National Championships Success

Cameron Gaw, Irish Junior Singles Champion.

 Iain Ferguson, Peter Dew, Alan Briggs & Alan Roberts, Irish Senior Fours Champions.

A wonderful two days of competition on the synthetic green at Dun Laoghaire was crowned with two representatives from our Association lifting IBA National titles. Congratulations.

Cameron Gaw from Donaghadee secured the Junior Singles title with a magnificent display of drawing bowls in both his semi and final matches, bowls which would have graced any world stage. In both games Cameron came from behind, stamped his quality and cool deminer on these two very close encounters, beating John Byrne from BLI club Crumlin 21-18 and then Jordan Rankin from the NIPBA club Limavady 21-19. The quality of bowling and sportsmanship displayed in the final by both Cameron and Jordan is a credit to their attitude and respect for their sport.

Those gents of maturing age from Lurgan lifted the Senior Fours accolade after battling their way past William Angus of Pickie, NIPGBL 25-18 in the semi and although a score line of 24-21 suggests a much closer encounter in that final, skip Alan Roberts along with Peter Dew, Iain Ferguson and ably assisted by Alan Briggs were always in control.

The Banbridge four, Paul O’Keefe, Ian Gallagher, Gavin Clinghan & Aaron O’Keefe, successfully negotiated themselves past Crumlin’s Stephen Millane four 20-18 at the semi stage but unfortunately encountered a very strong NIPBA Ballymoney rink skipped by Gary Kelly, who claimed the title 24-8. A National runners-up title, very credible indeed.

In the Open Singles semi, Gerard McGleave of Divis narrowly lost to Gary McCloy of Portrush 20-21 in another great game for the spectators to watch with excellent bowling and a nail biting finish.

Young Nathan Minish of Portadown battled valiantly in the Youth Singles semi losing out to Combers William Orr, NIPGBL, 10-21.

Portadown’s Aidan Corrigan and Mark Sproule fought gallantly in their Open Pairs semi but found the Salisbury pairing of Terry Crawford and Gary Eaton Jnr in top form, 8-28.

The Bangor triple, skipped by Gary Scott along with Gary Clarke and Mark Shannon came very close but the triple from Ballymoney skipped by Willie McCaw edged this semi by 13-14, in once again, a last end close encounter. 

We extend our congratulations to and are very proud of all who represented our Association in these Championships.