Dick Saunders captures WLBA Seniors Open crown

Sep 9 2010 West Lothian Courier

DICK Saunders served up two stylish performances at Glenmavis to capture the WLBA Seniors Open sponsored by Weslo Housing Management.

It was a glorious and memorable occasion for the 76-year-old Bathgate High star as he was etching his name on the trophy for a third time, his 21-15 win over 64-year old Frank Barker of Oakbank in the final adding to previous title celebrations in 2003 and 2007.

Saunders faced hat-trick seeking holder Brian Holloran of Pumpherston in the morning semi-final action and made a sizzling start to lead 14-4, but testing times lay ahead and he faced a menacing 4 against him at 19-14 before converting for a winning double.

Barker – a former Champion of Champions proper of the WLBA – powered to a 21-8 win over Gordon Scott of Armadale in his semi but found himself in a much tougher battle against Saunders in the final.

The final lasted 24 ends and was still being fought out on a knife-edge at 17-15 to Saunders. Then a major moment saw the Bathgate challenger convert 2 against into a 3 to 20 with a brilliant trail, and he carded the title-winning single at the next.

Holder and 2008 champion Holloran was seeking to achieve his own treble of wins and made a stout defence of the title, making great headway into the semi-final stage.

Holloran faced Jim Gilmour of Harrysmuir in the quarterfinals at Pumpherston and knowing the green like the back of his hand he cashed in on that knowledge to score a commanding 21-6 victory in 17-ends.

Saunders was fired up for the event with his ambition to complete a title treble and the Bathgate ace stayed on track with an impressive 21-9 victory in 17-ends over Larry Adam of Bankton Mains.

The other half of the draw was headed up by Barker who booked his place in the last four with a commanding 21-4 win over Robert Cameron of Uphall Station.

Barker is a former Champion of Champions winning the WLBA title in 2004.

Gordon Scott of Armadale was engaged in a tough battle with Ronnie Martin of Bridgeness but answered the questions to deliver a 21-16 win in 23-ends.

Scott is best known as a prominent bowler when with Kirkliston having been a member of the rink that reached the final of the Scottish Fours at Queens Park in 1988 then going one better to capture the 1991 title at Ayr Northfield.

Kirkliston extended their record number of title wins to 11 with a sizzling display to beat Newbridge in the final of the BARBQ-sponsored WLBA Top Five Singles played at Ratho.

The holders also became the first club to achieve the three-in-a-row hat-trick after tip-top winning performances from Neil Speirs, Grant Logan, and Greg Logan.

Speirs not only returned to the hunting ground of his formative years but also drew his favourite rink all of which spelled out bad news for his Newbridge opponent Drew Paterson, and sure enough the Kirkliston ace played a blinder to win 21-9.

Grant Logan was soon chalking up win number two for Kirkliston having zipped into a 9-2 lead then stretching to 15-5 before going on to stitch up the formidable Alec Allan, 21-9.

Logan's younger brother Greg was the next to play a starring role with the junior football goalie involved in a tremendous confrontation with under-25 cap Blair Mackie before clinching the title with a 2, 3 finish to win 21-14.

The remaining two games were rendered unfinished business with Raymond Logan lead Thomas Mann, 20-17 and his 20-year old son Calum standing peels at 14 with Paul Sweeney.

Norrie Engelen of Watson Memorial defeated Gordon Kain of Buchan Park in the final of the Seniors Champion of Champions hosted and promoted by Winchburgh BC.

Buchan Park etched their name on the John Dickson Trophy with victory over Harthill in the final at Winchburgh while Kinneil are the Seniors Top Ten Champions, defeating Bridgeness 6-2 in the final at Glenmavis.

West Lothian, having reeled off a hat-trick of wins over East Lothian, Borders, and Edinburgh and Leith, won the Inter County Round Robin tournament played at Sighthill for The George Calder Trophy.