Local bowlers in the prizes at annual Westport event

Editorial Department • Published 4 Mar 2010 14:00 0 Comments

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Westport wonders (from left) Michael Lynch Meath, Ann O'Connor-Nulty Cork, Harriott Kirk Newry and Andy Wray from Trory Bowling club.

Last week over 20 local bowlers travelled to Westport for the annual spring bowling break held in the Castlecourt Hotel.

Bowlers from all over Ireland participated in the five day event and as usual Western players were very evident at the prize giving presentations at the gala ball held on the Thursday evening.

Husband and wife duo of Gladys and Billy Dunlop from St John's Bowling club in Fivemiletown were unfortunate to be just defeated in the final of the charity pairs at which almost 900 euros was raised for the Haiti appeal.

Best performance from our local bowlers was by Andy Wray from Trory bowling club who was in the winning rink along with Michael Lynch, the Meath Zone convener, Anne McNulty-Connor from Cork and, Harriott Kirk Newry.

Just missing out on a winner's prize was Newtownbutler bowler Willie West and Aghavea lady bowler Frances Cartwright who lost out in the final.

The bowling through the entire five days was at a very high standard and everybody who took part thoroughly enjoyed their break, with all looking forward to doing it again in the autumn.

All Ireland Men's Inter Zone Final

Mid-Ulster 49 Armagh 48

Mid-Ulster collect their eighth title but only just

In what is being classed as the best ever All-Ireland Inter-zone final, Mid-Ulster just edged victory against neighbours Armagh on Saturday by the single shot.

Held in St Anne's in Dungannon and in front of a capacity crowd, Mid-Ulster just held the edge at the halfway stage and seemed to be in control but had not banked on their opposition putting their foot on the gas pedal over the closing ends.

Going into the last end, the overall score was level leaving Armagh's skip Joe Beattie and Mid-Ulster's Damien McElroy to battle it out.

With McElroy holding the shot to win the entire game, Beattie with his last bowl crashed into the head collected the jack, but unfortunately for Armagh the jack travelled to the best back bowl which belonged to Mid-Ulster, giving them victory and their eighth title by a single shot 49 to 48.

Mid-Ulster will now represent Ireland next December at the British Isles Team event in Wales, a position in which Western was in two years ago and came home with the title.

Full results skips names only:

Alan Roberts 8, Armagh

Mark Wilson, Mid-Ulster 8

Danny McDonald 7, Armagh Danny McStravock 8, Mid-Ulster

Andrew Leckey 5, Armagh Alan Paul 9, Mid-Ulster

Martin Trainor 10, Armagh Colm McHugh 7, Mid-Ulster

Joe Beattie 14, Armagh Damien McElroy 7, Mid-Ulster

Andrew Hughes 4, Armagh Sean Quinn 10, Mid-Ulster

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 04 Mar 10

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