Mitchell extends his club record to title number 15

COLIN MITCHELL is today celebrating a record extending 15th club bowls championship title at Carrick Knowe after the 39-year-old Commonwealth Games internationalist beat Stephen Pringle 21-17 in the final.

Mitchell picked up from 7-6 with a run of 1, 2, 2, 1, 3 to 16 against his 18-year-old opponent then answered menacing pressure at 20-17 with the winning single on end 23.

“Stephen is a very promising player but I tended to dominate with my lead bowl and used my experience to switch the mat placement between long and short,” said Mitchell.

Scott Mackintosh remains the dominant personality at London Road Foundry and was etching his name on the championship board for a 13th time when defeating Alex Hunter, 21-16, in a 20-end final.

An eventful match saw 
41-year-old Mackintosh zip from 5-7 to 16-7 with a run of 3, 1, 2, 3, 2 but eventually faced pressure with a three against him at 20-16 up before converting for the winning single with his last bowl.

“That makes it ten in-a-row for me and earns me another crack at the Tait Trophy in which I have lost two finals,” said the 2009 national singles runner-up.

Holder Tam Ebbs completed a successful defence of the 
title at Queensberry with a 21-10 win over first-time finalist Derek Jempson who had beat five previous champions en route. The final at Tanfield between two Tait Trophy winners saw Andrew Sneddon celebrate a fourth title success after edging a 21-19 thriller over 
five-times champion Mal Higgenbotham.

Teenager Daniel Gormley sprung a 21-13 surprise over Willie McDonald in the final at Craigentinny while George McNab made it a first at Dean, defeating James Barr, 21-19.

Billy Dunleavey captured the championship title at Aberlady for a fourth time when he defeated Lindsay Bell.