NEW HOME WILL BOWL YOU OVER May 12 2004 SCOTTISH bowls will soon have a home to be proud of with work on the new national centre nearing completion. Refurbishment of the main pavilion at the Northfield complex in Ayr home to Scottish bowls for the past 15 years has been taking place all winter and the facility will be up and running before the start of the World Championship on Friday July 23. The Princess Royal will perform the official opening ceremony but it is expected the pavilion will be in use during the first week in June. Leading officials and members of the two Scottish Bowling Association clubs based at the complex have enjoyed a sneak preview of the improved facilities. And everyone has been impressed by the upgraded amenities including function suites, showers, fitness room plus office accommodation and meeting rooms. Not only will the centre serve as an excellent base for this summer's World Championships but it will ensure Scotland can continue attracting national and international finals in the years to come. The facelift has been made possible by considerable investment from South Ayrshire council, sportscotland and the SBA who are set to move their offices to Northfield. There are also plans to establish a centre of excellence at the complex with the emphasis on investment in youth coaching and development. The grand opening on July 23 will be a cause for celebration in Scottish bowling circles and the start of a new era for the sport with a national centre the country can be proud of.

BOWLS May 5 2004 THE Scottish Counties Championships get under way on Saturday with holders East Lothian among the favourites along with last year's runners up Stirling County West and past winners Ayrshire and Edinburgh & Leith. East Lothian can call on the services of world champion Alex Marshall and veteran internationalist Willie Wood when they travel to Dunfermline to take on West Fife. Stirling County West are at home to Dumbartonshire West at Causewayhead while Ayrshire travel to Bothwell to meet Lanarkshire West. Edinburgh & Leith host to Fife at Carricknowe. The final will be held at Ayr Northfield in August. Fixtures: Aberdeen & Kincardine v Perthshire (at Stonehaven); Angus v Buchan (at Brechin); Bon Accord v Northern Counties (at Aberdeen Northern); Highland v City of Dundee (at Cullen); Borders v West Lothian (at Newtown); Midlothian v Stirling County East (at Gorebridge); Glasgow v Argyll & Bute (at Belvidere); Renfrewshire West v Clackmannan & Kinross (at Anchor); Ayr County v Lanarkshire South (at Crosshouse); Dumbartonshire East v Dumfriesshire (at Kirkintilloch); Stewartry v Renfrewshire South (at Kirkcudbright); Wigtownshire v Glasgow City (at Stranraer).

May 26 2004 GOURLAY HOME TO DEFEND TITLE WORLD No.2 David Gourlay jets back from Australia next month to defend his Northfield Masters title in his native Ayrshire. The 37-year-old from Annbank is now based Down Under but returns to Scotland to bid for a third triumph in the event. Gourlay said: 'Northfield is one of my favourite places to play. I have many happy memories of the complex, in particular the Masters which is one of the most important dates on the outdoor calendar. 'I can't wait to get back home, meet up with old friends and take part in what is always a top class tournament.' The Masters is held the weekend before the World Championships start at the same venue ensuring a host of top overseas competitors are included in the 80strong field which, uniquely, brings together both sexes in equal play. Past winners include world title holders Paul Foster and Hugh Duff with world No.3 Foster and Irish ace Jonathan Ross among the favourites this time. Spokesman for the organisers Tom McKissock said: 'As usual the household names in our sport will be lining up for the Masters. We'll probably have more big names than the World Championships.'

BOWLS : TARBOLTON Jun 9 2004 AYRSHIRE club Tarbolton fly the flag for the west this weekend when they go for glory in the Scottish Inter County Top Ten Championships at Colinton in Edinburgh. Tarbolton face Castlepark from East Lothian in their semi-final with the victor to take on the winner of the other semi between Inverness and Bon Accord.

BOWLS Jun 2 2004 THE SBA are launching new courses in an effort to attract more umpires to the sport after a rules revamp. They are expected to start in the autumn, with exams next spring. Local courses will be held in Clackmannan & Kinross, Stirlingshire East, Dumfries & Stewartry, Wigtonshire, Renfrewshire East, Dunbartonshire East and Glasgow North East. For further details contact George Low, Schiehallion, 6 Meadowhead Road, Plains, Airdrie.

BOWLS: IN BRIEF Jun 9 2004 EAST LOTHIAN club Castlepark fly the flag for the east this weekend when they go for glory in the Scottish Inter County Top Ten Championships at Colinton in Edinburgh. Castlepark face Ayrshire side Tarbolton in their semi-final with the victor to take on the winner of the other semi between Inverness and Bon Accord.

Aug 4 2004 SCOTLAND world triples gold medal hero Willie Wood will be back at Ayr Northfield next week to chase one of the few prizes in the sport to elude him. The 66-year-old has won a host of medals at World and Commonwealth championships but never the Scottish singles title despite numerous appearances in the final stages. The Gifford star has qualified for the last 32 again and will face Alloa's Brian Russell at the start of the three-day event next Thursday. Wood said: 'I would dearly love to win the national singles and will be giving it my best shot.' The pick of the opening ties looks to be the clash between world No.3 Paul Foster of Troon and twice former winner Darren Burnett of Arbroath.

