The Stewartry Championships were played today at President Graeme Maxwell’s home green Castle Douglas. The green looked well and with the green set up for five rinks we hoped for some good games.

The County Championships are sponsored by Ian Bendall and Golden Charter.

First final of the day started with the Fours on Rink 5. The Dalbeattie rink of Bruce Richardson, Ronald Penny, James Harper & Stuart Richardson got of to the better start and lead 7-1 after 5 ends and 11-3 after 10 ends. By the 15th end The Kirkcudbright rink of John Crawford, Stuart Gordon, Alan Gordon & Darren Gourlay had got back in the game and a 2 in the 16th end got the score to 12-12. The final end was very close and required the services of Umpire Pat Brown to measure the shot to decide the winner. Well done Dalbeattie.

The 2 Singles finals were next on rinks 2 and 3.

In the Junior Singles Ronan Crossan from Auchencairn got of to a great start with a 3 and a 2 and lead 6-3 after 5 ends. Gary Davies from Castle Douglas moved up a gear and after 10 ends lead 13-6 and went on to win comfortably 21-10.

The Singles Final between Graeme Maxwell and Gavin Green both of Castle Douglas looked like being a good game and so it proved. After 5 ends Gavin lead 5-4, after 10 he lead 8-6 and after 14 ends it was still very close with Gavin leading 12-10. Graeme then went on a great run and over the next five ends scored 11 shots to win 21-12.

The remaining finals all started at 2.15pm.

The Pairs on rink 4 should have been a good game but it turned out to be very one sided with John McGaw and Ronan Crossan from Auchencairn being no match for Alan and Scott Davies of Castle Douglas and eventually threw in the Towel after 13 ends.

The Senior Fours on rink 3 between Ralf Richardson, Robert Bryden, Les Shuttleworth & Oliver Cligan from New Abbey and Tommy Docherty, Wig True, Len Dinnel & Tam Aitken was decided by the front end of the rinks with Oliver and Les giving Tam and Len a hard time. New abbey lead 5-2 after 5 ends, 7-4 after 10 ends and with 9 sots in the last 5 ends saw New Abbey win 16-6.

The Mixed Pairs on rink 1 was a good game to watch with Keith Shuttleworth and Christine Tennant from New Abbey and David and Lillie Kiltie from Gatehouse all playing well. The first 5 ends were very tight with five singles and David and Lillie leading 3-2. A five in end eight put Keith and Christine in front and lead 8-6 after 10 ends. After 15 ends new Abbey lead 13-9 and went on to win 15-10.

The Triples Final on rink 2 was the last game of the green with Bruce Richardson and Graeme Maxwell both trying to win their second title. Details of this game will have to wait until I can find the Scorecard but it was a great game to watch. The defending champions Graeme Maxwell, William Brydson & Tom Maxwell were mostly in the lead but it took some great bowls to keep them there. The Dalbeattie triple of Bruce Richardson, Ronald Penny & Ronnie Gibson played well but on occasions when they looked like they might get shots Graeme played some excellent  shots. I think Castle Douglas were 3 shots up playing the last end and went on to win.