Peacock wins Danderhall Masters title

Published on Monday 18 August 2008 10:39

DOUBLE world bowls champion David Peacock is the Invision Danderhall Masters for a second time having made a successful defence of the title from the last day field of eight in Saturday's climax to the event.

Peacock, a record 11-times champion of the host club, knows the twists, turns, and nuances of the Danderhall surface like the back of his hand and the 38-year old combined that knowledge with his skills to rattle up a hat-trick of wins in the knockout stage.

Fellow Midlothian skip Craig Hodge of Loanhead MW provided the opening test in the quarter-finals and Peacock had most of the answers to triumph 14-7 over 11-ends and set up a semi final clash with Willie Rankin of Musselburgh.

Rankin had just crossed swords with the older of the Peacock brothers, Billy, and dealt him a 12-3 exit however he failed to make an early impression in the semi-final and lost 9-6.

Peacock, who back in 2005 skipped Steven Currie and Rankin to the Scottish and British Isles Indoor Triples titles for Midlothian IBC, now awaited the outcome between 24-year-old Currie (Gilmerton Private) and Jim Gibson of Loanhead MW.

Currie had dominated his quarter-final to beat clubmate Ramsay Blair 13-6 which was a big result given that Blair recently pocketed 1000 as the winner of the Gilmerton Open Singles.

Gibson had also shown up well in his quarter-final to beat recent debut cap Ronnie Duncan of Bonnyrigg, 11-6.

Currie made a hot start to the semi-final with a magic count of three then a single to lead 4-0 but Gibson crossed to six with a run of 1, 3, 2. He then answered the loss of a single with five singles on the trot to triumph 11-5.

The final was played over 13 ends in fine conditions and Gibson was first off the mark with a double however Peacock burst onto the scene with a full house count of four then added a single before conceding a double to lead 5-4.

Peacock proceeded to keep his nose in front leading 14-12 with two ends to play and the build-up of the penultimate head saw him holding three shots.

Gibson reacted with a fierce strike into the cluster of bowls and kept his title hopes alive by burning the jack, however, the rules still counted it as an end, and now into the 13th Peacock edged a single to win 15-12 and so retain the title.

"Midlothian can produce high quality fields for these events so I am especially proud to have won the Invision Masters," said Peacock.