Closure notice
We are now closed on a Monday
The committee has taken the decision not to open on a Monday night during December 2025.
This decision has been reluctantly taken due to dwindling numbers.
President thanks volunteers who have helped the club this year
Belhaven-sponsored presentation a winner
Brian Buckner used the Belhaven Brewery-sponsored Presentation of Prizes to publicly thank members who have helped the club this year.
They have included Davie Wilson for weeding and cementing between the slabs round the geeen, Geoff Miller, who set our first quiz and is now commissioned to
carry on with these, once a month. The next one is on December 7 (7pm).
He also thanked Bill Stark who prints tickets and posters for the various functions.
The President introduced the guest speaker, Iain McSporran KC, to what he called the social highlight of the bowling club year.
Brian added: “This is our sport and we strive to beat everyone else in the competitions that we enter. Winners are invited to attend this function dinner so they can get the recognition they deserve from their peers.”
He confirmed results from the ladies events held throughout the season. The champion was Anne Blake and the runner-up Helen Girdler.
Other winners were: Four bowl pairs: Anne Blake and Margaret Buckner, runners[up Nan Leckie and Essie Stoddart, both 90 years young; Rena Mason Trophy, Helen Girdler, runner-up Sharon Rollason; Club Ladies Two bowl singles: Margaret Buckner, runner up Sharon Rollason; Water of Leith Finals, triples: Helen Girdler, Margaret Turner and Sandra Duguid; Two bowl pairs: Margaret Buckner and Sharon Rollason.
Overall, he said, the club have had a not bad season. He added: “We won the Water of Leith rink competition (David Innes/Paddy Welsh/Derek Drysdale/Fergie McBeath. We are the West of Edinburgh Bowling Association, Division 2, champions.
Brian Buckner/Charlie Dalton/ Kenny Girdler won the Water of Leith senior triples and we also won the Water of Leith seniors league cup.”
The first trophy to be played for each year is between the President and Vice-President for the Presidents Cup. Brian said: “It has only been played five times and it gives me great pleasure to award the trophy for the fifth time to Phil.”
The Hats Trophy was donated to the club by Sandra Duguid and this is played from June till the end of the season each week on a Monday night and it is open to all. This year’s winner is David McNeal.
Seniors: the Senior two bowl drawn pairs runners-up were Brian Ronald and Bill Stark and the winners were Jimmy Watson and Hugh Gibson; four bowl pair runners-up were Phil Marshall and Brian Buckner and the winners were Willie Lyon and Derek Drysdale; the triples runners up were Brian Buckner/Stuart Innes/Phil Marshall and the winners were Robert Douglas/Derrick Robb/Tom Murray; senior club championship runner-up was George McLaughlan and the 2025 Senior Champion is Hugh Gibson.
Club trophies: The 2025 championship winner was Robert Douglas and the runner-up was Tom Murray. Other winners were: mixed pairs runners-up, Sharon Rollason and Phil Marshall, winners Helen and Kenny Girdler; computer drawn pair runners-up Brian Buckner/ Charlie Dalton and the winners were Susan Drysdale and David McNeil; two bowl pairs was not completed due to an illness to Ron Duguid and this will be played next year; triples runners up were David Anderson/Charlie Dalton/Grant Wilson and winners were Hugh Gibson/Brian Ronald/ Bill Stark; rink runners-up were Robert Douglas/Jimmy Watson/Derrick Robb/ Steven Watson and winners were Paul Begg/Brian Turner/David Lawson/Kenny Girdler; handicap runner-up was Brian Turner and the winner was David McNeil; the four bowl pairs runners-up were Robert Douglas/Tom Murray and the winners were Joe Robertson/ Mike Haldane; the two bowl singles runner-up was Maxi Baigrie and the champion was Derek Drysdale; the Bowl runner-up was Tom Murray and the 2025 winner was Mike Haldane.
Cabin clearance under way
Old furniture moved out
The cabin to the left of the Clubhouse has been cleared.
Committee members removed old furniture, tools, boxes, pieces of carpet and unwanted glasses and crockery.
The area behind the cabins has also been cleared of brambles.
Our picture shows some of the debris left after the metal was removed.
It includes broken chairs, old umbrellas, painting accessories and even benches. There is much more to come.
Winter work on the green
Duncan Peddie has started work on the green to prepare it for next season.
The extensive programme started on Monday, October 20, and includes scarifying.
Feeding will also be done along with spraying with liquid iron and seaweed.
In the spring, the green will be verti cut.
Duncan Peddie at work on the green
Measure decided championship
Douglas wins third men's crown
Robert Douglas secured his third men's championship on a measure after a three-hour tussle with Tom Murray.
The self-employed window cleaner moved 14-5 ahead after 13 ends in gusty conditions and after a heavy rain shower at the start, but Tom, the defending champion, rallied, levelling at 17-17.
His fightback started with a single at the 14th. He lost the 15th to a single then won five of the six ends between the 16th and 21st ends with scores of 1, 3, 4, 1, 2
The semi-retired gardener, seeking his fourth title, then edged 19-17 ahead with singles at the 22nd and 23 rd ends.
Robert kept his cool and took the next end with a four on a measure to add the 2025 title to previous wins in 2013 and 2021.
PICTURE: Robert Douglas (left) with his opponent, Tom Murray (right), and club president, Brian Buckner
In with the new
Balerno Bowling Club's committee are always looking for ways to enhance the look of the green.
Members have noted modern rink markers during club matches in the area.
The committee took note of that and commissioned new markers.
They have arrived are are being installed in time for the men's semi-finals on Sunday.
Brian Buckner, club president, is pictured with one of the markers on Rink 1.
New role for club vice-president
Marshall joins Green Ranger team
Phil Marshall is pictured with our new lawn mower for a reason as it signals his installation as a member of our Green Ranger team.
He takes over from Ron Duguid who retired recently and we thank him for his efforts over a number of years.
Phil, as many know, has been a member here for four decades and should know every inch of the grass.
He is vice-president of the club and will report direct to the club committee.
He was chosen after the job was advertised on the club's social media platform and in an email direct to all members.
Phil teams up with Charlie Dalton.
Brian Buckner, club president, gave his thanks to Ron saying: "We appreciate Ron's efforts on the green over a number of years and we wish Phil success in his new role."
Meanwhile, the club also thanks Jimmy Watson and Jack Brown, one of our bar staff, for positioning our new TV in the upstairs bar.
We also want to thank an anonymous donor for the new air conditioning unit which is now installed in the upstairs bar. The donor does not wish to be named.
Finally, thanks go to club stalwarts Bill Stark and Brian Ronald who have repaired the storage units at the back of the Downstairs Hall which were damaged recently.
Ten orders needed before we can apply
Bespoke jackets available
Balerno Bowling Club are looking to purchase a bespoke rain jacket with our logo, but we require at least ten people to order before the manufacturer will start production.
The jacket, appropriately modeled by Brian Buckner, club president, in a downpour, has a concealed hood and taped seams and an inner layer to assist with wind chill. The jacket is as waterproof as any garment can be.
To determine your size lay your current jacket out flat on a level surface and measure from the seam at one armpit to the other.
If the measurement is 21.5 inches order small, 22 inches to 23 inches order medium, 23.5 inches to 24.5 inches order large, 25 inches to 26 inches order extra large, 26.5 inches to 27.5 inches order 2 extra large, 28 inches to 29 inches order 3 extra large, 29.5 inches to 30.5 inches order 4 extra large and 31 inches to 32 inches order five extra large.
The price is £69.90 plus VAT.
Orders to Brian Buckner please.