All bowlers who participated in the tournament were full of praise for the bowling conditions with the perfect floor and completely new mats the tournament produced an extremely high standard of bowling which ended with a tremendous final which had to go to an extra end to decide the overall winners.

    Over 180 pairs entered this year’s Christchurch tournament coming from an amazing 65 clubs from all parts of Ireland. Over the four nights play, four pairs from each of the nights returned on the Saturday evening and the results of the first round games were as follows. Skips names only:

    B. Reilly, Devenish, 8 shots, P. Corrigan, Mullaghdun, 7 shots.

    E. McConnell, Lisbellaw, 4 shots, G. Ferguson, Devenish, 6 shots.

    R. Pitts, Derryloran, 7 shots, G. Smith, Cookstown, 3 shots.

    A. Graham, Wellington, 9 shots, J. McCaffrey, St. Michael’s, 4 shots.

    D. Thornton, Gransha, 3 shots, N. Cox, Mullaghdun, 6 shots.

    H. Gawley, Wellington, 11 shots, W. Crawford, Lakeland, 1 shot.

    G. Burke, Wellington, 6 shots, B. Taffe, Dundalk, 3 shots.

    D. Brien, Magheracross, 6 shots, I. Carson, Wellington, 8 shots.

    In the quarter-finals: Ferguson defeated Reilly, 10 shots to 1; Graham defeated Pitts, 8 shots to 6; Gawley defeated Cox, 7 shots to 3; Carson defeated Burke, 9 shots to 6.

    In the first of the semifinals between Harry Gawley and Ian Carson it was Gawley who showed the way from the start winning the first three ends and taking a commanding nine shot lead. Assisted by John McVitty in lead position, Gawley showed his superiority eventually defeating Carson 12 shots to 5.

    In the remaining semifinal another Wellington pair of Alan Graham and brother David disposed of the Devenish duo of Gordon Ferguson and William Harpur. Although the scoreline was relatively close the experienced Grahams always dominated, winning the first four ends before the Devenish pair replied with a single shot in the fifth end. But at this stage it was too late and it was victory and a place in the final for Alan and David Graham.

    In the “all Wellington” final the large attendance of spectators were entertained to a very high standard of bowling with both the experienced pairs playing a very cautious game.

    The score at the end of the fourth end of three shots each really reflected the standard of the game. The fifth and sixth ends went Gawley and McVitty’s way and they went into a three shot lead after the sixth end, 6 shots to 3. But their advntage was short lived when back came the Graham brothers with a superb 5 shots in the following two ends to go into the last end two shots in front, 8 shots to 6. The pressure now was on Gawley and McVitty and true to form both players excelled themselves picking up two shots in the last end to level the score and in a determined fashion followed on by getting the single shot needed to clinch victory and the Christchurch pairs title for 2003.

    At the conclusion of play Mrs. Elaine Crawford from Office Repair Centre, Maguiresbridge, presented all finalists with their prizes and Harold Nelson, captain of Christchurch Bowling Club, presented the Perpetual Cup to the very worthy winners, John McVitty and Harry Gawley.

    Mrs. Jean Parkinson, secretary of the Bowling Club thanked the following sponsors who had assisted in making the tournament the sucess which it had been: Office Repair Centre, Dunlop Kitchens, Douglas Glazing, Elkin and Bennett Ltd. and H. and M. McCormack, Spar, Maguiresbridge.

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