GLASGOW BOWLING ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
@Bellahouston – Sunday 7th July 2024

SPONSORED  BY  SF  ELECTRICAL  CONTRACTORS

Bridging a 17 year gap since his first victory … Rutherglen’s Mark Kelsey regained the Glasgow Bowling Association Singles title – edging a twenty five end blockbuster against Wellcroft’s Gavin Taylor 21-20.

Hosted at the picturesque Bellahouston Bowling Club,  Mark led 17-11 after fifteen ends but Gavin dig deep and rolled in a 2, 1, 2, and 1 to square the match at 17-17 and from there to the finishing line it was a nailbiter.

A double followed by a single saw Mark nose ahead 20-17, but once again Gavin kept the crowd on high alert – playing some big bowls – counting singles over the next three ends – and saving a match lie –  to see the score locked at 20-20.  But victory went to the Rutherglen man when he counted that vital match winner to take the title.

Defending Under 25 Singles title holder  – Mount Vernon’s William Charters – was also in top form against Cathcart’s David Morrison to retain the title.

William trailed 5-2 after four ends, but knocked off a 3, 2 and 3 to open up a 10-5, and five shots over two of the next three ends pushed him further ahead at 15-6.

Despite David counting a 1, 1 and 2 to narrow the gap to 15-10, William wrapped up the title scoring six shots over the closing four ends to  win 21-12 and remain the champion.

Kingswood’s Paul Martin and Ross Nicol hit a purple patch between the fifth and ninth ends in their Pairs final against Stephen McKeown and David Greenwood from Greenfaulds.

Ross, substituting for clubmate Neil Martin – who sustained a broked thumb just a few days prior to the final – trailed 3-5, but they scored nine successive shots to forge into a 12-5 lead and stayed ahead for the remainder of the match, signing off with a 22-13 scoreline with an end to spare.

The Triples between Drumoyne’s Donnie McQuarrie, Alan Blair and ason Swandells and Busby’s Stewart McGillivray and Billy & David Fry was an interesting games over the fifteen end decider.

The scoreline was shared at 4-4 after six ends, but a single followed by a count of six over the following two ends gave Busby the advantage at 11-6 at the halfway point.

Drumoyne cut that deficit to 11-9 at the thirteenth end, but once again a big count of five shots pushed Busby into a comfortable 16-9 lead with two ends remaining – but with their backs aganst the wall – Drumoyne pulled out all the stops and produced a ‘smash and grab – counting a four followed by a five on the last two ends to seal the deal 18-16.

Greenfaulds did have something to celebrate though – with Kenny Clark, John Smith, Hugh McAvoy and Allan Clark beating Rutherglen’s Lennon Hamilton, Kenny Harkin, Kris Wilson and Jonathan Ross 20-10 in the Fours.

It was a tight exchange throughout the first thirteen ends with Greenfaulds showing marginally ahead at 12-10.   However a grandstand finish of 3, 1 and 4 saw Greenfaulds raise the victory salute by a ten shot margin.

The Senior Fours was another closed encounter before Keith Dunn, John Rice, Danny Maitland and Allan Miller stormed home over the closing stages to deny the Clarkston rink of Ross McGhee, Malcolm McLaren, Mark Schoular and Chico Qureshi 15-12.

In a game of two halves, Sandyhills led 6-3 but Clarkston went ahead four ends later at 10-6.

However Sandyhills scored on five of the remaining six ends to wrap up the title 15-12.

On behalf of  GBA President Jim Inglis we’d like to put on record our special thanks to Bellahouston for hosting the Championship Finals in their usual fitting manner and also thanks to an amazing amount of supporters who all added to the atmosphere and the overall success of the event.

FINAL RESULTS

SINGLES
Mark Kelsey (RUTHERGLEN) bt Gavin Taylor (WELLCROFT 21-20;

JUNIOR SINGLES
William Charters (MT VERNON) bt David Morrison (CATHCART) 21-12;

PAIRS
KINGSWOOD (Paul Martin & Ross Nicol *Sub for Neil Martin) bt GREENFAULDS (Stephen McKeown & David Greenwood) 22-13;

TRIPLES
DRUMOYNE (Donnie McQuarrie, Alan Blair, Jason Swandells) bt BUSBY (Stewart McGillivray, Billy & David Fry) 18-16;

FOURS
GREENFAULDS (Kenny Clark, John Smith, Hugh McAvoy, Alan Clark) bt RUTHERGLEN (Lennon Hamilton, Kenny Harkin, Kris Wilson, Jonathon Ross) 20-10;

SENIOR FOURS
SANDYHILLS (Keith Dunn, John Rice, Danny Maitland, Allan Miller) bt CLARKSTON (Ross McGhee, Malcolm McLaren, Mark Scoular, Chico Quershi) 15-12:

Mark Kelsey – First time winning the title 17 years ago

Mark Kelsey (Singles Winner)

Gavin Taylor (Singles Runner-Up) & Mark Kelsey (Singles Winner)

Mark Kelsey with Andy Dunn (Rutherglen Club President)

William Charters (Under 25s Singles Winner)

William Charters with Derek Conner (Mount Vernon Club President)

David Morrison (Under 25s Runner-Up) with William Charters (Under 25s Winner)

Stephen McKeown & David Greenwood (Pairs Runners-Up)

Paul Martin & Ross Nicol (Pairs Winners) with Neil Martin (Kingswood Club Secretary)

Paul Martin & Ross Nicol (Pairs Winners)

Donnie Mcquarrie, Alan lair & Jason Swandells (Triples Winners) with Derek McDowall (Drumoyne Club President)

Donnie Mcquarrie, Alan lair & Jason Swandells (Triples Winners)

Lennon Hamilton, Kenny Harkin, Kris Wilson & Jonathon Ross (Fours Runners-Up)

Kenny Clark, John Smith, Hugh McAvoy & Alan Clark (Fours Winners) with N. Mutch (Greenfaulds Club President)

Kenny Clark, John Smith, Hugh McAvoy & Alan Clark (Fours Winners)

Keith Dunn, John Rice, Danny Matland & Allan Miller (Senior Fours Winners)

Ross McGhee, Malcolm McLaron, Mark Scoular & Chico Qureshi (Senior Fours Runners-Up)

Presentation Party