THE ladies of Cardross Bowling Club have been in fine form of late, playing their way to the national Finals at Ayr Northfield. The ladies made the nationals after winning the finals of both the Bowls Scotland District 11 triples and fours at Helensburgh Bowling Club.

District secretary Jean Irwin welcomed the qualifiers from all areas to Helensburgh for the semi-finals and finals and some excellent bowling got underway, witnessed by large crowds who packed the clubhouse and the terraces around the greens.

Cardross BC played some excellent bowls to complete a fantastic double on the day.

The semi-finals were played in the morning and in the fours, the Cardross rink of Marion McCormick, Janette Spence, Jean Bell and Mary Morrison, skip, faced the four from Radnor Park BC of L. Smith, I. Patterson, B. Donaghy and C. Morgan, (skip) with Cardross ending up the victors in this encounter by 14 shots to 11 In the triples, Cardross were represented by Elaine Park, Marion McClenaghan and Eleanor Graham (skip) and they came up against the strong triple from Garelochhead of Margaret Strattan, Sandra Glazsher and Lyn Dobrijivec (skip), however, the Cardross team won this encounter by 15-8.

The finals were played in the afternoon, commencing at 2pm, and in the triples Cardross with Elaine Park, Marion McClenaghan and Eleanor Graham, skip, faced the Argyle BC triple of E. Keenan, J. Byrne and Cathy Quinn, skip.

Argyle scored first and in the early part of the game it was very close, with never too much in the game, but gradually Cardross gained the upper hand and booked their place at Northfield by winning the game by 14 shots to 11.

The Cardross fours of Marion McCormick, Janette Spence, Jean Bell and Mary Morrison (skip) came up against a strong Dumbarton BC four of Julie McIntyre, Jean Irwin, E. Carmichael and Margaret Shields (skip).

There is no doubt this was the closest final game on the green, with Dumbarton starting better, only to be caught by Cardross.

Then it was nip and tuck all the way before Cardross four edged in front and held on to their lead to win the game by 16 shots to 13.

The triples and fours from Cardross BC now go through to the national finals at Ayr Northfield next week.

Following the games, the district secretary asked the club president Hugh Murray to present the medals to the winners and runners-up.

Hugh duly obliged and wished the winners every success at the national finals, while Jean thanked Helensburgh for hosting the finals and presented the president and umpires with a token of thanks.