major worries as he clawed back the deficit to just three shots by the 25th end, including a marvelous triple. With the pressure building, Wellington's Stephen finally gained the two final shots required to win glory in the next end to win by 21 shots to 16 shots. Both players deserve praise for an excellent match and although he lost, Gavin can be proud of the way he performed and I am sure will be back to win this in future years. |
Wellington Park made it a 'treble' when their Pairs destroyed Victoria's Ian Kincaid & Dan Dominick. John Mc Gilvray and Mick Mc Caulay were up by 20 shots to 4 after just 9 ends played and ran out convincing winners by 27 shots to 7. |
The Triples Champions are Ardgowan's Douglas Barr, George Gurney and Campbell Barr who defeated Birkmyre's trio of T Faith, J Gault and D Burns in a close competitive match |
The Fours Final between Port Glasgow's D Tolan, J Edmiston, Jim Quye and Brian McAlees against Gourock's Raymond Swankie, B Torlay, W Telfer and Stuart Munro was a close game and was won by an amazing last shot. The game was almost certain to require an extra end to determin a winner as in the last scheduled end Gourock held shot which would have evened the score at 17 all. Gourock's Skip, Stuart then delivered a shot that many thought was a dangerous one to attempt. As his final bowl sped up the green, I was standing next to Gourock's Graham Paterick and President John Mc Master and both of them commented on the speed at which Stuarts bowl was approaching the head. Both of them had major concerns about Stuart's choice of shot which I must say, was a brave one to take. However any fears they had soon turned to roars of delight as the yard on shot displaced both the shot bowl, jack and Port Glasgow's second to take the Trophy home to Barrhill Road. It was a shot in a million and I have no idea if Stuart meant to deliver the bowl with the weight he did. Whether he did or not, its one he will remember for a long time. |
Lady Alice claimed the Senior Fours with a victory over the much fancied Kilmacolm. A Creelman, D Blaikie, J Nichol and Hugh Dodds won by 16 shots to 10 |
Greenock & District Championship Finals Day IBM Bowling Club 20th August 2005 |
Greenock & District Singles Champion 2005 Stephen Mc Lellan Wellington Park BC |
Greenock & District Junior Singles Champion 2005 Stephen Hendry Wellington Park BC |
Greenock & District Junior Singles Finalist 2005 Gavin Miller Rankin Park BC |
Greenock & District Pairs Champions 2005 Mick Mc Caulay & John McGilvray Wellington Park BC |
Greenock & District Triples Champions 2005 George Gurney, Douglas Barr & Campbell Barr Ardgowan BC |
Greenock & District Fours Champions 2005 B Torlay, Raymond Swankie, W Telfer & Stuart Munro Gourock BC |
Greenock & District Senior Fours Champions 2005 A Creelman, Hugh Dodds, J Nichol & D Blaikie Lady Alice BC |
The position of the head before Stuart's shot in a million |
The Junior Singles players shake hands at the end of a brilliant game of bowls |
Blue skies and warm sunshine made conditions perfect for the Finals |
Inverclyde Provost, Cianno Rebecci presents Ardgowan's President with the Reid Cup |
The County Flag went to IBM, here we see IBM President, Robert Harron with Inverclyde Provost and Greenock & District President, Ian Creelman |
Gourock President, John Mc Master with the G&D Top Ten Trophy |
Greenock & District Mixed Pairs Champions 2005 President Jim McElwee and his Wife Jackie Rankin Park BC |
The new Second Division Trophy has been named the Peter Clark Memorial Trophy and here we see Grosvenor's President, John Whyte with Peter's proud Wife |
The Third Division Title went to Kilmacolm Bowling Club and here we see President, Grant Craig with the Trophy |
Greenock & District League Champions Grosvenor Bowling Club |
Grosvenor's President John Whyte and John Freeburn celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Club |
"We are the Champions" Grosvenor Members gather with the League Flag |
Once the prizes were handed out, players, officials and guests retired to the IBM Social Club for a fine meal and to enjoy the banter involved in the various speeches. Well done to IBM for the excellent way in which the Finals were hosted and congratulations to everyone who reached the Finals |
Greenock & District Leagues |
