Bowling Club has a real KO year 

MERKINCH bowlers have been having their best season for quite a while and recently won the Inverness Indoor Bowling Association Knock-out Cup for the first time, beating Kirkhill in a close-fought final.

Teams from all over the Inverness District contested the Cup at Dalneigh Hall. “Usually we just get to the quarter-finals or the semis,” confessed Donnie Christie, one of the club founders.

The club was formed almost 20 years ago – the only other founding player is Willie McBeath – and members play at Merkinch Community Centre every Tuesday and Friday evening.

Though they had a slow start to the season, this year the club also won the Beauly Pairs and when News & Views spoke to them, they were hoping to finish second in the League. The League Rinks competition will be held at Daviot on 5th-6th April.

At present the club has some 24 members, and ages range from 13 to 70. “We’re a good happy club,” says Donnie, though we are short of perhaps four or five lady members – the optimum is around 28.”

Knockout players were:

Skip Donnie Christie, Ronnie Tucker, Jean Mackenzie and Irene Hendry;

Skip Peter Mackenzie, Willie Warren, Dennis Jones and Christopher Warren;

Skip David Christie, Roddy Christie, Willie Mackenzie and Alison Hendry;

Skip Willie McBeath, Ali Hendry, Sheila Fraser and Michael Hillan.  

CHAMPION of Champions in Inverness is Willie McBeath who took the top prize against some stiff competition. This is the first time Willie has won it, though previous Merkinch winners include Willie Christie and Brora Murray. Willie, who works with Transco, the gas authority, has been playing for 15 years. “I’m delighted to have won,” he said.