Dumbarton hotshots take Oban Pairs title

Dumbarton father and son Stewart and Dylan Whitefield swept away the opposition at the Oban Carpet Services Open Pairs competition at Oban Bowling Club last Saturday, August 12.

 

A massive entry of 36 pairs descended on the Dalriach Road green to contest the annual competition which kicked off at 9am and finished at 9.10pm - more than 12 hours of hotly contested matches watched by the many spectators who dropped in.

 

Six groups of six pairs took part in a round robin section with all teams playing five ties of five ends and the winners of each group going through to the quarter-final stage along with the two runners-up with the most points.

 

Teams skipped by Nicky MacDougall, Tarbert; Robert Dairon, Oban; Anne MacDougall, Oban; Ian McCuish, Oban; Jim Yeoman, Oban, and the Whitefields all made it straight through along with section C runner-up David MacKechnie.

 

A tie for the final place saw a one end shoot-out between the pairs skipped by Gavin MacLauchlan, Campbeltown, and Elizabeth MacGillivray, with the former winning through.

 

The semi-finals saw teams Dairon and A MacDougall go head-to-head along with Yeoman v Whitefield.

 

Two well-contested ties resulted in the Whitefield pairing meeting Dairon and his partner Sandy Carr meeting in a gripping six-end final.

 

The Oban duo got off to a good start scoring a two and a one to put them three shots ahead after two ends. However, the Dumbarton duo switched up a gear and scores of four, one and two put them four shots up going into the final end.

 

Lying two with the last bowl to play, team Dairon looked to make another two to force an extra end but it wasn't to be and it was the visitors who claimed a well-earned victory.

 

Ian MacPherson of Oban Carpet Services presented the trophy to the winners.

 

Oban Bowling Club president Semple Barrie thanked the sponsor and all the players for their attendance and good spirit and club members who helped out on the day.

 

"It was fantastic to see as many bowlers on the green," he added. "Folk were a bit wary after Covid and the attendance today was a real sign things are back to normal."

 

• This Saturday (August 19) Oban Bowling Club is hosting a Garden Fete at the Dalriach Road venue.

 

Enjoy an afternoon at the green with stalls, burgers, teas with home baking, bar, green games, bagatelle, find the fiver, tombola and tattoo parlour. Free entry.

 

Photograph: From left: runners-up Robert Dairon and Sandy Carr, Oban Bowling Club president Semple Barrie, Ian MacPherson on behalf of sponsor Oban Carpet Services, and winners Dylan and Stewart Whitefield. NO_T33_ObanBowlingClub_OpenPairs2023