2025 Atlantic International Challenge - Day Three Report
Scotland progressed through day three of the Atlantic International Challenge undefeated against Canada, Ireland and USA.
Session Seven
Scotland kicked off day three with an overall victory against Ireland. The mainstream disciplines had to settle for a 6-6 draw and the para squad romped home with a 12-3 victory.
In the men’s singles, Scotland's Darren Gualtieri edged out Ireland’s Mark Wilson in a tight contest. Gualtieri took the first set 6-4 and held his nerve in a dramatic 6-6 draw in the second set to seal the win. Ewan Shearer, James Hogg, Connor Milne and Grant Logan failed to back Darren’s victory up in the men’s fours. The Scottish quartet lost out 4-12 to a strong showing from the Irish rink of Ryan McElroy, Mark Foster, Ian McClure and Shane Leonard.
Picking up another win for Scotland in the singles, Dee Hoggan was in fine form to defeat Sarah Kelly. The Scot drew the first set 4-4 before dominating the second set 9-3. The women’s fours match served up the tightest contest in the mainstream disciplines. Lorna Cameron, Beth Riva, Gail Notman and Caroline Brown performed well but lost out by a single shot to Lara Reaney, Chloe Wilson, Rachel Cochrane and Hannah Cochrane.
Keen to assert their dominance, Scotland’s para team delivered a clinical performance to win four of their five games against Ireland.
Garry Brown used all his experience to get the better of Keith Tinney. Brown battled through a back-and-forth first set, eventually coming out on top 10-8. He held his nerve in the second set, taking it 5-4 to notch up a victory for Scotland. In another tight contest, John Wardrope held firm under pressure to defeat Paul Smyth in two extremely close sets. Wardrope edged the first 9-8 and followed up with another narrow win in the second, 7-6. Scotland continued to rack up the wins through Pauline Wilson, who was made to work for every shot by Glenn Kaufman. The Willowbank Bowling Club member played the decisive bowls at key moments to take both sets by the narrowest of margins.
Laura Cluxton and Ross Noble commenced their day with an impressive result in the visually impaired pairs. The Scottish duo built a steady lead against Liz Thompson and Michael Reid and maintained control to eventually win the tie 11-5.
Stuart Stevens sadly couldn’t make it a clean sweep of victories for Scotland as he was defeated by Tom Evans in his singles encounter. Stevens performed admirably throughout, however, came up just short as he lost both sets to his Irish opponent by a single shot.
Session Seven Scores:
- Men’s Singles – Darren Gualtieri beat Mark Wilson 1.5-0.5 (6-4 & 6-6)
- Men’s Fours – Ewan Shearer, James Hogg, Connor Milne & Grant Logan lost to Ryan McElroy, Mark Foster, Ian McClure & Shane Leonard 4-12
- Women’s Singles – Dee Hoggan beat Sarah Kelly 1.5-0.5 (4-4 & 9-3)
- Women’s Fours – Lorna Cameron, Beth Riva, Gail Notman & Caroline Brown lost to Lara Reaney, Chloe Wilson, Rachel Cochrane & Hannah Cochrane 7-8
SCOTLAND 6 – IRELAND 6
- Para Physically Disabled Singles – Stuart Stevens lost to Tom Evans 0-2 (8-9 & 5-6)
- Para Physically Disabled Singles – Garry Brown beat Keith Tinney 2-0 (10-8 & 5-4)
- Para Physically Disabled Singles – John Wardrope beat Paul Smyth 2-0 (9-8 & 7-6)
- Para Physically Disabled Singles – Pauline Wilson beat Glenn Kaufman 2-0 (9-8 & 7-6)
- Para Visually Impaired Pairs – Laura Cluxton & Ross Noble beat Liz Thompson & Michael Reid 11-5
SCOTLAND 12 – IRELAND 3
Session Eight
In the second session of the day, Scotland and Canada shared the spoils with the mainstream disciplines drawing 6-6. Meanwhile, Scotland’s para squad delivered the perfect session, recording five wins in as many matches.
Next up for Darren Gualtieri was a tough clash against Canada's Cameron Lefresne. Despite losing the first set 3-8, Gualtieri fought back well to take the second set 6-3. The match now entered an entertaining one end tie break with the Canadian doing enough to win contest. Scotland responded strongly in the men’s fours, with the experienced team of James Hogg, Gary Prunty, Connor Milne and Grant Logan combining brilliantly to overcome Ryan Bester’s rink. The Scots looked in control throughout the game and finished up with a well-earned 13-8 victory.
