Dumfries and Galloway bowlers crowned British champions

Three women from Dumfries and Galloway are the best in Britain.

Emma Russell, Shirley Robson and Debbie Cochrane won the triples for Scotland in the first Ladies British Isles Short Mat Bowling Championships in Melton Mowbray at the weekend and are now British Isles Ladies Champions.

The competition saw Scotland send a squad of 17 ladies to take on their counterparts from England, Wales and Ireland in this two-day competition and although the team had some good results, they finished fourth.

There was more success in the individual championships, however, when the trio overcame Wales 15-12 on Saturday morning before beating England 15-12 in the afternoon, setting up a showdown with favourites, Ireland.

With Ireland having defeated both England and Wales 16-10 and 18-8, the Scottish triple were guaranteed at least a silver but the Dumfries and Galloway ladies managed to go one better and lift the title.

Scotland got off to a great start and were never behind in the game but with two to go and two up it was tight, however, when skip Debbie turned an Irish bowl out to give Scotland five shots it was now 17-9 playing the last end and when Ireland were only able to pick up three shots, Scotland became British Isles Champions.

Emma and Debbie both play out of the Stewartry club and Shirley plays out of Lockerbie.