The hospitality extended to Disability Sport Fife (DSF) bowlers and support staff at the 2017 DSF Indoor Bowls Championships was as always exceptional. For almost thirty years East Fife Indoor Members have handed over their facilities to DSF to host their annual indoor championships. The 2017 event was arguably the most successful to date. Over five hours of continuous play, almost 50 ties and five singles titles contested for the leading Fife bowlers with a learning disability. A significant number of Fife bowlers are now members of mainstream clubs and this was reflected in the quality of the play.
The men’s open singles involved two of Scotland’s leading bowlers Craig Donaldson from Central Fife CSS and Kinghorn BC and Darryl Stewart from Cowdenbeath BC. As always they produced a closely contested tie with Darryl coming out on top on this occasion by only three shots. The third/fourth place play off involved Robert Anderson from Dovecot BC playing in the open section for the first time and the experienced Gary Handyside from Lumphinnans BC and West Fife CSS. Gary was a convincing winner but there is no doubt Robert’s day will come.
Pamela Mitchell from Headwell BC was in outstanding form in the Ladies open and went on to win every game on her way to the final where she met Wendy Thomson from East Fife CSS and St Andrews BC. In the final she improved still further and ran out a very worthy winner. Wendy was happy with her runner up trophy and Tanis Murphy from East Fife CSS and Windygates BC finished in third place. DSF is keen to attract women bowlers to the programme because the majority of players at the moment are male.
Willie Christie from East Fife CSS and Windygates BC was a worthy winner of the “B” competition with an unbeaten run straight through to the final. Robert McMahon from Central Fife CSS was runner up. Kevin Mustard from Central Fife CSS had a convincing win over Craig Houston from East Fife CSS in the final of the “C” section. Ryan Peterson from East Fife CSS and St Andrews BC defeated David Scott from East Fife CSS to win the “D” category event. This was Ryan’s first indoor title, rounding off an excellent day for the East Fife CSS bowlers.
The team of volunteer markers from bowling clubs in Central Fife worked exceptionally hard all day to deliver a top quality competition. Attention will focus on the month of November when the Fife Carpet Bowls Championships will be held at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre in Glenrothes.
Photos: Finalists in all five categories plus the markers for the finals.
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife