Hamilton’s Stewart Anderson was crowned the Scottish International Open champion for the second time following the tournament’s return to the World Bowls Tour calendar after three years away.
The 37-year-old last lifted the title in 2018 when he beat international teammate Paul Foster, but this year he had to tackle an English opponent in the West Lothian showpiece. And he easily brushed aside Simon Skelton, a player who he beat in the World Indoor Singles final in 2019.
It continued a fine year for Anderson, who became a father again this summer, following his Open Pairs success at the World Indoor Championships and his Mixed Pairs triumph at World Bowls' flagship indoor event. His comfortable 10-4 10-2 victory over surprise finalist Skelton rounded off an excellent three days for the Blantyre indoor club bowler, who was part of Scotland’s Commonwealth Games squad this summer.
“I’ve absolutely loved this event,” he said after lifting the trophy in Livingston. “It’s local to me and it takes a lot of pressure off where you can just arrive in your own time.
“The crowd, the staff, it’s been absolutely phenomenal. Well done, you should be proud of yourselves.”
This was the first time the tournament had been held at the West Lothian club, while an FA Cup-style draw was used, one that had proved to be popular earlier in the year at the inaugural UK Open. That competition was won by Mark Dawes who was a shock first-round casualty here, along with Alex Marshall MBE, who squandered an almost unassailable lead in losing to Canadian qualifier Gary Pickering (who then lost to Skelton), a professor of biological sciences and psychology.
Anderson had scraped past English duo David Bolt and Jack Bird in the first two rounds, needing tie-breaks to squeeze through, while also being pushed to the limit by two-time winner Nick Brett in the quarter-final. Victory over the former world champion set up a clash with best mate Darren Burnett in the last four, but Anderson was too strong for the Arbroath copper, cruising through in straight sets.
And then came Skelton and just like in 2019, Anderson emerged triumphant with a belligerent display that the Englishman had no answer to, but who was graciously unstinting in his praise afterwards, saying: “He didn’t really give me much of a chance. He played really well and deserves the title.”
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