Bathgate bowler David McCormick tipped to star at Scottish Championships

Jul 21 2011 West Lothian Courier

BATHGATE ace David McCormick is the spearhead figure for West Lothian in the national finals stage of the Scottish Championships at Ayr Northfield next week.

And he has solid credentials to make a strong challenge in the Singles.

McCormick has been the WLBA Champion of Champions on two occasions and has international experience.

He opens in the first round against Alan Robinson of Lochaber in a 32 strong field that includes world stage star David Peacock of Midlothian.

Steven Fleming of Buchan Park is a budding star with a good reputation and is capable of putting up a good show in the junior singles where he opens against Ross McLenaghan of BSC Coatdyke.

Drew Paterson already has the national triples title on his CV and the experienced Newbridge ace now has thepPairs title in his sights playing lead to Hamilton Trophy star James Speirs - they open against Parkview (Brechin).

Brothers Greg and Grant Logan are a big gun duo from Kirkliston who team up with emerging star Andrew Suddon at lead to target the triples title and their campaign opens against Law.

Broxburn carry the WL banner in the fours and entertain high hopes for the rink of Scott Logan David Wilson Stewart Grant (coming in for Brian Edwards) and Mark Allison who open against Blacklandmill of Paisley.

Winchburgh were folklore winners of the fours title at Queens Park in 1984 and now the club has the chance to shine in the seniors category with the rink of Davy Gemmell Peter Rennie Ian Cruickshank and Albert Blakelock opening against Aberfeldy.

The joint championships run from Wednesday through to Sunday.

Lorraine Malloy of Deans is a major figure at these championships having captured the singles crown on two occasion.

The WL area has two district qualifying sections and Malloy is joined in the singles by Claire Watson of Broxburn while Deans also have a prominent challenger for the junior singles title in the shape of Jenifer Richardson.

Uphall Station and Whitburn mount the twin challenge in the pairs while Linlithgow and Watson Memorial carry the banner in the triples, Deans and Buchan Park in the fours, and Newbridge and Whitburn in the seniors fours.

Meanwhile Newbridge scored a headline win in the first round of the BARBQ sponsored WLBA Top Five Singles with their victims none-other than defending champions Kirkliston.

Kirkliston had home green advantage but that didn't stop Blair Mackie, Alec Allan and Thomas Mann reeling off a hat-trick of victories to beat the holders, 3-0.

The other results were, Linlithgow 5 West Calder 0; Kinneil 4 Middleton Hall 1; Bridgeness 1 Broxburn 4; Winchburgh 4 Polbeth 1; Bellsburn 1 Bathgate 4; Harrysmuir 0 Buchan Park 5; Bo'ness 5 Stoneyburn 0; Blackburn 3 Pumpherston 2; Springgrove 2 Bankton Mains 3; Watson Memorial 2 Seafield 3; Whitburn 4 East Calder 1; Ratho 3 Armadale 2; Deans 2 Uphall Station 3; Letham 3 Harthill 2; Philpstoun 3 Oakbank 2.

Round two of the White Knights sponsored WLBA Top Ten Championship on Tuesday night saw Buchan Park win having put up a good show to edge a shot margin win over Queensferry.

Holders, Kirkliston progressed with 6-2 home win over Bridgeness while the other results were, Bo'ness 3 Deans 5; Bellsburn 2 Armadale 6; Newbridge 4 (+21) Blackburn 4; and Pumpherston 6 Stoneyburn 2.

Elsewhere Monday's continuing play in the Matt Purdie Trophy (Seniors) saw West Lothian crash to a 73-53 defeat from West Fife at Inverkeithing.

WL face Edinburgh and Leith at Kirkliston (noon) this Monday.

East Lothian did their East qualifying section proud by reaching the final of the Cities and Counties Championship with a tremendously exciting win over Hamilton Trophy holders Lanarkshire South in their semi final clash at Larkhall.

And East Lothian's latest 124-109 triumph masks yet another heart in the mouth experience as after 17 of the regulation 21-ends played the major scoreboard showed Lanarkshire holding a menacing 16 shot lead at 103-87.

When all seemed lost East Lothian roared back with a phenomenal 21-2 fightback over the next two ends to storm into a 108-105 lead then rose above the pressures to win the remaining two ends across the green, 16-4.

Scott Dodds lost his game by two-shots but inspired the late 37-6 revival with a 10-0 contribution.