Scottish Cup trip beckons for five-times winner West Lothian IBC

Mar 24 2011 West Lothian Courier

WEST Lothian IBC continue their Scottish Cup campaign this weekend with the record five-times winners of the prestigious silverware travelling to Falkirk on Saturday to take on tough opposition in the shape of fellow Premier League club Blantyre.

The prize for victory is passage into the semi-final stage and a head-to-head confrontation between defending champions East Lothian or Aberdeen who play their quarter-final match at Dundee.

George Sneddon and David Wilson have returned from their private invitation to Hong Kong and are available for selection, however at the time of writing there has been no team announcement from the Inveralmond stadium.

Blantyre is a strong home team but less potent on away territory so it is likely that West Lothian will start as slight favourites against a team that does represent real danger to their progress.

The other quarter-final ties are: Lanarkshire v Stonehaven at Stirling and Irvine v Midlothian at Coatbridge.

Raymond Simpson of Glenmavis BC will serve the West Lothian BA as its president for the 2011 season having taken over the reins from Ewan Shearer (Bo’ness) at the recent AGM.

Archie Purves of Buchan Park takes up the office of vice president while Ian Brown of Middleton Hall and Gary Smith of Linlithgow fill the roles of treasurer and sponsorship convenor respectively.

Colin Stein of Linlithgow continues as team manager with Denis Cavanagh of Uphall Station and Frank Weir of Armadale extending their term of service as selectors.

Mark Wilson (Armadale) and Ronnie Erskine (Winchburgh) have retired from their positions of secretary and treasurer respectively after many years of excellent service.

Meanwhile, Gary Clelland of Bellsburn BC is a very happy chappie following confirmation that he is chosen to represent Scotland in the World Championships of the International Bowls for the Disabled to be held in South Africa.

Gary, a past president of the WLBA, is scheduled to head for The Wingate Country Club in Pretoria for the Championship dates of May 2 to 14 and he aims for gold in the singles and pairs in the B6 category.

“This is a great honour and to say I am thrilled to bits at my selection after three trial games is a massive understatement,” said the 52 year old Bellsburn bowler.

And Bowls Scotland intend to appoint an under-25 team manager for the first time and invite applications by Tuesday March 29.

The post lasts until the end of December 2011 and the position includes acting as the assistant senior team manager.