For almost three decades the East Fife Indoor Club has hosted the Disability Sport Fife (DSF) Indoor Championships for bowlers with a learning disability. Club members and local mainstream bowlers turn out in significant numbers to support DSF members from across Fife and ensure the Championships run efficiently.
Fife bowlers are enjoying an incredible year, having retained the Inter Area Trophy at the Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy and produced three of the four finalists at the Scottish Lawn Bowls Championships at the Westburn Park in Aberdeen.
Wendy Thomson from East Fife CSS and St Andrews BC defeated Julie Allan from East Fife CSS and Windygates BC to win the Ladies Open title. This was a repeat result from the recent Scottish Lawn Bowls Championships organised by Scottish Disability Sport in Aberdeen. Both bowlers are enjoying their best seasons to date.
The Mens Open Final involved Darryl Stewart from Cowdenbeath and Craig Donaldson from Central Fife CSS and Kinghorn BC. They are the top two Fife bowlers and arguably the leading bowlers with a learning disability in Scotland. Both have won numerous Fife and Scottish titles to their names and Darryl was runner up at the 2016 Scottish Lawn Bowls Championships. Darryl sustained his run of good form with a narrow win on this occasion to take the title.
Wullie Christie from East Fife CSS and Windygates BC is the most improved player of the year and he defeated Robert McMahon from Central Fife CSS to win the B Category final. Newcomer Steven Anderson from Dovecot BC defeated Mathew Blisset from Glenrothes to win the C Category final. Dovecot BC was well represented by a small squad of young novice players who have been receiving quality coaching from club members over the summer.
Wayne Moreland from East Fife CSS won the Mens D Category final with Fergus Wilson from West Fife CSS finishing runner up. Ten West Fife CSS novice bowlers contested the short carpet competitions with Nikki Baxter winning the Ladies title and Philip Callander winning the Mens title. Hannah Moffat and Wayne Sammut finished runners up in their respective sections.
Club Vice President Willie Stewart presented the trophies to winners and runners up at the conclusion of the Championships. Fife bowlers with a physical, sensory or learning disability now turn their attention to the Fife Carpet Bowls Championships scheduled to be held on Wednesday 23rd November at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre, Glenrothes.
Photo: Fife Indoor Bowls Championships winners and runners up
Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife