THE 2014 Disability Sport Fife (DSF) Carpet Bowls Championships held at the Michael Woods Sports Centre, in Glenrothes, last week, were the most successful to date with titles coming to the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area.

There were junior bowlers from Lochgelly High School and Dunfermline High School competing for the first time and volunteer mainstream bowlers from throughout the central area of Fife officiated at 80 ties over the three and half hour tournament. There were 11 sections for bowlers with a physical, sensory or learning disability and at the end of the Championships bowlers were selected to represent Fife at the Scottish Championships, organised by Scottish Disability Sport, at the Dundee International Sports Centre on Saturday 31st January.

In the senior events Scottish international bowler Billy Allan (Cowdenbeath) won the men’s open section for ambulant physically disabled bowlers by defeating Stuart Chesby (Dunfermline) who was appearing in his first final.

In the section for players with a learning disability there were as always, close ties. Wendy Thomson (East Fife CSS) replicated her lawn bowls performance of earlier in the year by winning the title with a 7 shots to 3 victory over Hayley Binnie (West Fife CSS). Robert McMahon recorded a surprise rare win over his Central Fife CSS team-mate Craig Donaldson to win the men’s open title by 8 shots to 6. Kevin Mustard (Central Fife CSS) won the B competition by 10 shots to 6 against Jimmy Binnie (West Fife CSS). Craig Houston (East Fife CSS) had yet another fine competition when winning the C category event comfortably by defeating team-mate Jimmy Ramsay. The men’s D competition resulted in a win for Wayne Moreland (East Fife CSS) who defeated Stuart Melville from West Fife CSS by 10 shots to 7.

All of the finalists in the junior section were from Lochgelly High School. In the S1/S2/S3 event Michaela Ross played an excellent final against Jennifer Dunn to win her first bowls title by 4 shots to 1. Lianne Morris defeated Aiden Flemming in the S2/S3 event by only one shot to win the title. In the S4/S5 event play-off stages Stacey Hynd defeated Fraser Wilson by 5 shots to 4 but in the final the outcome was reversed, with Fraser taking the title by 4 shots to 1.

At the end of the Championships the Fife team for the Scottish Championships was selected and it is Willie Harrison (CFCSS), Ian Green (CFCSS), Billy Allan (Cowdenbeath), Theresa Wyse (CFCSS), Stuart Chesby (Dunfermline), Neil Laughlin (CFCSS), Eleanor Clark (Kirkcaldy), Robert McMahon (CFCSS), Craig Donaldson (CFCSS), Darryl Stewart (Cowdenbeath), Kevin Mustard (CFCSS), Gary Lindsay (EFCSS), Wendy Thomson (EFCSS), Michelle Wallace (CFCSS), Vicky Walker (CFCSS), Julie Allan (EFCSS). The junior bowlers have yet to be selected.

RESULTS were, Bowlers with a Physical Disability – Mixed bowlers who use a wheelchair, winner Willie Harrison (Central Community Support Services); runner-up Ian Green (Central Community Support Services). Bowlers with a Physical Disability - Male Ambulant Non Restricted bowlers, winner Billy Allan (Cowdenbeath); runner-up Stuart Chesby (Dunfermline). Bowlers with a Physical Disability - Mixed Ambulant and Visually Impaired bowlers Restricted winner Neil Laughlin (Central Community Support Services); runner-up Eleanor Clark (Kirkcaldy).

BOWLERS WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY, Women Open Competition, winner Wendy Thomson (East Community Support Services); runner-up Hayley Binnie (West Community Support Services). Men Open Competition winner Robert McMahon (Central Community Support Services); runner-up Craig Donaldson (Central Community Support Services). Men B Competition, winner Kevin Mustard (East Community Support Services); runner-up Jimmy Binnie (West Community Support Services). Men C Competition winner Craig Houston (East Community Support Services); runner-up Jimmy Ramsay (East Community Support Services). Men D Competition winner Wayne Moreland (East Community Support Services); runner-up Stuart Melville (West Community Support Services).

JUNIOR BOWLERS. Mixed Bowlers with a Physical Disability/Learning Disability – S1/S2/S3 winner Michaela Ross (Lochgelly HS); runner-up Jennifer Dunn (Lochgelly HS).

Mixed bowlers with a Learning Disability – S2/S3 winner Lianne Morris (Lochgelly HS); runner-up Aiden Flemming (Lochgelly HS). Mixed Bowlers with a Learning Disability – S4/S5 winner Fraser Wilson (Lochgelly HS), runner-up Stacey Hynd (Lochgelly HS).