THE East Lothian Champion of Champions were crowned at Macmerry Bowling Club on Sunday, writes Matt Osborne.

The annual tournament sees the newly crowned club champions pitted against each other to claim the title of champion of champions.

The men’s semi-final line up featured David Young (Macmerry) versus Keiran Dodds (EL Co-op) while Steven Morgan (Port Seton) took on Sam Gray (Prestongrange).

Young was the first to claim a spot in the final, finishing with a scoring run of 2, 2, 3 in a 21-10 victory over Dodds.

In the other semi-final, with the score level at 16-16, Gray looked to have made a dash for the final scoring a 1, 1, 2 to leave himself just one shot from victory (16-20).

But Morgan was not finished and mounted his own final push with a 3 and 1 reply to level once again 20-20.

It would be the Port Seton man that finished the stronger as he claimed a 21-20 win.

In the afternoon finale, both Young and Morgan were never separated by more than four shots throughout the early exchanges.

Morgan seized the first real initiative and increased the margin to five (7-12). Young responded and, by end 21, the pair were level at 15-15.

Young then pushed ahead for the first time to lead 17-15.

A double from Morgan once again had a level game at 17-17 before a treble at end 25 for Young left him just one from victory.

The single required came at the very next end as he claimed the crown 21-17.

In the ladies; semi-final line-up, home player Janice Blair looked to tackle the experienced international Lauren Baillie-Whyte (Port Seton) while Emily Johnston (Ormiston) faced current international Beth Riva (Gifford).

Baillie-Whyte raced from the start in her semi-final, opening an 11-0 lead over Blair.

The deficit was reduced to six as Blair responded with a 3 and 2.

Baillie-Whyte found another scoring blitz of 1, 2 and 2 to surge to a 20-8 lead.

Blair did respond with a double at end 17 before Baillie-Whyte claimed the single she needed for a 21-10 win.

Johnstone made the early running in the other semi-final; a back-to-back full house count saw her open a 12-6 lead.

Riva responded by winning six of the next seven ends to take the lead for the first time, 17-13.

That pattern continued over the remaining ends, Riva winning three of the last five on her way to a 21-15 win.

The afternoon finale saw Baillie-Whyte replicate her early morning form as she raced to a 9-3 lead over international teammate Riva.

A five-end blitz from Gifford ladies champion Riva and nine shots without reply saw her pass the Port Seton champion, 12-9.

A blistering finish of 1, 2, 2, 2, 1 and 1 saw the Gifford star claim the champion of champions title 21-12.