Pit Stop Cup, runner-up Ian Findlay, league president Robbie Norquoy, winner Robbie Stanger.
The Orkney Golf Club played host on Friday evening to the first of this season's ranking points competitions, with 39 eager souls toeing the oche in the Pitstop Cup in a bid to earn a place in the intercounty team for the trip to Shetland in April.
A top heavy draw so some hard hitting ties early on. Kevin Gray and Stevie Garner have been topping the individual statistics tables since the season started, so all eyes were on their first round tie. Kevin started with a 180, but it was Stevie who would go on to progress 3-0. Robbie Stanger and Bruce Moar played magnificantly to battle through to meet each other in the first semi-final, where Robbie was just too hot to handle, winning 4-0.
There are no easy games in the KDDL these days and, whilst the bottom half of the draw looked easier on paper, nobody was progressing without working hard for it. But for missed doubles, Martin Peace could have reversed his 3-0 defeat to Stevie Linklater in their quarter-final. Ian Findlay had a pretty tough run too, beating James Flett, Ryan Tulloch and Gary Wilson to meet Stevie in their semi. A veteran of many ranking finals, Stevie was hoping his experience would help but Ian was determined to break his ranking final virginity, and his scoring was on point as he won 4-2.
With both finalists having been in fine form, it was a shock that the standard in the opening few legs was pretty poor, with both players winning one apiece. As the match progressed, both improved their standard of play, but Robbie was beginning to really find his scoring form, deservedly coming out on top by 5 legs to 1.
180s were scored by: Jack Kirkpatrick, Kevin Sarling, Stuart Thomson, Brian Stevenson, Brian Moar, Keith Brumpton, Keith Bain, Wilfie Tulloch, Ryan Tulloch, Ian Findlay, Robbie Stanger, Paul Foubister, Wayne Monkman, Kevin Peace, Erland Ritch (two), Kenny Gunn (two), Erlend Lennie (two), Trevor Shearer (two), Brett Dickinson (two), Billy Ward (two), Ian Linklater (two), Martin Peace (two), Bruce Moar (three), Stevie Garner (four) and Kevin Gray (five).
High Checkouts: Aaron Mitchell 100, Kevin Gray 101, Jamie Drever 106, Keith Brumpton 108, Ryan Tulloch 109, Billy Ward 117, Kevin Peace 120, Robbie Stanger 122, Martin Peace 126, Bruce Moar (100, 101), Ian Findlay (100, 107) and Stevie Linklater (100, 126).
Short Legs: Robbie Stanger/Billy Ward 15, Stevie Garner/Gary Wilson 15, Robbie Stanger 15, Bruce Moar/Stevie Linklater 14 and Kevin Gray (15, 15, 13).
Results:
'A' League: Ale Stars 2, Exiles 10
OGC 7, Tankerness 5
Muppets 0, Sanday 12
Untouchables 7, Legion 5
'B' League: The Toonies 4, Wanderers 8
Vikings 3, Murray Arms 9
Shandy Bass 4, Young Loons 8
Sands 9, Rough 'n' Rowdy 3
Pitstop Cup Final: Robbie Stanger 5, Ian Findlay 1
Fixtures:
'A' League: Ale Stars v Sanday
OGC v Muppets
Untouchables v Tankerness
Exiles v Legion
'B' League: The Toonies v Young Loons
Vikings v Quoyburray B
Shandy Bass v EMYFC
Quoyburray v Bilco Boys
Sands v Murray Arms
Wanderers v Rough 'n' Rowdy
Saturday November 9, Davy Cooper Memorial Open Cup, Masonic, names by 2.30pm