Bowls: Gracie accounts for Ross to become Bainfield master

Jamie Gracie came though to Edinburgh from Auckinleck in 2002 to play in the Open Bowls Singles at Balgreen and, at the tender age of 18, he went back to Ayrshire £1,000 richer having defeated former champion Dean Higgins in the final to capture the title.

Gracie obviously liked the scenery as he was soon attracted back to the Capital to study accountancy at university and now, eight years on, he is still here and, as a member of Sighthill, has continued to make an impression on the bowling scene.

The Edinburgh Open and its 1,000 prize is sadly no more with the Festival Of Bowls coming to an end in 2007 after 61 years, but there are still rich pickings for the competitive bowler and Gracie has just pocketed 700 to prove it.

Gracie, the No.?9 seed, won six games on the bounce to come through a field of 111 and capture the prized crown of the Bainfield Masters, sponsored once again by Brian Dickson Green Services.

The final, played in fading light, was self illuminating with Gracie and Davy Ross of Juniper Green putting on a sparkling display that went to the nail-biting climax of an extra end before the Sighthill star eclipsed his opponent with a single to win 12-11.

Ross, who was not seeded, looked all over the winner at 11-7 up with two ends to play but you can never write off a big tournament winner and, sure enough, Gracie kept his chances alive with a two to nine then saved his skin with another double to 11-11.

Wins over host club challengers Murray Brown and Alex Gray then success against Paul Raynam of Gorgie Mills secured Gracie a place in the quarter- finals with Stuart Clark of Bainfield in opposition.

Gracie came under pressure when losing a four to stand peels at 10 but quickly re-asserted his authority with a 4, 1 reply to win 15-10.

The other quarter-final play saw Andy McGeorge of Dalgety Bay edge an 8-7 thriller over No.?8 seed Steven Currie of Gilmerton Private while Ross advanced with the 10-5 scalp of No.?10 seed Paul O'Donnell, the current Bainfield champion.

Russell Wilson of Juniper Green was also in the picture and the Tait runner up kept himself in the frame when holding on from 9-3 to beat John McDermott of Sighthill, 9-8.

Play in the semi-finals had seen Gracie facing the exit door at 6-2 down to Wilson but the tried and tested nerve of a player with 24 junior caps to his name showed through with a strong fight back to win 11-9.

Ross, who would be compensated by a 350 runner up prize, also had his hands full against McGeorge but came from 6-7 to win 10-8.