Congratulations to the bowlers from the Fife team who surpassed all expectations and retained the SDS Trophy at the 7th Inter Area Bowls championship held at Fisherrow Links Bowling Green, Mountjoy Street, Musselburgh, on Friday 28th June.
Lothian Disability Sport was the host SDS branch and on the day Jack Brodie, Neil Herbert and Ron McArthur ran the event with exceptional support from members from the host club. Thanks to SDS Events Manager Mark Gaffney who worked hard to increase the number of participating branches after a number had fallen off in recent years. Tayside and Forth Valley joined the event for the first time and Fife, Glasgow and Lothian continued their involvement.
The format was changed this year to include teams of 6 (3m3F) instead of 12 bowlers (6M6F). Disability Sport Fife entered the maximum permissible number of bowlers (6M6F) selected from results recorded by bowlers at the Fife Championships held at the Beveridge Park Bowling Club earlier in the month.
John Collins was the Fife team manager ably assisted by staff from East Fife CSS, Central Fife CSS, parents, carers and DSF volunteers.
Team Fife A
Men: Craig Donaldson; Steven Anderson; Gary Handyside;
Ladies: Pamela Mitchell; Wendy Thomson; Julie Allan
Team Fife B
Men: Darryl Stewart; Lloyd Simpson; Willie Christie;
Ladies: Mandy Robertson; Tanis Murphy; Michelle Wallace (Danielle Osborne replaced Michelle in the afternoon because of injury)
Team Fife A men progressed through their qualifying section of singles, pairs and triples, losing only one match and scoring 14 points. Team Fife B men followed a similar programme undefeated with one team less and scored 12 points. The two Fife teams met in the final with the Fife B team winning gold and Team Fife A silver.
Team Fife Ladies A team similarly were in great form winning most of their matches and lifting the gold medals. Team Fife B ladies played steadily throughout but were outside the medals. Two first timers competed this year in the Fife B team which indicates continued progress in development.
Lawn bowls, indoor bowls and carpet bowls for players with learning disabilities are strong in Fife at the moment thanks to DSF engagement with inclusive bowling clubs like Headwell, Dovecot, Lumphinnans, Abbeyview, Beveridge Park, East Fife Indoor, Windygates, Cowdenbeath etc. Junior numbers are also on the increase and DSF is proud that it had three first time selected players in the team of 2019.
Richard Brickley OBE MBE – Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees