Wendy Purdie is Christmas number one in national bowls rankings

Dec 31 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

WEST Lothian Indoor Bowling Club star Wendy Purdie is number one in the charts going into the New Year with the 38-year -old mother of two dominating the ladies scene as the clear leader of the national ranking list just issued by the ruling body of the sport, writes Stewart Meikle.

Purdie — who recently skipped teenager Jenifer Richardson to the Scottish TwoBowl Pairs title — shows up in top spot some six and seven points clear of Midlothian internationalists Agnes Melrose and Jeanette Conlan.

“It’s a great feeling to head the rankings, especially at this time of the year and it sure puts a spring in your step but it also brings its pressures,” said Purdie.

The ranking criteria is based on a players performance in the National Championships, The British Isles Championships, and International appearances, over a five year period with points earned subject to a percentage seasonal weighting scale.

Purdie honed her skills as a member of Bainfield and was capped under their banner but since moving to the Inverlamond stadium at Livingston she has added more caps on top of capturing the Scottish singles title in 2008.

Some national champions suffer a dip in form after hitting the heights but in Purdie’s case she copped brilliantly with the pressures on her shoulders and went on to add the Four-Bowl Pairs and Fours title’s in 2009.

Angela Uttley shared in the Four-bowl Pairs and Fours title glories and along with being capped these successes are reflected by her being named at No 7 in the ranking list.

Balbardie stars Lorraine Malloy and Sharon Leitch occupy 13th and 16th place with more points in the offing whilst Irene Taylor and Jennifer Sneddon of WLIBC show at 54 and 55.

West Lothian IBC also feature in the Juniors ranking list with rising star Lisa Barrett of Winchburgh making it to fifth place.

Neil Speirs has only managed one point so far this season but the West Lothian IBC ace remains high up the list at No 5 in the Gents rankings.

Thomas Mann figures at No 23 and Calum Logan at No 29 while George Sneddon is No 39.

Diz Drysdale is first to show for the Balbardie banner and is named at No 42 followed by Graeme Byrne at No 52 and Ewan Shearer completing the local list at No 55.

Calum Logan is ninth in the gents Junior rankings while Cameron Greer features at No 22 in a list headed by Stewart Anderson of Achinleck.