In a high-quality contest, Dee Hoggan showed great composure to edge out Canada’s Kelly McKerihen in the women’s singles. Hoggan clinched the first set 7-3 and shared the second 6-6, earning an important win for Scotland. Our women’s fours team of Lorna Cameron, Beth Riva, Natalie McWilliams and Caroline Brown gave their all but were sadly edged out 7-8 by Jackie Foster, Baylee van Steijn, Jordan Kos and Emma Boyd.
Scotland’s para team produced a dominant clean sweep of victories across all five of their respective matches.
Garry Brown set the tone for the Scottish squad with a commanding performance. The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist eased past Andy Caldwell in straight sets to give Scotland an early advantage. In a much tighter affair, Stuart Stevens held his nerve in two closely contested sets. A resilient display saw him get the better of Jack Smart 9-8 & 9-5.
Arguably the standout performance of the day came from John Wardrope, who was in fine form to defeat Jean Stairs 16-3 & 22-0. Pauline Wilson added to Scotland’s points tally with an assured display, maintaining control from start to finish, to overcome Anne Hibberd in straight sets.
Rounding off the session, the pairing of Laura Cluxton and Ross Noble combined well together to take a 12-6 win over Louise McLean and Dave Ruckman.
Session Eight Scores:
- Men’s Singles – Darren Gualtieri lost to Cameron Lefresne 1-2 (3-8, 6-3 & 0-1)
- Men’s Fours – James Hogg, Gary Prunty, Connor Milne & Grant Logan beat Erik Galipeau, Rob Law, Greg Wilson & Ryan Bester 13-8
- Women’s Singles – Dee Hoggan beat Kelly McKerihen 1.5-0.5 (7-3 & 6-6)
- Women’s Fours – Lorna Cameron, Beth Riva, Natalie McWilliams & Caroline Brown lost to Jackie Foster, Baylee van Steijn, Jordan Kos & Emma Boyd 7-8
SCOTLAND 6 – CANADA 6
- Para Physically Disabled Singles – Garry Brown beat Andy Caldwell 2-0 (13-3 & 7-4)
- Para Physically Disabled Singles – Stuart Stevens beat Jack Smart 2-0 (9-8 & 9-5)
- Para Physically Disabled Singles – John Wardrope beat Jean Stairs 2-0 (16-3 & 22-0)
- Para Physically Disabled Singles – Pauline Wilson beat Anne Hibberd 2-0 (15-3 & 14-3)
- Para Visually Impaired Pairs – Laura Cluxton & Ross Noble beat Louise McLean & Dave Ruckman 12-6
SCOTLAND 15 – CANADA 0
Session Nine
Scotland signed off the final session of the day with a 9-3 victory over USA in the mainstream disciplines. Following their two impressive victories earlier in the day, our para team enjoyed a session off before returning to competitive action tomorrow.
Darren Gualtieri returned to winning ways, setting the tone early with a composed win over USA’s Tom Richeson. The Scottish men’s singles representative edged a tight first set 8-6, before raising his level in the second, racing to a 12-4 victory. In a closely contested men’s fours match, the Scottish team of Ewan Shearer, James Hogg, Gary Prunty and Connor Milne dug deep to secure the three points. The Scots managed the game well in the closing stages to secure a 13-9 win.
The most dramatic contest of the session came in the women’s singles, where Caroline Brown faced off against Dee McSparran. Brown started superbly, taking the first set 7-1, but McSparran rallied strongly to win the second 3-9 and force a one-end tiebreak. The American held her nerve to take decider. Scotland’s women’s four capped off the day with a vital win over their American opposition. Dee Hoggan, Beth Riva, Natalie McWilliams and Gail Notman gradually built a lead over Rachel Marcuson, Janice Bell, Joanne Hedgespeth and Anne Nunes, closing the match out with a 14-8 triumph.
Session Nine Scores:
- Men’s Singles – Darren Gualtieri beat Tom Richeson 2-0 (8-6 & 12-4)
- Men’s Fours – Ewan Shearer, James Hogg, Gary Prunty & Connor Milne beat Daniel Gorelick, Peter Ritchie, Chris Dodd & Corey Vose 13-9
- Women’s Singles – Caroline Brown lost to Dee McSparran 1-2 (7-1, 3-9 & 0-1)
- Women’s Fours – Dee Hoggan, Beth Riva, Natalie McWilliams & Gail Notman beat Rachel Marcuson, Janice Bell, Joanne Hedgespeth & Anne Nunes 14-8
SCOTLAND 9 – USA 3