Agony for Lothian men's singles challengers at Ayr

Lorna Smith skipped her Linlithgow Fours rink into todays semi-finals

The axe fell with various degrees of anguish on West Lothian’s Gary Smith, Midlothian’s Stuart Fleming, and Edinburgh’s dual representation of Colinton ace Halley Cockburn and Craigentinny king pin David Brown.

And the tale of woe in the Singles continued later in the day with Megan Kivlin of East Lothian Co-op making a third-round exit in the ladies, losing 21-8 to Laura Welsh of Baillieston.

Brown, the District 14 champion, produced a run of 2, 2, 3 that accelerated him into an 18-9 lead over Darren Gaultieri of Hyndland but he was defeated 21-20 after a finish of 1, 4, (1), 2 from Gaultieri.

Cockburn made an encouraging start to lead 7-6 but his carding of shots became sporadic in a  21-13 defeat from Craig Brown of Bellshill & Mossend.

Fleming of Inveresk stayed in the picture with a couple of 2s that closed him to 12-14 against Alistair McLelland of West Netherton then, having remained competitive at 15-18, he bowed out to a 2, 1, finish.

Smith of Linlithgow made a decent start to lead 6-0, 10-3, 11-5, and 15-10 but the abrupt loss of 1, 2, 2, 3 brought him under intense pressure at 18-15 down and he lost 21-18 to David McColm of Sandhead.

Play in the third round of the Men’s Pairs brought mixed fortune with Craigentinny making it though to today’s semi-finals but Colinton failing to join them.

Willie McDonald skipped Gordon Bold into a lead of 17-3 after 11 ends then wrapped up a commanding 21-7 win over Westermains. However, brothers John and David Fisher of Colinton dipped from 6-7 and made an 18-8 exit to Port Glasgow.

Play in the third round of the Ladies Pairs saw sisters Leanne and Lauren Baillie of Cockenzie & Port Seton step up their bid for a fifth title with a power-packed display to crush Larbert 28-6.

They are joined in today’s semi-finals by West Lothian sisters Delia Flannigan and Angie Uttley of Glenmavis, with the 2007 champions defeating Kelvindale 20-14.

Lorna Smith – the former World No.1 – skipped her Linlithgow Fours rink of Emma Fleming, Annette Howlett and Morven Shearer into today’s semi-finals with a 20-12 win over Dumbarton, having rocked their opposition with 4, (1), 2, 2, 5 finish.

Wardie in the Men’s Triples and Carrick Knowe in the Fours scored impressive third-round wins to bring added attraction for the Edinburgh support hoping to cheer title-winning performances.

John Maginnes skipped Scott McDonald and Alan Ward into a 12-5 lead after seven ends then stayed resolute to deliver a 21-10 win for Wardie over Houldsworth while the  Carrick Knowe rink of Graham Pringle, John Priestley, Stephen Pringle and James Hogg finished 3, 3 to beat Kirn & Hunters Quay  18-9.

There was no third-round joy though for the Edinburgh Northern rink of Andy Reid, Gordon Wilson Snr, Jamie Reid and Gordon Wilson Jnr who were 13-9 up after 10 ends but stayed trapped in the bowlers graveyard, losing 24-13 to a 6, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, finish from the rink from Gordon.

Laim McKay of Tanfield, the reigning E&L Tait Trophy Champion, carries the hopes of Edinburgh and Lothian in the Junior Singles, facing Robert Lenza of Thornhill in the semi-finals.