Correspondence IRISH R UND-UP
COMPILED BY ALEX MILLS A collated compilation of news from the Irish bowls scene Send your stories and pics to
irishnews@nationwidebowler.co.uk
ALSO IN THE NEWS
MARTIN, SO NEAR, YET SO FAR Belfast’s Simon Martin was pipped at the post for a place in the Scottish International Open at the Watson Stadium. The current Irish and British Isles singles title holder turned in a superb performance in the Professional Bowlers’ Association qualifier, but was edged out by Cardiff’s Mark Harding in a gripping final. “It was a case of so
near, yet so far,” said Martin. “It’s always a task when you come up against so many quality players, but it just wasn’t to be this time.”
COOKSTOWN PAIR SIZZLE A dazzling display in the St Saviour’s Bowls Club’s (Portadown) annual pairs tournament, saw the experienced Tommy Johnston and Liam McHugh take top honours. The Cookstown
Parochial duo emerged unscathed from a starting grid of 152 to take the big prize. In a hotly contested final, Johnston and McHugh nudged over the finish line following a tense 6-5 win over Ciaran and Marty Trainor, from St Anthony’s. At the semi-final stage, McHugh defeated Jim Erskine and Keith Taylor, while the Trainor brothers ousted Tom Lithco and Noel Graham from Loughaghery. Beaten quarter-finalists
(skips only) were: Paul Whittle, Raymond Stubbs, Andrew Leckey, and Joe Beattie. Other section winners were Michael Beattie and Elizabeth Smyth.
50 NationwideBowler IRISH IIBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Mighty Quinn does it again J
ohn Quinn just cannot stop winning IIBA national titles. The Ballylennon man
achieved a unique hat-trick at Richhill Recreation Centre by pocketing his third championship in as many years. He broke his duck by winning the national pairs – along with Eddie Curran – back in 2011. That was followed by the singles 12 months ago. Quinn has now added the triples to impressive array of short mat honours. He teamed up with David Crawford
and Curran to record an impressive 15-6 win over Noel Walls, Robin Beattie and Paul Canning (Kinghan Church), who created their own little niche in the tournament by becoming the first side with speech and hearing disabilities to reach the final. “We’re thrilled with the victory,” said Quinn. “It was a close enough game for the first four or five ends
IIBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Singles: R Stubbs (Ballinderry) 13 M Beattie (Strabane CC) 12. Pairs: D Coulter, S McKinley (Ulster Transport) 15 J Martin, J Martin (Marian) 14. National Triples: D Crawford, E Curran, J Quinn (Ballylennon) 15 N Walls, R Beattie, P Canning (Kinghan) 6. National fours: S McMath, T Mullan, B Kane U McKeeman (Dunluce Parish) 11 Ron Stubbs, G Stubb, P Reid, Raymmond Stubbs (Ballinderry) 7. Ladies singles: B Davidson
but, once we got in front, we kept the pressure on. It took me some time to win a national title – now I’ve got three in three years.” Meanwhile, there were mixed emotions for Raymond Stubbs. He won the singles to complete a ‘clean
Kelly ends indoor season on a high
Gary Kelly was back on the winners’ rostrum in the UK Masters. The Ireland international saved the
best to the last as the curtain came down on the indoor bowls campaign. Kelly produced a magnificent
showing at the Watson Stadium to top the final UK Masters event of the season. He not only walked off with
the top prize, but his success also guaranteed him a place in next month’s Professional Bowlers’ Association’s ‘Tourcard’ play off. The Ballybrakes Stadium player
will be joined by the seven other UK regional winners at Blackpool – with the victor booking a spot in the three World Bowls Tour tournaments, the Scottish and International Open, along with the prestigious World Singles at Potters Leisure Resort early next year.
After the disappointment by the
local contingent in the Scottish and International Open qualifiers at Shaws Bridge, Kelly lifted the gloom with his Masters triumph.
RESULTS
Uk Masters Quarter Finals: S Bennett (Belfast) bt S Coleman snr (County Antrim) 1-7, 5-2, 2-1; A Coleman (County Antrim) lost to P Briscoe (Thanet) 5-7, 0-9; J McCullough (Belfast) lost to G Kelly (Ballybrakes) 2-7, 7-5, 0-2; D Corkill (Belfast) lost to R Atkins (Malvern) 2-7, 4-3, 1-2. Semi finals: Bennett lost to Briscoe 0-8, 6-7; Kelly bt Atkins 9-2, 9-2. Final: Briscoe lost to Kelly 1-9, 5-2, 1-2.
(Cookstown Parochial) 10 H Cavan (Glastry Presbyterian) 11. Ladies pairs: M Cassells, P Beattie (St Mark’s, Portadown) 17 J Ringland, A Weir (Mossley) 8. Ladies triples: E Dorman, C Campbell, A McKiver (Brocagh) 10 A Magee, B Conlon, A Polin (St John’s SC) 5. Junior singles: S Hand (Corduff) 12 M Gallagher (Donegal) 6. Over-55 pairs: J Hegarty, P Walsh (Glenties) 13 C McMahon, J McMahon (Carrickmacross) 18.
sweep’ of national titles, having previously hoisted the pairs, triples and fours. But the Ballinderry bowler also
suffered defeat in the final of the fours, which slightly tarnished his success.
Harry steals show
Evergreen Harry Hylands stole the show in the West Down zone championships, staged at Gilford Community Centre. Harry, who is 79,
emerged from a quality field to snatch his first ever singles title! His success culminated in a memorable night for the powerful All Saints, Tullylish Club, which walked off with the four main championships. It was a hectic final night, and Harry topped the evening with a magnificent 9-5 win over Holm Park’s Gavin Clingan in the singles decider.
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