New sponsor has the Top Ten Tournament in tip-top shape

The Scottish Inter County Top Ten Tournament swings into its prelim round action tomorrow and celebrates its 30th anniversary season with a new sponsor in the shape of The Ceramic Tile Warehouse of Kirkcaldy.

Edinburgh champions Carrick Knowe have a bye into the first round proper but Pathhead (Midlothian), West Barns (East Lothian) and Kirkliston (West Lothian) bring a strong local flavour to tomorrow's play.

Midlothian has monopolised the winning of the title in recent times with the success of Danderhall (2008), Bonnyrigg (2009), and Gilmerton (2010) preceded by the near miss of Bonnyrigg in 2007 and the triumph of Newbattle in 2006.

So the Walker brothers - Colin and Graham - and their Pathhead colleagues have much to live up to when they launch their campaign at Argyll & Bute champions, Campbeltown.

West Barns reached the final in 2008 and their bid to go one better has two high-profile spearhead figures in the shape of Alister Kennedy in the Singles and Willie Wood MBE in the Pairs. The East Lothian champions have home green advantage against their Aberdeen & Kincardine counterparts, Inverurie.

Kirkliston bid to land the title for a record-making third time but the champions of 1989 and 2001 take a journey into the unknown when they travel to Dundee to tackle Angus champions Starthmartine.

The Kirkliston team includes five members of the Logan clan - Gordon Logan and his sons Greg and Grant being joined by Gordon's brother Raymond and his son Calum.