It’s all clear now as Gibson Cup glory goes to Harburn

HARBURN chalked up a trophy double as the Gibson Cup, postponed at the halfway stage due to fog and rain at the end of last season, was completed in glorious sunshine at The Braids.

Margaret Ritchie and Janet Hardie joined forces to win the Cup itself, beating Broomieknowe’s Jacky Burnett and Claire Barnish by 7 and 6 in the final.

It was a deserved triumph for the Harburn pair as they had also accounted for the holders, Lothianburn’s Ruth Brown and Viv Curran, in the semi-finals.

That was decided by a birdie at the 19th and it was just as close in the other semi-final as Burnett and Barnish also edged out their opponents, Prestonfield pair Vivien Mitchell and Louise Wells, at the first extra hole.

Harburn also produced the winners of the second-flight matchplay event in Aileen Kennedy and Fiona Smith. They put out Sandra Kempston (Craigmillar Park) and Zandra Mathieson (Broomieknowe) to reach the final, where their opponents were Anne Henderson and Gail McKill of Gullane Ladies.

The East Lothian pairing had had a narrow one-hole win in the morning over Sal Shepherd (Craigmillar Park) and Kay Baillie (Musselburgh).

But they met their match in the final losing 4 and 3 to Kennedy and Smith as they completed second leg of a notable double.

The Consolation Salver was won by Lochend pair Diane Moncrieff and Eileen Gillespie with 34 points.

Four pairs tied on 32 points, with Baberton duo Adrienne Turner and Laura Reekie taking second spot on a countback from Mandy McBain (Turnhouse) and Susan Randall (Carrickvale).

The 2012 Gibson Cup takes place on October 6-7 and entries are already being taken.