IrishRound-up All the latest from the Irish bowls scene, by Alex Mills Balmoral boys end season in blaze of glory Baker ready to rebuild
The celebrations went on for some time as big Clifford Craig’s Balmoral side topped off a tremendous season for the club as a whole when Craig skipped his quartet to victory in the Irish National Fours Championship at Carrickfergus.
Joined by Michael Bickerstaff, Davy Ashwood and Drew Donaghy, Craig proudly hoisted the trophy that will now sit alongside the NIBA Senior Cup, along with a number of other pieces of silverware claimed for the Balmoral trophy cabinet for the next 12 months.
A superb achievement came close to being made even better, as Gareth Pierpoint was pipped by Shane Leonard in the semi-final of the Irish U25 Singles and Bickerstaff was beaten by James Martin of Ballymoney 21-17 in the Open Singles semi.
Meanwhile, there was double joy for Paul
Daly, who walked off with the Irish Singles and Triples titles.
The big international was taken to the wire in both games, especially the Singles where he was forced to stage a dramatic comeback against Ballymoney’s James Martin, who
Mandy crowned as
new Singles champ Mandy Cunningham is the new Irish Women’s Bowling Association Singles champion.
The Ewarts player won the trophy for the first time, defeating Ballymena’s Sarah Jane Coleman in the final at Donaghadee. Irish international Cunningham was pushed all the way by Dungannon’s Bernie McGleenan in the semi-final, scraping home 21-17. However, she moved into overdrive against her Ireland colleague in the final, roaring to a 21-7 success. The 26-year-old Coleman, the Provincial champion, can certainly hold her head high after lifting her association’s title for the first time, and was deservedly presented with the Irish women’s ‘Bowler of the Year’ trophy afterwards. Carol McQuade and Chrissie O’Gorman won the Pairs category following a nail-biting battle with Portstewart’s Margaret Campbell and Bernie O’Neill.
A tie-break end was required to eventually separate the teams, the Blackrock duo holding their nerve to edge home 18-17.
Balmoral’s Clifford Craig
needed only one shot to secure the title, having built up a 20-12 lead. But Daly was having none of it. He gradually chipped away at the damage and managed to lift the jack on the final end to pick up a count of three to claim a famous victory. Earlier in the day, Daly, Stephen McKinley and Brendan Thompson were pushed right to the finish by Dominic Lloyd, John Leonard and Richard Leonard, of St James’s Gate, in the final of the Triples, requiring an extra end to defeat the reigning champions after the marathon game finished 14-14.
The Irish squad returned from the Home International Championships at Worthing having surrendered the title they won for the first time at the City of Derry club 12 months earlier. Unfortunately, Baker’s babes failed to maintain their winning momentum and had to settle for third place. However, the boss was far from despondent and insisted there were some excellent performances from the boys in green. “The boys can hold their heads high,” he said. “It’s vital to get off to a winning start. Sadly, that didn’t happen. “Realistically, other countries have a vast amount of players at their disposal. Our boys proved they can live in that company.”
Baker admitted he must now rebuild his team for next season, with six of his most experienced players graduating from the junior ranks. “We now face a rebuilding exercise because six of the boys are no long eligible for the team,” added Baker. “Graham McKee, Keith Padgett, David Torrington, Simon Lyttle, David Dilworth and Aaron Walker have all competed at this level for the last time.”
Bowls mourns late Sutton
The game of bowls has lost one of its most popular and valued members with the untimely passing of Doreen Sutton.
Doreen, wife of one of the sport’s great and most colourful characters, Tom, held a number of high profile posts in the Irish Women’s Bowling Association.
After enjoying a year in the president’s chair, Doreen moved into the position of secretary. She carried out her duties with a high degree of care and professionalism. Doreen, a competent tennis player in her early years, often told the story about being ‘badgered’ into the game of bowls by her beloved husband. After three visits to Cavehill BC, she was selected play in a competitive game, and she never looked back. Married to Tom for close to 63 years, they were first through the doors at any major event, should it be the men or women’s outdoor International Series at Belmont or the indoor equivalent at Shaws Bridge or Parkgate.
Doreen Smith
Irish bowls writer Alex Mills said: “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing both for many years. Doreen was a constant source of information in her time as secretary. During that period, she also doubled-up as manger of the Ireland international team. “The game of bowls is a lot worse off for having lost Doreen. My sympathy is extended to Tom and the Sutton family circle.”
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