Fantastic Four for George Sneddon who takes West Lothian IBC crown for fourth time

Apr 28 2011 West Lothian Courier

GEORGE Sneddon proved he’s still the man to beat when he landed the club championship title for a fourth time and regained the Singles crown of West Lothian IBC.

The 61-year-old veteran defeated Graham Lees, who came to the final as underdog but represented real danger with en-route wins over Calum Logan and Mark Allison, in a 23-end final at the Inveralmond stadium.

Lees showed that kind of form in the early stages and took the lead, 10-4 over Sneddon.

However, Sneddon not only possesses bags of experience, he is also a fighter and kept himself in the picture and managed to cross 12-11.

Lees then Lees regained the lead with a double to 13-12, but the outcome of end 19 and 20 was about to transform a ding-dong final.

End 19 saw Sneddon dramatically raise the stakes with a full house four from his excellent draw skills.

“I tried to alter the head but found a port with one strike effort and held out high with another,” said 52-year-old Lees later.

Sneddon followed up with a magic double that stretched him into an 18-13 lead and having created the cushion then showed his killer instinct by going on to answer the loss of a single with a 1, 2 finish to triumph, 21-14.

Sneddon said: “I am greatly pleased to have won the title again as it is a great honour to do so in a strong club like West Lothian.

“Graham had me against the collar for 18 ends but I managed to raise my game at a crucial time.”

While the highly respected manager of Scotland’s outdoor international team was ending his indoor season on a high he was bouncing back from a cruel blow a few weeks earlier.

Sneddon — a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal winner — had represented Scotland on the indoor scene continuously from season 1995 to 2010, winning 48 caps, so the bowls world was shocked when, despite still showing decent form, the selectors did not let him reach the magic half century.

Calum Logan lined up in the final of the Junior Singles at WLIBC, seeking to defend the title that led him to becoming the current national champion – and the 21-year-old duly delivered.

Ewan Wilson provided the opposition and the 24-year-old made a strong recovery from 6-1 down to cross 11-6 after nine ends. Six ends later he was still playing well enough to justify a 15-12 lead.

Logan then carded a single to 13 in a game-transforming moment. He converted two against into two for, at the next end to stand peels at 15-15 and went on to reach 21 with a powerful 2, 1, 1, 2 finish.

“I have now won the Junior Singles title three times and the Championship proper twice and at my age that is a record of achievement that I am happy with,” said Logan.

The final of the Under-16 Singles provided the large crowd with an extra helping of drama with Calum Melrose picking up from a 13-10 deficit to storm to a 21-14 win over Euan Hamilton.

Meanwhile, Gary Clelland of Bellsburn BC has designed and produced a nifty bowls duster enhanced by an emblem of his club as a giveaway gift when he bids for gold in the Disabled World Championships in South Africa.

The 2009 President of the West Lothian BA leaves these shores tomorrow (Friday) and travels with the best wishes of the bowls fraternity of the Linlithgowshire area.