November was a record breaking month in many ways for the ODA Singles League. Eleven Leagues meant that there was 110 games scheduled with a record 105 played. A record 32 players scored 57 180s in total and 28 players hit 42 ton plus checkouts smashing the previous record by six.

Robbie Stanger won all his games with room to spare to go top of the overall championship closely followed by Stevie Linklater with three wins. Brian Moar just did enough to stay in the top league with a narrow 9-8 win over Leigh Shearer. That means Leigh drops down into League 2 along with Derek Farmer who found the going tough in the top league. Highlights in the top league in November were Robbie’s three ton plus checkouts in his 9-2 win over Brian and Stevie’s 149 and Leigh’s 147 checkouts against Derek and Stevie respectively.

Iain Wilkie returns to the top league in December after winning all his games including a 9-7 victory in a scrappy match against Bruce Moar. Bruce won his other three matches to join Iain in League 1. Ben Hogan lost to both Iain and Bruce but won his other two matches comfortably against Martin Peace and Brian Murray to remain in League 2 in December with Martin and Brian dropping down a league.

Kenny Gillespie continued his good start to his singles league career with four straight wins to top League 3 and he will be joined by Ross Donaldson in League 2 after a return to form saw Ross winning three of his four matches. Although Neil Drever lost his games to the top two he cruised to 9-2 and 9-1 wins over Robert Gatt and Michael Muir to keep his place in League 3. Michael and Robert slide down to League 4.

League 4 was a very tight league with lots of close games but Stuart Thomson held his form to win all four games. A good 9-3 win for Paul Firth against David Fitzpatrick meant he just edged David out on leg difference to take second place with two wins and two defeats. David remains in League 4. At the bottom Derek Manson beat Paul Firth but narrowly lost two matches 9-8 to Ray Butcher and David Fitzpatrick to join Ray in dropping down to League 5.

A return to form saw Craig Moar win all his games to move back up to League 4 at the first time of asking. A walkover win for Cammy Scott over Matthew Wylie helped Cammy secure three wins which was good enough to see Cammy join Craig in League 4. Malcolm Coghill managed two wins from his four matches to remain in League 5. Steven Groat drops down a league with Matthew Wylie dropping out of the league after only playing two of his matches.

Jim Hamilton made a great start to his first singles league campaign with four wins in League 6 which included three 180s and an excellent 138 checkout. Gary Wilson only fulfilled two of his games and drops out of the leagues allowing Jim’s brother John to take the second promotion place.

Lee Rendall entered the Singles League for the first time and blew everyone away in League 7 with four straight wins only losing eleven legs on the way, a new record for League 7. Ian Carse also had a good month to finish second on three wins.

League 8 was very close with Liam Drever, Shona Gray and Colin Ross all finishing with three wins apiece. Liam claimed the top spot by one leg from Shona with Colin having to settle for third. The standard in the lower leagues is improving all the time and this was endorsed by League 8 having the most 180s and ton plus checkouts thrown in a month ever in November. Mark Shearer (2), Liam Drever, Colin Ross and Shona Gray all scored 180s and Liam and Mark had 112 and 104 checkouts respectively and Colin had 120, 118 and a monthly high checkout of 157. Good finishing Colin!

League 9 was dominated by Richie Ballantyne whose reward for winning all four games is promotion to League 7. There was some high scoring in League 9 too with Neil Twatt (2), Richie and Ann Sutherland all scoring 180s and Linda Harcus had 2 x 171s. Ann and Neil also had 106 and 111 checkouts respectively.

In League 10 Hippy was the main man, winning all his matches with the loss of only 12 legs on the way, a new record for League 10. Diane Rendall blitzed the opposition in League 11 with four wins out of four and along with Noreen Bain who had three wins moves up to League 9 in December.

Four players have dropped out and one new player comes in so the leagues have been altered slightly to accommodate the changes. Once again there are 110 games scheduled for this month and with Christmas and all the festivities that goes on in December players are reminded not to leave it too late to organise your games. It is the responsibility of both players to organise their games particularly if there is a restriction in dates available to play the games and all players are reminded that continued failure to play the games will lead to elimination from the league.

GBM