78 senior and junior bowlers with a physical, sensory or learning disability participated in the 2017 Disability Sport Fife Carpet Bowls Championships, supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre. Volunteer markers from bowling clubs in Central Fife officiated for five hours to determine the outcome of 144 ties. In total 14 singles titles were contested. Leading bowlers in the open sections were also competing for places in the Fife team for the Scottish Championships to be organised by Scottish Disability Sport at DISC in Dundee in February.
Sections were amalgamated for physically and visually impaired bowlers because of late call offs through illness. Kenny Dow from Central Fife CSS took the title for ambulant players with a 7-2 victory over Eleanor Clark from Kirkcaldy. The final of the section for wheelchair bowlers was keenly contested by two Central Fife CSS bowlers with Jim Donaldson defeating Willie Harrison by 5-4 after an extra end.
Four junior sections for bowlers with a learning disability were involved pupils from Lochgelly HS and Balwearie HS. Balwearie HS pupils were taking part for the first time. Balwearie HS pupils Caitlin De Soyza and Jennifer Grist won the two girls’ titles with victories over defending champion Kayshaleigh Lambert and Derry Reilly from Lochgelly HS. The title winners in the boys sections were Brandon Cuming from Lochgelly HS and Simon McAndrew from Balwearie HS. Runners up were Ian Stephen and Dawood Murtaza from Balwearie HS.
Three ladies’ senior sections were held for the first time thanks to a much larger entry than before from West Fife CSS. Julie Allan from East Fife CSS enjoyed her most successful tournament to date with an undefeated run to the open final where she defeated past Scottish champion Michelle Wallace from Central Fife CSS by the convincing margin of 5-0. Roberta Buchan from Central Fife CSS similarly went through to the B section final without losing a match and defeated Hannah Moffat by 8-3 to take the title. The ladies C section final was a close encounter between West Fife CSS bowlers Lauren Jack and Kim Vivien with Lauren winning by 5-4.
Not surprisingly Fife’s most successful bowler with a learning disability, Craig Donaldson from Central Fife CSS and Kinghorn BC, won the men’s open section for players with a learning disability with a victory over newcomer Robert Anderson from Dovecot Park BC. Robert’s brother Steven also had an excellent championships, losing out on count back during the qualifying stages to the eventual champion.
Kevin Mustard from Central Fife CSS won the B section when he defeated Jimmy Ramsay from East Fife CSS. Wayne Moreland won the C section with a victory over Mathew Blisset from Dovecot Park BC. The D section final involved two East Fife CSS players David Scott and George Goodsir with David winning the title 6-3. Robbie McKenzie Smith from East Fife CSS won the E section final with a win over Kevin Rowe from West Fife CSS.
Paul Richardson from Brand Rex walked the West Highland Way in support of Disability Sport Fife and raised over £600 which DSF assigned to the purchase of new bowls and a second hand mat. Paul was on hand at the end of the Championships to present trophies to the finalists.
Photo: Championships finalists
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife
Â