Bowls: Home win in charity bowls tournament

Jul 24 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

EDDLEWOOD Bowling Club’s prestigious Peter Conway Memorial Triples competition was this year won by the host club.

Paul Latta and Jim Laird were joined by previous Scottish champion George Prosser, defeating a Lesmahagow rink of Harry Meikle, Robert Murphy and Bob Brown in the final.

The competition – sponsored by the Hamilton Advertiser and Morris Coaches – attracted 144 bowlers from 48 triples rinks. Those taking part included Scottish internationalist Ian Campbell and former Rangers star Tam Forsyth.

Jim Conway, who helped organise the event in memory of his father Peter, a former Hamilton police constable and Eddlewood Bowling Club stalwart who died from cancer, believes the event has raised around £5500 for Kilbryde Hospice.

The cash will be presented to the Lanarkshire charity at a later date, alongside the proceeds of an annual auction event, which has raised around £1620.

Top prizes included a Rangers shirt signed by captain Barry Ferguson, hospitality at Ibrox, hospitality for four at Hamilton Accies, hospitality for four at Hamilton Park including a meal at the Spice restaurant (all donated by Aki from Spice), a Manchester United jersey signed by Wayne Rooney and two tickets for a match at Old Trafford (donated by Scottish internationalist Ian Campbell) and a signed Rangers football, donated by former Rangers hero Tam Forsyth. The Duchess of Hamilton also donated a generous cheque to the charity.

Jim Conway, who took part in the event, said: “The competition has been running for about four years now and we’ve raised in excess of £20,000 for charities, with the help of our local councillor Joe Lowe.

“We’re very grateful to the Spice restaurant for everything they have so generously donated, and to Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, who gave us £3000 towards the total.

“This has become one of the most prestigious events in Scottish bowling and I’m very proud of that, and the fact that we have been able to raise so much money for charity.”