2025 Podium Open 2-Bowl Pairs Results
The Podium Open 2-Bowl Pairs event was contested on Sunday 25th May.
125 teams were competing throughout the country across four separate venues, ensuring 250 players were battling it out to stake their claim to make June’s International Assessment Weekend.
A full report from each of the six separate playdowns can be found below.
Balgownie BC
The winners at Balgownie Bowling Club were the young pairing of Ashley McDonald & Lee Trotter and former European Open winners Andrew Reilly & Andrew Thomson.
Ashley and Lee finished top of Group D following their two wins and one defeat. Their only loss came against Kayleigh Dalgarno and Finlay Gowan 7-8 in their opening game. In the knockout phase, Ashley and Lee comfortably defeated Colin Clark and Stuart Slessor 14-2 and went on to avenge their loss earlier in the day by getting the better of Kayleigh and Finlay in the final.
The two Andrew’s remained unbeaten throughout the entire competition, topping Group C courtesy of their two victories and one draw. Maintaining their impressive form into the semi-final and final, Andrew and Andrew ended the hopes of Jamie Lane & Kyle Dalrymple and Carla Banks & Kyle Ross respectively.
Cardonald BC A
Cardonald Bowling Club’s first qualifier was won by the two teams consisting of Kyle Young & Liam Sharpe and John Fleming & Stewart McAlees.
Despite losing their opening group match against Lyle Robertson and Daniel Martin, Kyle and Liam fought back well to win their next two games and finish top of Group A. Kyle and Liam then produced two dominant displays to dispatch of Brian Morris & Peter Murray and Shaun McCarry & Andrew McFarlane in the semi-final and final.
It was déjà vu for John Fleming and Stewart McAlees as they added the Podium Open 2-Bowl Pairs victory to their triumph in the Podium Open 3-Bowl Pairs just a fortnight ago. The pairing from Port Glasgow Bowling Club won both of their group matches to secure top spot in Group B. In the knockout stages, John and Stewart overcame Stephen Fleming & Stephen Martin and Paul Kane & Reece Notman.
Cardonald BC B
The second playdown at Cardonald Bowling Club was clinched by Darren Weir & Paul Foster MBE and Kerry Love & Robert Lenza.
Darren and Paul managed to maintain a 100% winning record across the full event, finishing top of Group E thanks to their two victories. In the semi-final Darren and Paul delivered some great shots to beat Claire McCurdie and Michael Keenan 12-4 before defeating Jamie Montgomery and Kieran Ward in a last end shootout in the final.
Kerry and Robert were also unbeaten throughout the entire tournament, winning both of their group games to advance from Group B. Although conditions were tricky, Kerry and Robert prevailed through the knockout stages with flying colours, dispatching of Alison Lamont & Jessica Weir and Lennon Hamilton & Mark Kelsey.
Grangemouth BC A
Grangemouth Bowling Club’s A qualifier was won by William Nicol & Mike Nicoll and Dougie Weir & Marc Gillen.
Former para internationalists William and Mike played excellent, coming out on top in all three of their group matches to clinch first place in Group A. William and Mike continued their strong showing into the knockout phase to defeat John Wardrope & Lee Mitchell and Gary Miller & Euan McBride.
Dougie and Marc also finished the qualifier at Grangemouth with an unblemished record. The duo from Lanarkshire topped Group D with three commanding victories in as many contests. Through to the straight knockout matches, Dougie and Marc continued their impressive run to defeat Stuart McCracken & Kieran Delaney and Frazer Muirhead & Ian Bell.
Grangemouth BC B
Rachel Pirie and Kieran Dorricott were the triumphant pairing at Grangemouth Bowling Club’s second playdown.
Boasting an unbeaten record throughout the day, Rachel and Kieran advanced from Group A with two wins and one draw. Managing to keep their cool, Rachel and Kieran came through two closely contested knockout matches against Lawra Cox & Wendy Grant and current Bowls Scotland Ladies National Fours champions Jane Anderson & Julie Sword.
Sighthill BC
The final qualifier of the day at Sighthill Bowling Club was won by James Hogg & Liam McKay and Beth Riva & Alex Marshall MBE.
James and Liam’s two wins from three group games was enough to see them win Group E courtesy of their superior shot difference. The duo from Edinburgh then beat Linda Eddington & Alan Isbister and Emma Docherty & Megan Grantham in the semi-final and final.
Beth and Alex looked comfortable from the get-go on Sunday, topping Group D with three wins in as many matches and only conceding 5 shots in the process. The niece and uncle pairing maintained their form into the semi-final and final, ending the hopes of Fraser Clyne & Ryan Brady and Ross Maguire & Malcolm Weir on their way to victory.
A huge thanks to all of the players, host clubs, assessors, umpires and volunteers that have helped deliver the Podium Open events over the last month.
The players that achieved qualification through the Podium Open events and a number of other invited players will be contacted no later than Wednesday 28th May with information on the men’s, women’s and para International Assessment Weekend on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th June at the National Centre for Bowling, Ayr. Those who qualified and are eligible for the U18 and U25 International Assessment Days will also receive information this week.
To view the full results from the Podium Open 2-Bowl Pairs, please click here.