Dean leads the way for Clan Mackintosh at Portobello

Spalding is seen as an emerging bowls star in the mould of Richard Corsie and having defeated  hat-trick seeking defending champion Ian Fleming in the quarter-finals, the 18-year-old was on course to further  enhance his reputation.

Mackintosh had other ideas, though, and dished out a 21-3 drubbing in 12 devastating ends. And it was a historic result as Mackintosh – whose father Scott reached the final of the national outdoor singles in 2009 – became the youngest ever player to etch his name on the coveted championship  trophy.

Mackintosh – whose road to the final included wins over Stuart Smith and Gordon Bold – was asked many questions by Spalding who played decent bowls yet was restricted to three singles by the brilliant form of his younger opponent.

“I guess I came into the final as the underdog but was determined to put up a show and my confidence just grew and grew as the final developed,” said Mackintosh.

Finals week was a busy one for him and he celebrated  another achievement when skipping Leanne Graham, 18, to the Mixed Pairs title – having the temerity to beat his granny, Rosemary Mackintosh, and his father, Scott, 16-13 in the final.

Clan Mackintosh still had more to offer and it came from Dean’s 12-year-old brother Craig who scored a 21-12 victory over ten-year old Lewis Betts in the final of the Under 13 Singles, to win the title for a third time.

An excellent final of the  Under-25 Singles saw Jamie Reid crowned champion at the 21-15 expense of Kerr McKail while a tidal change in the  Under 18s final saw Paul Archibald surge to an exciting 21-18 win over Fraser Wood.