West Lothian face major test at Wishaw as they kick off their campaign

Oct 1 2009 by Our Correspondent, West Lothian Courier

WEST Lothian IBC face a tough opening to their campaign in the A section of the gents’ Premier League when they clash with Lanarkshire at Wishaw this Saturday.

Thomas Mann is unavailable and Graeme Archer has switched allegiance suggesting that the paper strength of the starting team is not the strongest. However positive mindset and bulldog spirit can often compensate on such occasions.

The selectors have given former cap Joey Strickland the chance to skip in a 16 strong team that reads as follows: Rink 1 – Ewan Wilson, Paul Lyness, James Speirs and Neil Speirs.

Rink 2 – Cameron Greer, David Wilson, Stuart Johnston and George Sneddon.

Rink 3 – Richard Mark, Ray Logan, Des Hagart and Joey Strickland.

Rink 4 – James Greenock, Ian Laverie, Calum Logan and Mark Allison.

Stewart Gibson and Blair Mackie are named reserves while it is understood that former Scottish and British Pairs skip Ricky Forrest has opted to represent Falkirk.

Balbardie IBC have enjoyed spells in the Premier league but currently carry the West Lothian flag in the B section of Division 1 where the major block to promotion is expected to be Edinburgh club Bainfield.

But no games are easy and in particular away from home so it would be a great start to their campaign were Balbardie able to win their opening match at Stirling.

Ewan Shearer and David Lawrie miss the first game and Iain Grant has been counted out in a line up that reads as follows: Rink 1 – Gary Orr, Kenny Martin, Andy Forrest and Walter McDougall.

Rink 2 – Lawson Trotter, Alistair Wilson, Diz Drysdale and Sandy McDougall.

Rink 3 – Mark Bonnar, Ritchie Templeton, Jim Speirs and Gerry Duggan.

Rink 4 – Colin Fraser, Davy Ross, Ian Drysdale and Graeme Byrne.

The ladies of West Lothian IBC will campaign in section C of Division 1 in the Scottish League cup and open at the Inveralmond stadium on Saturday against Teviotdale.

The team line-up reads as follows: Rink 1 – Irene Taylor, Isobel Lindsay, Lily Sword and Ann Clark.

Rink 2 – Helen Meldrum, Jean McPherson, Lisa Barrett and Wendy Purdie.

Rink 3 – June Thorburn, Betty Tait, Jenifer Richardson and Angie Uttley.

Rink 4 – Lucy Noon, Muriel Stickle, Helen Tully and Jennifer Sneddon.

The other teams in the section are Tweedbank, Bainfield, East Lothian and Portobello, which means there will be no local derby clash with Balbardie IBC.

Balbardie will challenge in the D section of Division 1 and launch their campaign with a home match at Bathgate against Stirling.

The opening team reads: Rink 1 – Ali Blagg, Margaret Scally, Pat Purdie and Margo Duff.

Rink 2 – Kim Ross, Agnes Thomas, Marion Coats and Sharon Leitch.

Rink 3 – Marie Adams, Margaret Armstrong, Sadie McKenzie and Marion Halliday.

Rink 4 – Cathy Lochran, Margaret Taylor, Josie Bachini and Liz Boyle.

THE SIBA and SWIBA have joined forces to promote a champion of champions event although the criteria announced says the field of 16 will embrace those who have attained high standing in the ranking lists.

West Lothian IBC have achieved two representatives in the shape of internationalist figures Neil Speirs and Wendy Purdie. MKD Sportswear are the sponsors.

Speirs is one of eight from the SIBA Ranking List with the others being Robert Grant, Scott Kennedy, Darren Burnett, Mike Stepney and Graeme Donaldson.

Stewart Anderson, Andrew Barker and Steven Allan come from the Junior Ranking List.

Agnes Melrose, Janette Conlan, and Jane Brooksby join Wendy Purdie from the SWIBA Ranking List while Mandy O’Donnell come from the Junior List.

Purdie opens against Steven Allan at Arbroath on Sunday October 18 while Speirs tackles Scott Kennedy at Midlothian IBC on Sunday October 25.

RICKY Forrest retains his membership of WLIBC and perhaps emphasised the miss he will be to the stadium teams by skipping Stewart Gibson, Paul Lynas and Stuart Johnston to a whopping 15-4 win over Richard Mark, Billy Arnott, Calum Logan and Mark Allison in the Division 1 League programme. Lily Sword included three mighty 5’s over the first five ends as she skipped Muriel Brash, Agnes Allan and Irene Wright to a 21-10 win over Helen Moore, Isobel Lindsay, Christine MacSwan and Christine Brown in the Division 1 of the Ladies League.