Helensburgh Bowling Club

The very popular Helensburgh Bowling Club, HONDA Gents Open Pairs competition, was held at the club during the week commencing 28th June 2010. The competition is very kindly sponsored by Helensburgh Honda and the competition is run on a knockout basis, this year it attracted a large entry from within and out with the Helensburgh area. The early rounds were played on Monday, Tuesday and the early session on Wednesday all over 13 ends. The semi finals were played Friday, and in the first of them Allan Howie and Gordon Stephen from Helensburgh, last years winners, won through in a tight game against Simon Wade and Charles Mc Lelland from Garelochhead/Helensburgh BC, by 12 shots to 9. The second semi final resulted in a comfortable win for the young pair from Garelochhead BC, Kevin Leishman and Stuart Horne from Garelochhead BC over another local pair, father and son, John McBride and Duncan McBride Snr from Colgrain BC.
The final was also played on Friday evening over 13 ends and was watched by a large audience in the clubhouse. The game was a very close encounter from start to finish with some excellent bowling from all the players, Kevin Leishman and Stuart Horne scored the first shot before Allan and Gordon scored a 3 at the second end. The Garelochhead pair then scored 3 shots in two ends to lead by 4 shots to 3, back came the Helensburgh Pair of Allan Howie and Gordon Stephen with another count of 3, followed by a 1 to lead by 7 shots to 4. Kevin and Stuart however were not finished yet and responded with a 4 to lead by 8 shots to 7. The Helensburgh Pair then scored a 1 to level the game, only for the Garelochhead pair to regain the lead with a 2 at the next end, yet another 1 shot scored by Allan and Gordon narrowed the lead to 1 shot to set up an exciting final two ends, in the event Kevin and Stuart score a 1 shot at each of these ends to snatch the trophy from last years winners with a well deserved 12 shots to 6 win to take the trophy to Garelochhead.

After the game President Walter Jamieson introduced Eric Chattelle from Helensburgh Honda who congratulated the players on the excellent bowling. Eric then presented the prizes to the Losing Semi finalists, the Runners up, and finally the Trophy and Prizes to the winners Kevin Leishman and Stuart Horne from Garelochhead. The President then thanked Helensburgh Honda for their continued sponsorship and the competitors for taking part in what was another excellent competition this year.