Bowls: McGill chasing his sixth title

David McGill etched his name on the Tait Trophy for the first time in 1975, and the 1976 national singles champion, who went on to become a legend of the sport on the worldwide stage of bowls, is back in business chasing a sixth title success in the Edinburgh & Leith Champion of Champions event.

McGill celebrated further Tait success in 1977, ’81, ’88 and 2004 to equal the record five wins achieved by Colin Mitchell of Carrick Knowe in 1991, ’94, ’95, ’99 and 2000.

The Braid champion isn’t anything like as sharp as he was in his heyday due to infrequent competition but he still retains a touch that will surely be put severely to the test when he tackles Robert Donaldson of Parkside at Colinton in tonight’s second round.

Donaldson reached the Tait final in 2009, then etched his name on the trophy in 2010, so the 37-year-old is very much a star of today, having first shown his above average ability when capturing the Scottish Junior Singles title in 1998.

Mitchell is also back in the Tait field and the 39-year-old, 15-times champion of Carrick Knowe is hungry to bridge that long 11-year gap since his last success in the event. He faces formidable opposition at Bainfield tonight in the shape of Colinton champion David Fisher.

The other Tait venues are Carrick Knowe, Sighthill, Pilrig, Currie, Wardie, and Mayfield.