Aug 11 2004 DAVID GOURLAY heads the field in next week's Age Concern Enterprises Ayr Tournament. The World No.2 - a former singles champ - faces a tough opener on Monday against Rankinston's Scott McNeillie. McNeillie has also qualified for the Scottish under-25 singles which start tomorrow and Gourlay knows his rival will be no pushover. Gourlay said: 'The Ayr Tournament is where it all started for me. I have always had a soft spot for the event. 'I spend most of the year in Australia now but I always try to get back home to Ayrshire each August to take part.' World No.3 Paul Foster is involved in the tie of the first round when he clashes with fellow Scot Joe McGinlay. Some of the biggest names in the sport are past winners including Willie Wood who triumphed in 1973. The gents singles was first played back in 1934 and the title is one of the most prized in Scotland. Finals day, which determines the winners of the gents and ladies singles, gents and ladies pairs and boys and girls singles, is scheduled for next Saturday. #EDINBURGH & LEITH take on Dumfriesshire at Northfield on Sunday in the final of the Scottish Counties Championship. Edinburgh & Leith last won the title three years ago when they beat Dumfriesshire. Dumfriesshire haven't won the championship since 1969.

SCOTLAND world triples gold medal hero Willie Wood will be back at Ayr Northfield next week to chase one of the few prizes in the sport to elude him. The 66-year-old has won a host of medals at World and Commonwealth championships but never the Scottish singles title despite numerous appearances in the final stages. The Gifford star has qualified for the last 32 again and will face Alloa's Brian Russell at the start of the three-day event next Thursday. Wood said: 'I would dearly love to win the national singles and will be giving it my best shot.' The pick of the opening ties looks to be the clash between world No.3 Paul Foster of Troon and twice former winner Darren Burnett of Arbroath.

WORLD No.1 BIDS FOR HISTORIC SINGLES WIN WORLD No.1 Alex Marshall will attempt to etch his name in the record books over the next fortnight by becoming the first bowler to hold concurrent world indoor and outdoor singles titles. The East Lothian-based star, known as Tattie, is already assured legendary status after winning a record-equalling third world indoor singles title earlier this year. That achievement put him alongside greats like David Bryant, Tony Allcock and Richard Corsie. And when the 10th World Championships get under way at Ayr Northfield on Friday, Marshall will carry Scots hopes in the singles while also defending the pairs crown he won in Johannesburg in 2000 with Broxburn's George Sneddon. Since then he and Sneddon have won gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the pair are firm favourites to retain world glory on their home patch. Despite enjoying huge success indoors Marshall considers his triple gold medal haul at the 1992 World outdoor Championships - one in pairs, one in fours and one as a member of the Scots team - as his greatest achievement. Marshall and Sneddon will be joined in the five-man Scots team by David Peacock (Danderhall), Jim McIntyre (Houldsworth) and Gifford's Willie Wood, who at the age of 66 will be appearing in a record eighth Championships. Wood has amassed nine medals over 28 years since he first took part in the event in South Africa in 1976. However, most attention will surround Marshall's bid to make bowling history. And he's relishing the challenge despite expectations reaching fever pitch. Marshall said: 'I know expectations are high, especially as the competition is on Scots soil, but I enjoy all that. 'It should be a wonderful occasion and like the rest of our team I can't wait for the action to start.' England's hopes at the showpiece event, meanwhile, will be spearhead by a patriotic Scot. Andy Thomson, 48, moved south from St Andrews to London in 1980, a year after being capped indoor for Scotland. He quickly established himself as a major force in English bowls, winning the world indoor singles title twice in the 90s and returning to the limelight with victory in the BUPA Open in Sheffield last November. Thomson took over as England's indoor team captain last year and although he will skip for England in both triples and fours he's looking forward to his medal bid back home in Scotland. He said: 'I still consider myself a patriotic Scot although in bowls you play for the country of residence rather than birth. 'Mind you, I will be giving it my all to prevent Scottish success and hope to take at least one medal south of the border.' World Bowls secretary Roger Black has been planning the event for over four years. He said: 'It has been a mammoth undertaking but will all be worthwhile when play begins at the weekend. Some Scots medal successes would be the icing on the cake.' The championships, last held in Scotland at Aberdeen in 1984, will attract competitors from 24 nations. Pairs and triples dominate week one of the 15-day festival which is expected to attract over 25,000 fans. Only a handful of tickets are left for the final day on Saturday August 7. Scotland is one of the world's strongest nations in the sport and our massive bowls community has embraced what will be the biggest event ever held here. At the last World Championships in South Africa, Scotland took gold in the pairs through Marshall and Sneddon while in the triples Robert Marshall, Willie Wood and Jim McIntyre captured bronze. In the fours Wood, Marshall, Sneddon and McIntyre scooped bronze while in the overall team competition Scotland were awarded silver.